People and Politics

Question 1

What is power?

Answer 1

The ability to make other people do whatever one wants them to do- even is its again their will.
There are three types: Influence, coercive and Political

Question 2

What is Influence Power?

Answer 2

This is the weakest form of power. Sometimes power is used when someone means influence, mostly about newspapers. The press, people and unions have influence over what the government and parliament do, but cant in force anything. E.g. ‘Worst MP ever’ printed in newspapers. Or Nurses petition for better pay.

Question 3

What is Political power?

Answer 3

This is power used by politicians or community. It involves the ability to persuade but also uses rewards and sanctions. Example:Prime Minister (Theresa May) controls the appointment of ministers and senior positions. Stronger form- Government. In stable democracies, coercive powers aren’t needed to reinforce political ones.

Question 4

What is coercive power?

Answer 4

This is the strongest form of power. It can be described as a force- can be physical or at least the threat of physical force. In extreme cases there is the use of execution, torture, terror and imprisonment. Most states don’t need to go to such extremes. Its used against those who refuse to conform to the laws or threaten security. E.g. Police have coercive power over prisoners. Or army breaking up protest march.

Question 5

What is Authority?

Answer 5

This is the right to exercise power rather than the exercise of power itself. Authority is granted by anyone in power. Without authority, power becomes force. There are three types: Charismatic, legal rational and traditional.

Question 6

What is traditional Authority?

Answer 6

The right to govern because authority has been exercised over a long period of time. This could apply to hereditary monarchies such as sheikdoms in the middle east. If people allowed such monarchies to govern they are consenting to such rule.- the Queen

Question 7

What is legal rational Authority?

Answer 7

This is any rational way of granting authority. In the UK and other modern democracies this can be done by elections- can be described as ‘elective authority’. This is the most powerful justification for the exercise of power.

Question 8

What is Charismatic Authority?

Answer 8

This focuses on ‘charisma’. It refers to somebody being given authority based on their personality. they have an ability to inspire, persuade and attract a following. E.g. President John F. Kennedy- he added charismatic authority to his legal rational authority. However a darker example would be Hitler.

Question 9

What is Sovereignty?

Answer 9

Someone/Something with the highest authority. It could be a set of rules like the US constitution. There are two types: Political and legal.

Question 10

What is Political Sovereignty?

Answer 10

Highest level of power which states are controlled by political authority. At elections, people are politically sovereign because they decide who will form the next government.

Question 11

What is legal sovereignty?

Answer 11

The ultimate source of all laws and legal power. Even though many bodies are granted authority the ultimate source is parliament. ‘Parliament is the legal sovereignty

Question 12

What is legitimacy?

Answer 12

The right to govern and make laws, usually granted through elections.

Question 13

What is pluralism?

Answer 13

It comes from the word ‘plural’ meaning many or more. Its the idea that there are many different views and beliefs in society and everyone gets a say. In pluralist democracies people can exercise power between elections (E.g. petitions). Everybody has a little bit of power, at elections. It basically means equality in society. the opposite is totalitarianism. E.g. the UK is a pluralist democracy because everyone over the age of 18 can participate in free, fair elections.

Question 14

What is elitism?

Answer 14

This is the idea that very few people hold power in a society. E.g. China would be an example because they have very few people in charge, its a Communism. Usually, elitism is used to benefit a group of people (keep the rich, rich.) The population are mostly passive and governed by an elite or conflicting elites. The opposite of this is egalitarianism.

Question 15

What is democracy?

Answer 15

Democracy is the rule by many. Political power is in the hands of the whole adult population and no smaller group has the right to rule. The main types are Direct democracy and representative democracy.

Question 16

What is Direct democracy?

Answer 16

This is the idea that people are directly involved with politics. Popular participation is direct. The idea that the people are they government. It is unmediated. It uses referendums (E.g. Brexit 2016) petitions, initiatives and public consultations. Its continuous and people engage in politics regularly. In ancient Athens, every male over 20 met at least 40 times a year.

Question 17

What is Representative democracy?

Answer 17

The idea that representatives speak on the behalf of the people. It uses elections (E.g. 2015 General election) The people elect their local MP who will represent them in parliament. Its mediated- the people are linked to the government through representative institutions. Popular participation isn’t direct.

Question 18

What is liberal democracy?

Answer 18

Liberal democracy is the belief in limited government and that people should enjoy some protection from arbitrary government. It reflects the idea that the government should be tied to the will of the people. civil liberties such as freedom of speech exist in a liberal democracy. In Britain, we have a liberal democracy and the civil laws are protected by the rule of law.

Question 19

What is a referendum?

Answer 19

A vote on a single issue, e.g. Brexit 2016

Question 20

What is an election?

Answer 20

A vote on multiple issues or policies. E.g. 2015 General Election

Question 21

What is a state?

Answer 21

A state is the name for groups and institutions that run a country. They are collection agencies. For example the police because they can enforce laws.- institutions, eg police, army, court.

Question 22

What is a government

Answer 22

This is the way the state is run. It gives the state political direction. For example, Theresa May deciding to impact Brexit. - Cabinet (24 ministers) run the country.

Question 23

What are the advantages of referendums?

Answer 23

1) They encourage political participation and act as an educational device. The general public consider policies more clearly and the government have to ‘teach’ them about policies.
2) Referendums provide a single clear answer to a specific question. Unlike elections where voters vote on multiple issues.- 1973 Northern Ireland
3) They allow the government to consult the people. Between elections it can be hard for people to voice their political opinions, referendums allow them to.
4) They strengthen the hand of the government by giving popular legitimacy to legislation.
5) They’ve strengthened while party membership and voter turnout has weakened.
6) It can be useful when the government are split.

Question 24

What are the disadvantages of referendums?

Answer 24

1) They undermine our system of representative democracy as decisions will be less thought through. MPs will understand but the public wont. This could undermine lots of minorities that MPs usually protect.
2) They undermine parliamentary sovereignty.- Parliament is not bound by prior decisions which makes the British constitution more flexible. Referendums aren’t necessary- other constitutional changes have happened without a referendum.
3) They give more power to pressure groups who would seek to influence the outcome.
4) The public would lose confidence in Parliament.
5) The turnout would be low

Question 25

Give an example of a referendum that took place for political advantage?

Answer 25

1st March 1979, devolution of wales

Question 26

Give an example of a referendum that took place in exceptional circumstance?

Answer 26

22nd May 1998 Support for peace settlement

Question 27

Give an example of a referendum that took place on local issues?

Answer 27

7th May 1998 Mayor and greater London assembly

Question 28

Give an example of a referendum that took place on constitutional issues?

Answer 28

Brexit 2016

Question 29

Give an example of a referendum that took place on matters of nationality?

Answer 29

Northern Ireland 1973

Question 30

What is legitimacy?

Answer 30

When the government has the right to hold political power . In the UK the house of commons have legitimacy because they are elected.

Question 31

What is good about our democracy?

Answer 31

1) Political institutions
- Strong representation of individuals and constituencies by MPs
- Free political parties and pressure groups
- The rule of law ensures equality under the law
- The judiciary is politically independent
2) Political Process
- elections are free and held regularly
- pressure groups, insider, have access ro government
3) Political participation
- Everyone, to a degree, gets a vote
- Freedom of association and belief
- pressure groups

Question 32

What are the criticisms of our democracy?

Answer 32

• Monarchy isn’t elected
• House of lords isn’t elected
• FPTP is disproportional
• 2 party dominated
• Low turnout - 2015, 66%

Question 33

What are the advantages of digital/e-democracy?

Answer 33

1 -easier participation. Its easier and more convenient for people to vote at home. this will increase participation rates and levels of political education
2 -ease of organisation. Its cheaper, easier and quicker to organise referendums via e-democracy. normally they take months to organise. This means referendums could be more frequent, increasing Direct democracy.
3 -Access to new information. the internet means information is available to everyone- not just the government- there is a free exchange of ideas and views and people become active in political participation.

Question 34

What are the disadvantages of Digital/e-democracy?

Answer 34

1 -Virtual Democracy. the idea that citizens are just at home ‘pushing buttons’- people stop becoming social. It demeans politics. It becomes too easy
2 -Electoral malpractice. any way to make voting easier usually means that control becomes weaker- this happens with postal vote. e-democracy means its harder to check peoples identities.
3 -Digital divide. Members of the public who don’t have access to the internet suffer. They are politically disadvantaged

Question 35

Give examples of Direct/e-democracy

Answer 35

• e-petitions.
• ‘theyworkforyou.com’
• ‘parliamentlive.tv’

Question 36

What are the advantages of granting 16 year olds the vote?

Answer 36

1 -responsibility without rights. the minimum age in which people can join the army, have sex, smoke, and get married is 16 but they cant vote.
2 -Youth interests are ignored. Its hard to gain Political representation for young people so giving them a vote seems like a good place to start.
3 -Stronger political engagement. Lowering the voting ages would re-engage voters and strengthen their interest
4 -Irrational cut off age. the current voting age ignores the steady rise in education standards and the fact that no restrictions are applied to ignorant/ poorly educated adults.

Question 37

What are the disadvantages of lowering the voting age to 16?

Answer 37

1 -undermining turnout. there is a chance that lowering the voting age may result in low turnout. Young voters are less likely to vote than older voters
2 -Immature voters. Until the age of 18, most young people are in full time education and live with their parents making them not full citizens- likely not to have a lot of knowledge
3 - Preserving childhood. Voting is forcing adulthood on young people- they should concentrate on school and enjoying their childhood
4 - Deferred representation. Young people are not permanently denied votes and 18 year olds are likely to be in touch of the interests of 16/17 year olds.

Question 38

What is an example of lowering the voting age to 16?

Answer 38

2014 Scottish independence referendum. 72% of 16-17 year olds voted compared to 54% of 18-24 year olds.

Question 39

What are the advantages of compulsory voting?

Answer 39

• at the moment, turnout is low. In 2005 the Labour government were elected with less that 30% of the available votes.
• no citizen can complain about the government if they didn’t bother to vote.
• Its a citizens legal responsibility to vote just as it is to pay taxes
• A government cant function or govern on a majority of those who bother to vote

Question 40

What are the disadvantages of compulsory voting?

Answer 40

• It contradicts democracy. Voting is a right, not a duty.
• Ignorant or ill-Knowledge people would be forced to make a decision and other candidates would worry about that as well
• campaigns wouldn’t spend time persuading people to vote they would become less important
• Non-voting could mean that they are happy with the way things are
• political participation is for voters who have an interest and wish to take part

Question 41

What are the examples of compulsory voting?

Answer 41

In 2007, 32 countries, including Spain, France and Italy made voting compulsory.
Australia- $20 fee for not voting