Political theory - Democracy

Question 1

What is representative democracy?

Answer 1

Electing individuals or professional politicians to make decisions on your behalf is know as representative democracy.

Question 2

What is generally considered the most effective form of democracy?

Answer 2

Representative democracy.

Question 3

How many levels of representatives do Scottish people have?

Answer 3

3: local councillors, MSP’s and MP’s

Question 4

What is the key argument for Representative democracy?

Answer 4

Representative democracy allows the selection of people with expertise and experience

Question 5

What was Plato’s argument that supports Representative Democracy?

Answer 5

Plato argued that common people do not know what is best for them, so it is better to have well-educated people to take control of government.

Question 6

What is an example of British Chancellors who are highly educated in the necessary fields to be competent enough to effectively fulfil their duties?

Answer 6

Rishi Sunak and Philip Hammond studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford university.

Question 7

What is the key argument against representative democracy?

Answer 7

It creates self-serving politicians, causing the public to become increasingly suspicious.

Question 8

What is an example of politicians being self-serving?

Answer 8

The MP’s expenses scandal of 2009, where politicians were claiming taxpayers money for their own personal use.

Question 9

What are some examples to support the claim that representative democracy is not representative of the country?

Answer 9

The majority of the UK has not gone to university, whereas over 20 prime ministers have attended the exclusive Eton college.

Question 10

What is the most recent example of a PM who went to Eton college?

Answer 10

Boris Johnston

Question 11

Overall, what can be concluded about representative democracy regarding experience and expertise?

Answer 11

While the actions of certain representatives could be criticised, there is a need for experts in certain fields who can make informed decisions in the interests of the country.

Question 12

Regarding accountability and compromise, what are the advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 12

• Limits extremism
• Governments can be properly scrutinised
• Citizens are distance from politics and so compromise is easier

Question 13

What are the three arguments regarding representative democracy?

Answer 13

• Experience and expertise
• Accountability and compromise
• Practicality

Question 14

What is an example of the public mandating a parliamentary decision in favour of the government?

Answer 14

In 2019, Boris Johnston called a snap general election and woman a majority with 365 seats to pass a Brexit deal, claiming he had a legitimate mandate from the British people.

Question 15

What is an example of a leader being held accountable when unable to find a compromise?

Answer 15

Between 2016 and 2019, Theresa May failed to reach a compromise for Brexit and was replaced by Boris Johnston.

Question 16

What does Theresa May being replaced reveal about representative democracy?

Answer 16

That the public can hold the government to account by electing representatives they think will best help themselves and the country as a whole.

Question 17

What is the primary argument against representative democracy, regarding being representative?

Answer 17

Fair representation of all facets of society

Question 18

What is an example to support the idea that representative democracy may not wholly represent society?

Answer 18

There have only been 2 female prime ministers when females make up around 50% of the UK’s population.

Question 19

What groups are likely to be under-represented?

Answer 19

• Working class
• Women
• Minority ethnic groups

Question 20

Regarding practicality, what is generally considered about representative democracy?

Answer 20

Representative democracy is the most practical form of democracy.

Question 21

Why is representative democracy the most practical form of democracy?

Answer 21

Because, in a large scale society of over 45 million eligible voters, it is far more sensible to elect representatives to make decisions on behalf of the public.

Question 22

How many people does each MP represent in their constituency?

Answer 22

There are 650 MO’s who represent around 70,000 people each (their constituencies).

Question 23

What is an argument against the practicality of representative democracy?

Answer 23

In the 21st century the increased use of referenda is necessary to improve democracy.

Question 24

What is an argument to support the increased use of referenda in representative democracy?

Answer 24

For issues of high public interest such as Scottish independence and Eu membership, the use of referendums is essential to make a decision in the best interests of the public.

Question 25

What are statistics to support the idea of increased referenda use in representative democracy?

Answer 25

The turnout for the 2016 EU referendum was 72% and the turnout for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was 84%.

Question 26

What do the EU and Scottish independence referendum turnouts tell us about voter apathy?

Answer 26

It shows that the public want a say in important issues and will turn up to represent their views.

Question 27

What are the three arguments regarding direct democracy?

Answer 27

• Increased control
• More informed citizens
• Greater legitimacy

Question 28

Regarding control, what is the advantage of direct democracy?

Answer 28

Direct democracy is genuinely democratic in action as it increases control.

Question 29

What is a quote about direct democracy and purity?

Answer 29

It is stated that direct democracy is “the purist form of democracy”.

Question 30

Why does direct democracy more accurately represent the views of the public?

Answer 30

Because the decisions are being made directly by the people, therefore the decision could not be more accurate of their views.

Question 31

What are two countries that continually use direct democracy?

Answer 31

Switzerland and California use regular refernda on specific issues.

Question 32

How many times a year to Swiss citizens vote on specific issues?

Answer 32

Swiss citizens vote around 4 times a year of specific issues.

Question 33

What are some example of changes made by direct democracy?

Answer 33

Euthanasia clinics being legalised in Switzerland and marijuana being decriminalised in California.

Question 34

Why would direct democracy be less effective in the UK compared with somewhere like Athens in ancient Greece?

Answer 34

The UK has a electorate of 45 million people, compared with 50,000 eligible male voters in ancient Athens (less than one MP’s constituency)

Question 35

What can be concluded about direct democracy?

Answer 35

Direct democracy does increase control and can be effective in small societies. However, Plato was correct when he stated that this form of democracy is unworkable in larger societies.

Question 36

Regarding informed citizens, what is an advantage of direct democracy?

Answer 36

Direct democracy creates more informed citizens because they are more involved in the political process. It creates more politically literate citizens.

Question 37

What is an example of direct democracy creating more informed citizens?

Answer 37

The 2014 Scottish independence referendum and 2016 Eu withdrawal vote provided opportunities to inform the public on the merits of the respective arguments.

Question 38

What is an argument against the idea that direct democracy creates a politically literate populous?

Answer 38

It is argued that the public would soon become bored of the constant civic duty. ‘Election fatigue’ would occur and lower participation rates would ensue.

Question 39

What are examples to support the idea that ‘election fatigue’ would negatively impact direct democracy?

Answer 39

The turnout for UK general elections rarely exceeds 70%, Scottish parliament elections are generally around 60%. A significant minority already do not participate, this would be amplified by direct democracy.

Question 40

Why is direct democracy more legitimate?

Answer 40

Direct democracy is more legitimate because people are more likely to accept decisions they made themselves. The decisions are more accurate to the true feelings of the people.

Question 41

What are some examples of decisions being accepted due to direct democracy?

Answer 41

There was a devolution referendum in 1997 and a Scottish independence referendum in 2014. The outcomes of these have largely been accepted.

Question 42

What is the argument about direct democracy increasing political instability?

Answer 42

Direct democracy has increase instability because citizens are given a binary choice in a very complicated political issue and may not have all the necessary information.

Question 43

What is an example of direct democracy creating political instability?

Answer 43

52% of the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, many who voted remain argued that a ‘peoples vote’ on the details of the deal should be held as the people were not sure what Brexit would actually mean.

Question 44

What is an example of instability increasing as a result of direct democracy regarding Scotland?

Answer 44

After the EU vote, Scotland requested another independence referendum, showing an increase in the UK’s political instability.