The UK's Democracy

Question 1

What are the main features of the UK’s democracy?

Answer 1

~ Representative democracy

~ Free, fair and regular elections with universal suffrage since 1928

~ Bicameral parliamentary democracy with parliamentary sovereignty

~ Multiple levels of government

~ Lots of parties to choose from

~ Over 7000 pressure groups active

~ Liberal democracy

~ Some elements of direct democracy such as referenda

Question 2

How regularly are elections held in the UK?

Answer 2

Every five years (under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011).

Question 3

What is meant by parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 3

That Parliament is the most supreme body which has the final say on everything.

Question 4

What are the main strengths of the UK’s democracy?

Answer 4

~ It is a representative democracy

~ Representatives are elected through free, fair, secret, competitive and regular elections

~ Political parties are free to organise, express their views and campaign

~ Pressure Groups are allowed to operate

~ Human Rights and civil liberties are part of the political culture

~ The press and media are independent

~ The rule of law prevails

~ Government is decentralised and has multiple tiers

~ Little corruption compared to other countries

Question 5

Why is the UK being a representative democracy a good thing?

Answer 5

~ Provides the government with those who have both practical knowledge and expertise on governance

~ Prevents Tyranny of the Majority

Question 6

Why is the way the UK’s elections are run a good thing?

Answer 6

~ There is a strong link between the constituents and their MP

~ The winning party has a mandate to implement their manifesto

~ Ensures high levels of accountability

~ Strong and stable governments are produced

Question 7

Why is having an independent press a good thing?

Answer 7

It allows the media to scrutinise the work of politicians and highlight problems.

Question 8

What is an example of the press highlighting a problem that would have otherwise gone unnoticed?

Answer 8

It was the press who exposed the expenses scandal in 2010

Question 9

How might one counter the argument that the UK’s press is one of its strengths?

Answer 9

~ Some papers, such as the News of the World, went to illegal measures

~ The Leveson Report suggests that a large part of the media is owned by powerful business who have a disproportionate influence on the political process

~ The press is said to be right wing orientated

Question 10

What are the main weaknesses of the UK’s democracy?

Answer 10

~ Popular participation is irregular and the public are forced to relinquish their power to their representatives

~ Some argue that a participation crisis is jeopardising the legitimacy of the government

~ There is a lack of referenda and other forms of direct democracy

~ The Executive is too powerful and can use its majority in Parliament to pass almost everything it wants to do

~ Parliament is unrepresentative of the people

~ FPTP distorts the wishes of the people

~ The Party System leads to a lack of effective choices

~ There are unelected institutions with lots of power like the House of Lords

~ Pressure Groups aren’t democratically elected and can have disproportionate influence on the government

~ There is a severe lack of public trust in politicians

~ Culture of secrecy

Question 11

In what ways has the UK become more democratic in recent years?

Answer 11

~ There has been an increase in the use of referenda

~ Power has become more decentralised thanks to devolution

~ The growth of e-petitions has allowed for greater public participation from home

~ Reforms have been made to the House of Lords

~ Human Rights and civil liberties have become better protected

~ Electoral reforms

~ Less secrecy

Question 12

What is the people’s initiative? What is a country that has it?

Answer 12

The people’s imitative is the idea that people can force the government to instigate a referendum using a petition. It is present in Switzerland.

Question 13

In 2011, what percentage of people said that they trusted politicians?

Answer 13

13%

Question 14

What are some counter arguments to the argument that devolution has helped to make the UK more democratic?

Answer 14

~ The devolved institutions have limited powers

~ The majority of UK citizens have no devolution

~ The powers of the devolved institutions are not intrenched and can be undone at any time

Question 15

Who controls the transport in London?

Answer 15

The Mayor of London, not the government

Question 16

How many people signed the e-petition for a second EU Referendum?

Answer 16

4 million

Question 17

What was the nature of the Lords reforms? Why have they been criticised?

Answer 17

They reduced the number of hereditary peers to 92 however the house remains totally unelected and therefore unaccountable.

Question 18

Which act of Parliament helped to protect Human Rights in the UK?

Answer 18

The 1998 Human Rights Act

Question 19

What do critics of the Human Rights Act say?

Answer 19

That it is not entrenched so can be reversed by Parliament with a simple vote.