participation Flashcards
legitimacy
the right of an individual to be recognised and to have the right to exercise power
power
the ability of an individual or body to force others to do something they may not otherwise do
3 levels of power
coercion: force, often physical
political power: rewards and sanctions
influence: ability to affect how people think or act, no force involved
authority
right to exercise power through tradition, election or charisma following
how is consent given
- free elections
- good turnouts at free elections
- distinct lack of popular dissent
- clear demonstrations of support for govt
- explicit referendum to adopt a particular cons
democracy
any system of govt where the people have access to independent info and are able to influence govt decisions, govt is accountable to people
features of democracy
- peaceful transition of power from one govt to the next
- free and fair regular elections
- people have access to independent info
- govt accountable to people and representative institutions
- high degree of freedom for individuals and groups
- diff political ideologies and beliefs tolerated
- all are equal under law
- govt operates in broad interests of people
Corbyn - Brexit, democracy eg
ordered MP’s to support govt bills whether parties amendments are accepted or not, as he believes it would be undemocratic to ignore the will of the people as expressed in the referendum
direct democracy
*people make decisions
*ppl directly consulted on political decisions
*ppl may take initiative in creating political change
eg referendums
representative demoncracy
- ppl elect representatives
- ppl delegate decision making power to representatives
- parties represent diff views
- ass. and PG’s represent diff sections of society, interests and causes
- representative assemblies express the will of the people and sections of society
representation
burkean
delegation
party representation
burkean representation
reps use own judgement rather than wishes of constituency or party
delegation
reps should follow wishes of those who have elected them
party representation
if rep is a member of a party, they’re expected to support and vote for the known policies of the party
parliamentary democracy
parliament is the source of political power and makes govt accountable, parliament is the main vehicle for representation
representation in the uk
- MPs
- Parties
- PG’s
- H/C - as a whole rep national interests
- H/L - peers rep sections of society and causes as well as national interests
pluralist democracy
*multiple parties and ass able to operate
*diff pol beliefs tolerated and able to flourish
*many sources of independent info and opinion through media
*power dispersed rather than in one or few locations
eg USA
liberal democracy
*individual liberties protected and respected
*strong cons that limits powers of govt
*govt features strong internal checks and balances
*high level of political toleration
eg germany
advantages of representative democracy
- most don’t have time to get involved in politics therefore can elect representatives
- reps may have more experience and knowledge
- reps can be made accountable for decisions, ppl as whole cant
- reps can convert incoherent demands into coherent political programmes
- reps can act rationally as ppl may act emotionally
- reps can educate public
- diff sections of society and causes can be represented
advantages of direct democracy and referendums
- purest form of democracy
- decisions can be strengthened by ppls direct consent and given legitimacy
- can educate
- ppl can get involved directly and may therefore improve engagement with politics and strengthen positive citizenship
- cons changes can be entrenched through referendum
- when govt is divided refs can resolve it
referendum
people are invited to vote on a key political issue, usually of a constitutional nature, that requires a yes or no answer and the result isn’t legally binding
disadvantages of representative democracy
- may be difficult to make reps accountable between elections
- reps may distort or ignore demands of ppl for own political advantage
- may follow party lines not constituents
- may result in too much political conflict that can only be resolved by direct democracy
- electoral mandate is flawed especially if low
disadvantages of direct democracy
- issue may be too complicated for average person to understand
- may vote in emotional way
- could cause voter fatigue
- may lose respect for representative ass if become too used to making own decisions
- may encourage tyranny of the majority
- low turnout may cause lack of legitimacy
- close result may cause in unsatisfactory conclusion and may fail to accept outcome
comparison of direct and representative
- direct is purer
- direct operates in connection with cons changes and reforms, rep concerns day to day running of country
- rep is more pluralistic direct only represents majority
- reps accountable to people
- refs are more legitimate than decisions made my reps
how to participate
- vote in elections and refs
- take part in political consultation exercises
- become member of PG
- join party
- stand for public office at local, regional or national level
evidence of declining participation
- reduced turn outs at elections and refs
- reduced party membership
- widespread disillusionment with party politics
- reduced identification with parties
methods to increase participation
- compulsory voting
- votes at 16
- citizenship education
- e-democracy
evidence of increasing participation
- growing PG membership
- increased campaigning through social media
- more direct action
UK is democratic
- look at features of democracy
- freedom, equality and rights protected by European Convention of Human Rights, parliamentary statutes and common law
- independent judiciary safeguards the rule of law
- freedom of info act gives access to independent info
UK isn’t democratic
- unelected institutions such as monarchy and house of lords
- elections aren’t fair due to FPTP
- parliamentary sovereignty means individual rights and liberties aren’t adequately protected
- political participation is declining
- no entrenched cons, so distribution of power is often uncertain
methods improving UK democracy
- replace monarchy with an elected head of state
- introduce elected second chamber
- reform of electoral system
- increased use of referendums
- introduce codifies cons
- decentralise the political system
election turnouts
2015: 6601%
2001: 59.4%
1979: 76%
Scottish independence ref
2014
no
55-45%
change voting system to elect MP’s to H/C to AV
2011
no
FPTP remains
party membership increase stats
cons, lab and LD
increase 1.6% of 2016 electorate compared to 0.8% in 2013
lab membership increase
0.6% 2013 - 1.1% 2016
BREXIT
23 June
leave 51.9% - 48.1%
turn out 71.8%
