Representative Democracy - 12 Marker

Question 1

Choose Representatives - Point

Answer 1

One key feature of representative democracy is that voters choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Question 2

Choose Representatives - Explain

Answer 2

Under representative democracy, no expectation citizens should participate in political decision-making like making laws

Voters representatives given mandate to act on behalf of electorate & receive authority from mandate to act

Popular control of government ensured through elections whilst voters don’t have to participate in decision-making

Question 3

Choose Representatives - Example

Answer 3

Labour Party fought UK GE 1997 on policies such as devolution & minimum wage

Electorate put Labour in power, policies were implemented, Labour returned to power in 2001

Question 4

Choose Representatives - Analysis

Answer 4

Implication of representative democracy’s key strengths is decision making is placed in hands of those with expertise

Result should be better decision-making system

Question 5

Choose Representatives - Rebuttal Point

Answer 5

Argued because of this, too much power could be given to politicians acting on self interest

Question 6

Choose Representatives - Rebuttal Example

Answer 6

US politicians accused of serving corporate interests to raise funds for election campaigns, led to accusations of it enabling rich people to buy politicians

Question 7

Ordinary Citizens - Point

Answer 7

A second key feature of representative democracy is ordinary citizens don’t need to be involved in political decision making

Question 8

Ordinary Citizens - Explain

Answer 8

Don’t need to be involved directly, no expectation that citizens should participate in decision-making such as making laws

Voters’ representatives given a mandate to act on behalf of electorate & receive authority from mandate to act

Control of government ensured through election whilst voters don’t have to participate in decision-making

Question 9

Ordinary Citizens - Example

Answer 9

Labour fought UK GE of 1997 on policies like devolution & minimum wage

Public don’t exercise power & transfer it to representatives

Creates a link between government & electoral mandate

Question 10

Ordinary Citizens - Rebuttal Point

Answer 10

Western democracies follow this model, including Scotland where Scottish people elect 3 types of parliamentary representatives

Question 11

Ordinary Citizens - Rebuttal Example

Answer 11

Election of local councillors to 32 local authorities in Scotland, now done once every 5 years

Question 12

Expert Knowledge - Point

Answer 12

A third key feature of representative democracy is it allows decisions to be in the hands of those with expert knowledge

Question 13

Expert Knowledge - Explain

Answer 13

Allows decisions to be made carefully

Need for experts in certain fields who can make practical & informed decisions

Plato likened state to ships, said leaders know how to ‘steer the ship’

Modern representative democracies rely on bills being scrutinised by MPs & the public

Question 14

Expert Knowledge - Example

Answer 14

Same Sex Marriage Bill went through parliament after consultation in Scottish Parliament before it was passed

Question 15

Expert Knowledge - Rebuttal Point

Answer 15

British political commentators argued allowing voters to decide ‘Brexit’ was a mistake by David Cameron due to its complex nature

Question 16

Expert Knowledge - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 16

Representative democracy is superior due to expertise of representatives

Theorist Joseph Schumpeter critic of democracy but supported limited form of representative democracy

Believed people lacked expertise to rule, government should be in hands of educated elite