Representative and Direct Democracy Flashcards
What is a democracy? - Democracy
A democracy is a state where all citizens who are eligible to do so are granted the right to vote.
How did the Magna Carta develop democracy in the UK? When? - Democracy
The Magna Carta (1215) developed UK Democracy as it established the rule of law in the UK, with the principle being that no individual is above the law.
How did the Bill of Rights advance UK Democracy? When? - Democracy
The Bill of Rights (1689) advanced UK Democracy as it enshrined in Law that the monarch would rule alongside parliament. Also agreed for frequent elections, freedom of speech for MPs, PARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNTY.
How did the Great Reform Act advance UK Democracy? When? - Democracy
The Great Reform Act (1832) extended the franchise further to landowners and redrew electoral boundaries to better represent densely populated urban areas compared to rotten boroughs.
How did the development of a 2 party system develop UK Democracy? - Democracy
The development of 2 distinct parties (Conservatives and Liberals) provided 2 ideologies for which the electorate could conform depending on their views.
How was the 2 Party system further developed from the 1900s? - Democracy
The 2 Party system was further developed as the emergence of the union-funded Labour Party started the decline of the Liberal a Party. Created a 3 Party system with Liberals as 3rd Party.
How did the creation of the Welfare State advance UK Democracy? When? - Democracy
The Creation of the Welfare State in the aftermath of WW2 increased the responsibility of the state towards the people as the state funded many previously private industries for the benefit of the wider population.
What is meant by a government having legitimacy? - Democracy
Legitimacy is where a government is recognised and accepted as a power with the right to govern the people.
What is direct democracy? What are examples of direct democracy? - Democracy
A direct democracy is where all eligible citizens have a direct say in the decision making process in a state.
Leadership elections, RECALL OF MPs ACT, Referendums, PETITIONS.
Could the UK ever be a direct democracy? What issues are there with this? - Democracy
In theory, the UK could be a direct democracy through providing each individual a vote on every issue. However, in practice, this is far too time consuming for such a large population, meaning it makes sense for a representative to act on our behalf.
What is a representative democracy? What levels of representation are there in the UK? - Democracy
A representative democracy is where citizens elect individuals to make decisions on their behalf. In the UK, we have national, regional, local, mayoral elections, as well as the devolved nations having devolved governments.
How has the UK begun to incorporate direct democracy into its representative democracy? - Democracy
Recall of MPs Act, referendum use on constitutional change, Parliament petitions, leadership elections etc.
What benefits are there of referendum use as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
Referendums provide clear and obvious judgements from public opinion on single issues. If over 50% of people vote for something, it provides a clear mandate for the implementation of an action, something which parliament cannot decide.
What negatives are there of referendum use as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
The yes/no nature of referendums can be divisive in terms of public opinion fractious to society’s stability. Can fuel anger or discontent if margins are tight. Also may result in tyranny of the majority if a small portion of society are discriminated against by the result.
What advantages are there of E-Petition use as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
E-Petitions allow any issues raised by public with significant support to be debated by parliament, meaning there is greater representation of the opinions of the wider population.
What disadvantages are there of E-Petition use as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
E-Petitions debated in Parliament often do not result in any meaningful legislative change as there is no requirement/guarantee of legislation being created as a result of debate.
What advantages are there of Party Leaders being elected using direct democracy? - Democracy
Party Leadership elections give a Party’s core, dedicated vote the chance to elect a new leader and direction for their party. Also hoped that a party’s membership represents the spectrum of views within a party, meaning that a party’s target electorate will hopefully get their desired candidate.
What advantages are there of the 2015 Recall of MPs Act being used as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
The Recall of MPs Act 2015 allows constituents to trigger a by-election if their MP is suspended from the Commons for more than 14 days or they are given a custodial sentence and a petition gets 10% of constituents to sign it. Makes MPs more accountable for their actions to their constituents.
What disadvantages are there of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 being used as a form of direct democracy? - Democracy
The Recall of MPs Act only requires 10% of constituents to sign a petition, meaning it can be fairly easy for a recall petition to result in a by-election.
What are the 3 main advantages of direct democracy use through Referendums in the UK? - Democracy
Allows the public to directly influence the democratic process outside of elections, gives a clear and decisive mandate for a government to implement a decision, answers questions too complex for a representative to do on our behalf.
What advantages are there of representative democracy in terms of practicality? - Democracy
It is far simpler and less time consuming for one single representative of the people to vote compared to the entire population on every issue. The Brexit Referendum, for example, took months to organise.
What advantages are there of representative democracy in terms of accountability? - Democracy
An MP must be able to be held to account in return for being elected by the electorate, in the form of being able to explain their actions to the electorate.
What advantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of representation? - Democracy
MPs can aggregate the views of their constituents to form an informed judgement on an individual. They are also able to campaign against traditional party views or policy if it would negatively impact their constituents.
What example is there of MPs acting as good representatives of the interests of their constituents? (Even if it goes against the views of their party) - Democracy
Zac Goldsmith campaigned against the Conservative policy of expanding Heathrow Runway as it was in conflict with his constituents. Andrew Jones also expressed annoyance at the actions of Dominic Cummings.
What advantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of being professional? - Democracy
MPs mostly have the sole job of representing their constituents, meaning they are mostly dedicated to this role. They also have a certain amount of expertise which they can use to make informed judgements.
What evidence is there of MPs having expertise/dedication to their role? - Democracy
The longest serving MP is Peter Bottomley, who has done so for 44 years. 82% of MPs have degrees in a subject as well.
What disadvantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of representatives being disengaged? - Democracy
MPs often become disengaged from the opinions of their constituents in favour of representing party interests. MPs can also become disengaged from the political process as they are often elected by <50% of their constituents.
What disadvantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of it being socially unrepresentative? - Democracy
The majority of MPs are white, middle class males, which is not representative of the demographic of society as a whole. Only 29% of MPs are women, whereas 51% of the population is.
What disadvantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of it being unrepresentative of constituent views? What evidence is there of this? - Democracy
Often MPs do not represent the views of their constituents, instead voting on party lines due to the threat imposed by the whip. Career politicians also have little experience outside of politics. Andrew Jones has never voted against the Conservative Party.
What disadvantages are there of a representative democracy in terms of conflicts of interest? What evidence is there of this? - Democracy
Some MPs may have other roles outside of representing constituents that conflict with the interests of their constituents. This can be seen through Sajid Javid holding a consultants’ role at JP Morgan and Priti Patel working on the interests of her previous employer (lobbying firm).
What is a participation crisis? - Democracy
A participation crisis is the point at which the public becomes disengaged with the political process to the point where low turnout levels lead to the legitimacy of the government being questioned.
What is a democratic deficit? - Democracy
When a democracy does not sufficiently function to the point where it begins to fall short of democratic standards due to a lack of accountability/opportunity to exert equal political influence.
What forms are there of participation in politics? What are considered the most intense forms of participation? - Democracy
Standing for public office, party membership, pressure group membership, voting, canvassing, digital activism.
Standing for public office, canvassing, party membership and pressure group membership.
Why might voting turnouts have fallen recently? - Democracy
Apathy, content with the status quo of politics, may feel their vote is wasted by the FPTP voting system, there is little difference between the policies of different parties.
What has happened to Party membership recently? What nuance is there between the membership of different parties? - Democracy
The overall trend of party membership is of a decline in party membership. However, a distinction can be made between the decline in main party membership and the increase in membership of smaller, issue based parties.
What positives are there of increasing participation through compulsory voting? - Democracy
Would dramatically increase turnout at elections and perhaps force people to become more engaged with politics. Would also provide greater legitimacy to a victorious government.
What negatives are there of increasing participation through compulsory voting? - Democracy
Civil rights groups argue a basic human right is to determine whether or not to vote, whilst it could encourage people who have no political knowledge to vote, swaying the balance of politics.
What advantages are there of increasing participation through reducing the voting age? - Democracy
Reducing the voting age would force younger people to become more engaged with politics due to them having a greater stake in society. Also allows, intelligent, opinionated young people to vote, which would improve turnout among younger voters.
What negatives are there of increasing participation by reducing the voting age? - Democracy
Reducing the voting age may mean that people who aren’t politically aware are voting, perhaps purely on parental views. This could also lead to lower turnout among younger groups if this section of the electorate was enlarged.
What positives are there of increasing participation through improving ease of voting? What negatives are there? - Democracy
Improving ease of voting may encourage more people to vote if it were possible without going to the ballot (eg supermarkets/post offices), as well as stopping people being eliminated from voting register.
Negatives may be that it could lead to increased voting fraud if the voting system is complicated.
What positives are there of increasing participation through better citizenship education? What negatives are there? - Democracy
Could force more people into voting if they have the knowledge to make informed decisions, would increase educated discussion among younger people on current affairs and debates.
Negatives may be that the citizenship education is considered dull and boring to kids.
What positives are there of increasing participation through changing the electoral system? - Democracy
Changing the electoral system would make more people feel their vote is valued, rather than potentially wasted by FPTP, as well as that FPTP gives disproportionate power to the winning party compared to their percentage of a vote at the election.
What negatives are there of increasing participation through changing the electoral system? - Democracy
Many people are currently happy with the existing electoral system, and there is little demand for change, as seen at the 2011 AV Referendum which resulted in over 2/3 voting against the reform.
What positives are there of increasing participation through use of digital democracy and media?
Digital democracy and media provides a wider range of people with access to participation, especially since the creation of Parliament’s debate petitions. Further increases relevance of issues in politics to younger generations.
What negatives are there of increasing participation through use of digital democracy and media? - Democracy
The campaigning on issues on social media can often be corrupted by extremist ideas or manipulated by fake news. In addition, social media campaigns can be distant from Westminster power, meaning they don’t necessarily succeed.
