Reform to democracy

Question 1

Question

Answer 1

Evaluate the view that UK democracy is in need of reform.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

• Online elements
• Extension of the franchise
• Removal of unelected elements

Question 3

Judgements

Answer 3

Yes - we should reform UK democracy

Question 4

Weaker argument - online elements

Answer 4

→ Brexit supposedly had Russian interference.
→ USA 2016 had Russian interference.
→ 2024 election in Romania had over 70,000 Russian accounts used to get a right win pro-Putin candidate to win – election was called invalid.

Question 5

Stronger argument - online elements

Answer 5

→ Used in Estonia to great effect.
→ 19% of 18-24 who say they are not planning to vote, 86% would vote with an online system.
→ Other online systems used in UK democracy work well – e.g. e-petitions.

Question 6

Weaker argument - extension of the franchise

Answer 6

→ Voter turnout age difference - In the 2024 general election in constituencies where one quarter of the population was 24-35 the turnout was 50% compared with constituencies where one quarter of the population was 65+ the turnout was 64%.
→ Parliament sovereign – overruled ECHR ruling about the prisoners’ right to vote.

Question 7

Stronger argument - extension of the franchise

Answer 7

→ Pressure groups such as ‘Votes for 16’.
→ Ed Miliband supported votes for 16 year olds.
→ In both Wales and Scotland 16 year olds are allow to vote.
→ Prison Trust UK have been campaigning to give prisoners the right to vote.

Question 8

Weaker argument - removal of unelected elements

Answer 8

→ Prevents stalemate between the houses as in USA.
→ Supreme court acts as an essential check on the Commons – protecting democracy – e.g. after 9/11 when they stopped government over checking people.
→ We need special advisors to advise government – having them unelected means that they aren’t populist but good at their job; Alistair Campbell, Dominic Cummings.

Question 9

Stronger argument - removal of unelected elements

Answer 9

→ Lords: still has 92 hereditary peers; deemed to be unfair. They can veto legislation for a year – even when they don’t have a mandate.
→ Special advisors to government e.g. Dominic Cummings/Alistair Campbell have a lot of power but we don’t know much about them.
→ Supreme Court has too much power – Rwanda Bill.