participation in politics

Question 1

Direct Democracy

Answer 1

Origins of democracy- Athens
High level participation
Great deal of time and energy
Example 2day- New England, Local Council, usa`

Question 2

Why Use Direct Democracy?`

Answer 2

Strengthens popular participation making it seem meaningful and places power directly in hands of people

Question 3

Define Direct Democracy

Answer 3

Form of democracy that is based on the direct unmediated and continuous participation of citizens un the tasks of government

Question 4

Direct Democracy Involves

Answer 4

1. People make policy decision
2. There is no separate class of politicians
3. Continuous popular participation

Question 5

Representative Democracy involves``

Answer 5

1. Indirect participation- the public do not exercise power themselves they choose who will rule on their behalf
2. It is mediated =- people are linked to the gov through representative institutions
3. Popular participation is limited, infrequent and brief`

Question 6

Benefits of Direct Democracy

Answer 6

1. Only pure form of democracy- people obey the laws they make themselves
2. Personal development- better informed and more knowledgeable
3. End of professional politics-reduces the dependence on self serving politicians.

Question 7

Benefits of Representative GOVERNMENT

Answer 7

1. Practicable democracy- works and operates well in large modern societies
2. government are experts
3. Division of Labour- more efficient
4. Political stability- distances ordinary people from the politicians- less panic etc

Question 8

Democratic Elections must be…

Answer 8

1. Free and Fair
2. Universal Suffrage
3. Competitive but provide electoral choice

Question 9

FREE AND FAIR

Answer 9

1872- Secret Ballot
2000- Electoral Commission
2011- Fixed Term Parliaments
However
Postal votes- Electoral Malpractice 
Monarch and Lords - not elected

Question 10

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE

Answer 10

Anyone can vote
However
HOL and convicts
The universal right to vote does not mean universal participation

Question 11

ELECTORAL CHOICE

Answer 11

Right to vote for the people or policies that they most prefer
However
2 party System
Consensus politics- Little difference in parties

Question 12

Parliament is …

Answer 12

Deliberative democracy- public interest is decided through debate, discussion and argument

Question 13

Pressure Groups

Answer 13

Give political voice to minorities which may be ignored by the parliamentary system. They are used as a form of democracy

Question 14

Parliamentary Democracy

Answer 14

Operates through a popularly elected assembly
Results ——democratic form of government in which the party (or a coalition of parties) with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor.

Question 15

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 15

describes a political system where there is more than one center of power. multiple enteries to share their beliefs

Question 16

Turnout in 2010

Answer 16

65.1%

Question 17

TUrnout in 2015

Answer 17

66.1%

Question 18

why has electoral turnout reduced?

Answer 18

1. Results are too predictable
2. lack of party identification
3. parties are too similar

Question 19

Election

Answer 19

Method of filling an office or post through choices made by a designated body of people: the electorate.

Question 20

General Elections

Answer 20

These are full parliamentary elections all seats in the HOC come up for re-election

Question 21

Devolved Assembly elections

Answer 21

Scottish, Welsh, NI assemblies
1998=NI 1999=W&S
European Parliament elections 1979

Question 22

local Elections

Answer 22

These elections are for district, borough and county councils. They include greater assembly and London Mayor Elections

Question 23

Functions of elections

Answer 23

form governments
ensuring representation
upholding legitimacy

Question 24

Forming Governments:

Answer 24

Principal way in which governments in the UK are formed. They therefore serve to transfer from one government to the next.

Question 25

Ensuring Representation

Answer 25

Elections are a vital way in which the government communicates with its people. THis is created by the link between the MP and its constituents.

Question 26

Upholding legitimacy

Answer 26

IS important to maintain political stability– it ensures citizens recognize they have an obligation to obey the law and respect their system of government
Low turnout levels have questioned the legitimacy

Question 27

Representation Definition

Answer 27

Is a relationship through which an individual or group stands for or acts on behalf of a larger body of people

Question 28

How does representation work?

Answer 28

The idea that politicians should act as a trustee not a delegate,.They act on behalf but they also use their superior knowledge.they may go againt the mass of people
However this places a gap between people and their representatives. This could be solved by havin more elections

Question 29

The Doctrine of the Mandate

Answer 29

based on the idea that winning an election gives a party a popular mandate that authorises it to carry out the policies in which it fought the election. it is the authority granted by a constituency to act as a representative.

Question 30

FPTP

Answer 30

is a plurality system-

disproportionality- proportion of votes and proportion of seats won