the UK constitution

Question 1

What is a representitive democracy

Answer 1

a democracy in which voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. Theses representatives are held accountable in regular elections.

Question 2

Where does sovereignty lay within a representitve democracy

Answer 2

With the voters - they decide wether or not to review the mandate of thier representitives.

Question 3

Give three advantages of a representitive democracy

Answer 3

1. Government is carried out by professional politicians who are more likely to make educated decicions.
2. Elected representitives balance conflicitng interests when reaching decisions therefore protecting the rights of all citizens.
3. It allows the public to hold government to account, if they do not apporve of policy within govenrment they can elect a new one.

Question 4

Give three disadvantages of a representitive democracy

Answer 4

1. MP’s within the UK are disengaged with from the public so do not properly represent thier interests. - Greater Manchester Mayoral Election 2017 turnout of 28.9%
2. MP’s can also have second jobs which causes a conflict of interests and compromises thier ability to represent constituents. - 2021 Owen Paterson for North Shropshire broke lobbying rules.
3. Due to FPTP labour and conservate dominate parliament so parties such as Green and UKIP are not properly represented. - Brighton Pavillion Green seat is the only one in Parliament.

Question 5

What is significant about the formation of the commons in 2017, how does this go against argument of it being unrepresentative?

Answer 5

of the 650 MP’s;

• 8% were from ethnic minorities
• 32% were female
• 7% were LGBT
• just 29% were privately educated (lowest on record)

Question 6

What is a direct democracy, give an example

Answer 6

a democracy in which citizens make political decisons themselves, ie in the form of a referendum

Question 7

What was the turnout of the 2017 General Election

Answer 7

68.7%

Question 8

Give some examples of where direct democracy has been used in the UK

Answer 8

1. Referendums - Scottish independence referendum (2014)
2. E-petitions - “A second referendum on leaving the EU’
3. Recall of MP’s Act 2015 - allowed constituents to force a by-election

Question 9

What was the turnout of the 2001 General Election, whats its significance?

Answer 9

59.4% - people did not bother voting because they were sure that Blaires Labour would win as William Hagues leadership failed to genrate public support. Therefore you might argue this made blaires government less legitimate.

Question 10

What are the 3 main arguments in favour of the UK being in a participation crisis

Answer 10

1. general election turnouts have decreased by 4% since 1983 suggests people are becoming disengaged from politics.
2. membership of political parties on average have decreased - The Conservatives had 3 million members in 1950, this dropped to 130,000 by 2010.
3. more demonstrations against government - Stop the War Coalition cross party march in 2003 and the 2010 National Union of Students demonstration to cut tuition fees

Question 11

What are the 3 main arguments against the UK being in a participation crisis

Answer 11

1. Referendum turnouts are high- 2016 EU referndum 72.2%
2. Labour party membership increased from 190,00 to 552,00 in 2014 to 2018 due to the radical alternative offered by Corbyn
3. New forms of democracy introduced ie. E-petitions have great public interaction.

Question 12

What is meant by a democratic deficit

Answer 12

when a democracy is not operating effectively because there is a lack of accountability among political bodies and not all citizens can claim influence over political decision making

Question 13

What are the two main arguments against further devolution in reforming uk democracy

Answer 13

1. Turnout in elections for devolved assemblies are significantly lower than Westminster. Northern Irish Assembly election turnout 1998: 69.8% and 2016: 54.9%.
2. Turnout in mayoral elections are also low with the Manchester mayoral election in 2017 was just 29.9%

This suggests that adding a new layer of government is not an effective way in engaging the public rather it discourages participation because of democratic overload.

Question 14

What is the power of recall act 2015

Answer 14

An act passed in parliament that enabled voters to trigger a by-election - if 10% of them sign a petition - if the MP has been sentenced to prison or suspended from the House of Commons.

Question 15

How has the House of Lords reform failed to reform UK democracy

Answer 15

When David Cameron left office in 2016 he appointed 13 life peers most of whom were political allies.

Making the Lords an elected chamber would mean they are democratically accountable and could rival the commons

Thereby potentially creating constiutional gridlock.