People & Politics

Question 1

What was Abraham Lincolns description of Democracy?

Answer 1

Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Question 2

Is the house of commons legitimate

Answer 2

It is elected, many claim the electoral system is unfair

Question 3

Is the House of Lords legitimate?

Answer 3

not legitmate because members are not elected. However it does have traditional authority.

Question 4

Is the UK government legitimate?

Answer 4

It is because it is elected with a clear mandate to govern.

However every government in the UK has been elected with a minority of popular vote, so legitimacy can be challenged.

Question 5

Is the power of the Prime Minister legitimate?

Answer 5

Yes because it is widely acknowleged that he (or she) is the supreme policy maker in the political system.

However there is no legal basis for the prime ministerial power, so it could lack legitimacy.

Question 6

Direct Democracy

Answer 6

A type of democracy where the important decisions or are consulted to before key decisions are made

Question 7

4 types of direct democracy in the UK?

Answer 7

1. Referendums
2. Initiatives
3. Public consultations
4. Petitions

Question 8

Advantages of direct democracy form

Answer 8

It is the purest form of democracy

Question 9

Disadvantages of direct democracy

Answer 9

Direct democracy means Majoritarianism

Question 10

Majoritarianism

Answer 10

Government by a simple majority. this may represent the “tyranny of the majority” which oppresses minorities

Question 11

Representative democracy

Answer 11

A type of democracy in which most decisions are made by representative bodies which are appointed or elected

Question 12

1 Features of representative democracy

Answer 12

There are free elections to representative assemblies

Question 13

Representative democracy advantages elected

Answer 13

Elected or appointed representatives may have superior experience and judgement to the general population

Question 14

Representative democracy disad representation

Answer 14

Representatives mat not accurately represent the opinions and demands of the wider population

Question 15

Representation

Answer 15

A political process whereby the people do not make decisions directly, but elect or appoint representatives to make decisions on there behalf. it implies that representatives make themselves accountble to parliament or to the people. I can also mean that instituations are socially representative of the whole community.

Question 16

Features of representaton in uk 3

Answer 16

• There are regular free elections. Virtually all adults can vote or stand for office.
• There are elected representative assemblies at every level -national (the UK Parliament’s House of Commons), Regional ( the Scottish Parliament and welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies) and local councils
• Parties are free to operate and represent various political opinions
• Political associations and pressure groups are free to operate and campiagn and have access to government
• Governments at all levels are accountable to representative assemblies
• Every individual is represented by an MP a regional assembly member and a local councillor, who may take up an individual’s grievances in government
• Every locality is also represented through the constituency responsibilities of MPs.

Question 17

Criticisms of representative democracy Elections Unfair

Answer 17

Elections to the uk parliament are unfair, with some parties over represented (especially labour) and some under-represented (liberal democrats)

Question 18

Critisims of representative democracy in the uk House of lords

Answer 18

The House of Lords has considerable power, but is not elected. Its members are eiter appointed (life peers and bishops) or are hereditary peers (92 in number)

Question 19

Critisims of Representative democracy in UK governments

Answer 19

The governments are not truely representative as they are always elected with a minority of electorate’s votes. The 2005-10 Labour government, for example, was elected on only 35% of the popular vote, (though the 2010 coalition did claim the support of 55% of voters).

Question 20

Advantages of direct democracy power

Answer 20

It disperses the power widely among the population and so prevents a concentration of power in too few hands

Question 21

Advantages of direct democracy decisions acceptability

Answer 21

It means that decisions may be more acceptable to the population

Question 22

Advantages of direct democracy mistakes

Answer 22

It can prevent decision makers from making mistakes

Question 23

Advantages of direct democracy Participation

Answer 23

It can increase popular participation and therefore enhances democracy

Question 24

Advantages of direct democracy education

Answer 24

Referendums and consultations are a form of political education for the general population

Question 25

Advantages of direct democracy safeguard

Answer 25

Referendums can “entrench” or safeguard important constitutional changes

Question 26

Disadvantages of direct democracy complexcity

Answer 26

Many decisions may be too complex for the people to understand

Question 27

Disadvantages of direct democracy response

Answer 27

Direct Democracy often creates an emotional, rather than rational, response from the media

Question 28

Disadvantages of direct democracy distorted views

Answer 28

Direct democracy can be subverted of distorted by wealthy groups who influence the debate

Question 29

Disadvantages of direct democracy too much participation

Answer 29

If required to participate too such, the population may become politically “fatigued” and apathy will grow

Question 30

2 features of representative democracy

Answer 30

Elected representatives can be made accountable in various ways to the electorate

Question 31

3 features of representative democracy

Answer 31

There is a legislature, part of whose role is to represent the people

Question 32

4 features of representative democracy

Answer 32

Governments & heads of the state are elected by the people

Question 33

5 features of representative democracy

Answer 33

There are political parties to represent different political beliefs or various sections of the community

Question 34

6 features of representative democracy

Answer 34

Political associations and pressure groups operate freely and represent various causes, beliefs and interest groups

Question 35

Representative democracy advantages Judgements

Answer 35

Representatives are more likely to make rational judgements than the population, who may be swayed by emotion

Question 36

Representative Democracy advantages accountability

Answer 36

Representatives are usually accountable, which helps to make behave responsibly

Question 37

Representative democracy advantages commitment

Answer 37

The people cannot be continuously involved in politics and so delegate their power to representatives

Question 38

Representative democracy advantages majority

Answer 38

Representatives can mediate between the interests of different sections of society. This avoids the “tyranny of the majority

Question 39

Representative democracy disadvantages prevention

Answer 39

Party representatives in particular can prevent elected representatives from acting independently

Question 40

Representative democracy disadvantages power

Answer 40

Representative democracy can turn into “rule by elite” rather than disperse power, which occurs in direct democracy

Question 41

Representative democracy disadvantages elections

Answer 41

Representative democracy is only “fair” if elections are “fair”

Question 42

Critisisms of representative democracy in uk pressure groups

Answer 42

some pressure groups are more powerful than others and their power and influence does not reflect their size or popularity

Question 43

Referendum