RHV UK politics democracy Jan mock Flashcards
direct democracy good examples
- e-petitions- UK plastic bag charge- 5p in 2015
- initiatives- Proposition 8 was an initiative that reached the required signatures and sought to “Eliminate the rights of same sex couples to marry”. The proposition passed, but was stuck down later by the Supreme Court
- referendums
-high referendum turnout 2014 85% Scotland- Brexit 72%
direct democracy advantages
more directly reflect beliefs
better education
more participation
removes partisan nature of government
more legitimate
direct democracy disadvantages
tyranny of the majority
lack of accountability
rubber stamp from the people
uninformed electorate
poor participation like 2011 AV
direct democracy cons examples
- low turnout in 2011 AV 40%
- initiatives- Proposition 8 reached the required signatures- “Eliminate the rights of same sex couples to marry”. passed, but was stuck down by the supreme court in 2013
- e-petitions - reforming ADHD medication under 10,000- backbench business committee has to approve
- used as rubber Stamp- Cameron Brexit ‘I always win’
- uninfomed electorate Brexit NHS bus
milestones in suffrage
Great reform act 1832- abolished rotten boroughs- 6%
Representation of the People Act (1928)- female vote over 21
Scottish elections act 2016- 16 voting age
participation stats examples- pros and cons
- 37 with 100,000 signatured 2011-2015
- Starbucks and Gaza- sales dipped 7% in 2024
- BLM 15 to 26 million people in the USA
- 2019 Audit- 50% felt no impact on politics
- party membership , less than 1 mil in 2019
- Tommy Robinson on X, misinformation about COVID-19 causing racist attacks on Asian Britons
- trade unions at an all time low in 2016
reforms will advance democracy points and examples
- more referendums- 85% turnout for Scottish independence 2014, 72% Brexit, Rejoin EU 1.1% 2021 MoL election- engagement
- change FPTP- decrease apathy- 2 reps in AMS like in Scotland- 9/10 scots feel it is v important to vote,
- lower voting age- young people want to vote 4/5 of 16-to-25-year-olds in England take at least some interest in politics, more legitimacy- 1.6 mil population 16-17
reforms will not advance democracy points and examples
- referendums too often cause apathy- unengaging AV 2011 42%, lack of popular control about when and where they are used- EU only called to put it to bed by Cameron
- changing FPTP- A government can carry out their manifesto- Blair and his reforms, 2024 Labour won 63% of the seats with 34% votes, PR, vote would increase by 3-7%
- lower voting age- less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the last election, 70% of people under 18 don’t know the name of their MP
16 voting pros
issues ignored- 7% drop Starbucks Gaza
irrational cut-off age and blurred age of majority- can get married, join army, leave education, have sex
more political engagement
Amika George- #FreePeriods 17
more legitimacy- 1.6 mil population 16-17
16 voting cons
- lack of interest- less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the last election, 70% of people under 18 don’t know the name of their MP
- preserving childhood- need parental consent for many things like marriage, not fully finished education, no understanding of taxes
- low turnout
- need education- VA on priv. is already too big of a change, will only continue to increase low turnout- under 60% 2024
compulsory votes pros
- increased participation- low turnout- under 60% 2024, low turnout in 2011 AV 40%
- greater education- 70% of people under 18 don’t know the name of their MP, 17% of people dont register to vote
- disengaged people get an opportunity- least likely black Caribbean and black African heritage to vote
compulsory votes cons
- wasted votes- 5% 2016 Australia
- addresses cause not problem
- abuse of freedom to not vote
suffragettes
suffragists Millicent Fawcett
suffragettes Pankhurst deeds not words
debate which is more important
full 1928
prisoner votes movements
HRA 1998- 2004 Hirst case
Prison Reform Trust
2017- can register to vote- not great change
Cameron- ‘physically ill’
break no make laws
only 13 EU countries no vote
interest group
pressure group for the member’s interests
peak group
association of industries or groups w common interests- pool resources and work together
cause group
pressure group with shared ideals
think tanks
group of experts
provide policy advice, ideas and policy proposals
think tank pros and examples
enrich democracy w crucial expertise
pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to go ahead with shaking up the government’s fiscal rules- Progressive Britain, Fabian Society
unlock democracy given A- not all opaque
think tank cons and examples
shady funding
UK think tanks have raised more than £101m to influence public policy 2023 for general election.
“Who Funds You?” E rating- Adam Smith, Civitas
corporation pros and examples
crucial economic role so democratic to be heard
BBA voice of banking
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
corporation cons and examples
not a level playing field
counterbalanced with trade unions
all time low 2016
1/2 workers then, 1/4 workers now
BBA protected guilty bankers 2008
lobbyists pros and examples
represent groups important to democracy- businesses and wider interests
1923, Churchill worked as a lobbyist for Burmah Oil
industry is worth over £2 bil/year
lobbyists cons and examples
only the wealthiest can influence key decisions by funding
2 Labour peers suspended 2009 120,000 pounds to amend legislation
Lord Blencathra paid to lobby for Cayman Islands 2012
insider pressure group example and points
- influence on ministers is most effective (becoming decentralised)
UK government spent £140 billion on bailouts- benefit BBA 2008
vs
60% decentralised population 2024 - parliament has become more powerful and sophisticated so more effective (gov still dominates parliament)
Lords defeated the government 129 times during the 2019-2021 session
vs
winners bonus 34% to 64% 2024 - influence inside a specific party can be effective when in power (but bad for other parties)
2010 and 2020, Unite donated over £40 million to the Labour Party.
vs
Johnson has publicly criticized “militant” unions
outsider pressure group example and points
- engaging public opinion forces government (can be unlikely)
Marcus Rashford vs extinction rebellion - direct action good or 24-hour news (mob rule seen as bad)
Brian Haw- 5 year demonstration outside parliament against Iraq war vs Blair supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and had the British Armed Forces participate - using the courts to challenge government policy (costly and time consuming)
Friends of the Earth blocking 3rd Heathrow runway vs The Countryside Alliance failed legal case against banning fox hunting
Magna carta
1215
stops monarch abusing power
Bill of Rights
1689
more limits on monarchy
Human Rights Act
1998
ECHR became law
accessible rights protection
Equality Act
2010
brought all anti-discrimination into a single document
protects workers and public
Freedom of Information Act
2000
openness and accountability
vexatious
expenses scandal 2008
Liberty stop and search 2010
individual rights definition
granted to individuals through status as human beings
life, liberty, security
collective rights definition
granted to groups or communities
importance of group identity
collective vs individual rights examples
COVID-19 lockdown march 2020, 230,000 deaths
FOI- collective good, vexatious- 2008 expenses scandal
HRA- declaration of incompatibility, Rwanda, suspected terrorists Abu Hamza delayed deportation
Equality act 2010 protected characteristics
elections pros
- representation- represent constituencies, surgeries, 8 independents, Unrealistic Housing Targets for Reigate questioned by Rebecca Paul
- holding to account- Tory -251 seats 2024, Lib Dem -49 seats 2015
- participation- active role, 70% 2017, 2011 AV ref. v low,
elections cons
- representation- not been not lab or cons since 1931, 35% of Tory MPs local
- holding to account- every 4-5 years, safe seats, Liberal 1906 Reigate, apathy of young people, online politics
- participation- only 60% 2024, failing support and lack of faith in 2 parties, only 34% labour 2024
plurality definition
winner is the candidate with the most votes
no majority needed
non-proportional
majority system definition
winner needs more than 50% to be elected
non-proportional
FPTP definition
UK
candidate with greatest number of votes is elected
winner has more votes than any other candidate, not a majority
FPTP pros
- strong government
clear electoral mandate- easily held to account, Tory -251 seats 2024, Lib Dem -49 seats 2015, winners bonus, keeps out extremists such as BNP out - representative of constituencies, Unrealistic Housing Targets for Reigate questioned by Rebecca Paul, Friday afternoon surgeries
- easily understood- tried and tested X, Newcastle 59 mins to declare 2017, 5.6 per cent AV Australia spoilt ballots
FPTP cons
- not always a strong government- 2010 coalition, Conservative confidence and supply with DUP, mandate unclear due to under 50%- Labour 34% 2024
- not representative of constituencies- 35% of Tory MPs local, Rebecca Paul assisted dying- cannot represent everyone
- easy understanding- doesn’t lead to more votes- Scottish AMS 2021 at 20 year high turnout, more proportional with AMS in scotland would lead to higher turnout- was easily understood in all devolved regions
AMS definition
Additional Member System
used in:
Scottish, Welsh, Greater London assemblies
- hybrid voting system that has elements of FPTP (for constituencies) and the Closed List
- 2 votes
- list results are used to add ‘top-up’ representatives to make the result proportional- calc by D’HONDT method
AMS pros
- Having 2 votes makes people feel more empowered- their vote counts regionally
- Can produce majority governments- MS Scotland 2011- SNP majority- Can still lead to a secure government- FPTP
- Parties have to appeal to wider electorate to get regional votes, not just focus on swing constituencies
AMS cons
- Issues with size of regions- relatively small size of the electoral regions means that parties need to win around 6% of the list vote in a single region to win any seats. Some smaller parties therefore remain unrepresented
- parties therefore remain unrepresented
Split voting causes tactical aspects - also encompasses negative aspects on FPTP and closed list
STV definition
multi member constituencies
uses Droop quota
minimize wasted votes
proportional
- NI assembly
- meet quota = win
- excess votes transferred
- The candidate with the least votes is eliminated and votes transferred
This process repeats from step 1 until the required number of candidates have been elected.
STV pros
- coalition so fits NI well- ended 30 years of violence
- proportional- Electoral reform society supports
STV cons
- weaken the representative-constituent link because of it’s multi-member constituencies- NI 5 MLAs from each of the 18 constituencies
- still unstable- suspended 6 times, only period of extended devolved government was 2007-17
SV definition
- supplementary vote
- NOT proportional
- single candidate
- metro mayors in England + London
- majority system- top 2 parties remain if no majority- 2 votes each
SV pros
- allows people to vote for 1st choice and in protest- Rejoin EU 1.1% 2021
- prevents splitting vote- labour 40 to 55% in 2nd round 2021
SV cons
- wasted votes if not vote for top 2- creates 2 party system- Labour, Cons, Green, Lib Dem- can vote for last 2 and wasted
- not proportional- 45% votes wasted 2021
referendum pros
- representative democracy
- more legitimacy
- sometimes high participation- 72% Brexit
referendum cons
- undermine Parliamentary Sovereignty- Brexit Cameron
- divisions in society- Scottish Indy Rev
- issues too complex for a public vote- question phrasing Brexit
referendum examples
- Scottish Indy Rev
- Brexit Cameron ‘I always win’
- 72% Brexit
- low turnout AV 2011 42.0%
