Theme D

Question 1

How can Citizens Participate to society, Politics and Democracy?

What are some barriers to participation?

Answer 1

• They can participate in Politics by voting or campaigning on a local, national or global issue.
• The local community by volunteering for local charities and donating.
• The wider community by involvement in charities to improve health or campaign for justice and equality
  -Can serve in society by being a magistrate or special constable
  ______________________________________________

-Some people may be too busy or have a lack of time from working or childcare.
- A lack of interest (apathy) about politics or community issues, by believing that it makes no difference.
-Lack of awareness and education in how to exercise their power or influence
- They might worry about the impact of their position in society

Question 2

Direct and indirect action

Answer 2

• Citizens can take action directly by trying to achieve political goals all by themselves e.g through protests. Can start a campaign, a march, demonstration, protests. More aggressive methods include boycotts, strikes and riots.
• Indirect actions include joining a political party, voting in elections or referendums, standing for election as a councillor or MP. More powerful methods include lobbying politicians (convincing them to take your side), joining pressure groups or an advocacy group.

Question 3

Why don’t a lot of people participate in voting?

Answer 3

• Don’t have easy access to polling stations e.g disabilities or lack of time
• Lack of interest in politics and don’t consider it useful for them
• They aren’t educated enough on issues to make decisions on them
• They dislike all the parties involved and believe them all to have a selfish cause.
• They don’t believe their vote will make a difference

Question 3

What is digital democracy?

Answer 3

Involves the use of online technologies to engage voters with election campaigns,, more likely to increase voter turnout (percentage of people that voted in a country)
ADV - Using phones to vote is easier and more accessible than going to polling stations. This is known as e-voting. Can raise amount of younger people that participate in politics as it is more suited to them and can help people with disabilities or with lack of time to vote.
DIS -Very accessible to fraud or hacking, requires a lot of money and security to maintain

Question 4

How to improve voter engagement

Answer 4

1 - Make voting compulsory, fines for those who do not vote as an incentive.
2 - Increase face-to-face meetings between candidates and voters
3 - Improve citizenship education for younger people
4 - Change the First-Past-The-Post voting system so that every vote counts
5 - Allow voting on the weekend
6 - Place polling stations near stores so it is convenient to vote for more people

Question 5

How to improve political participation through social media

Answer 5

Parties can have SM accounts that post updates and stats
Spread their message more through pages and posts

Question 6

Features of a Democracy

Answer 6

Free and Fair elections
Governmental checks and balances
Citizen inclusion in politics
Citizen support for the government
Freedom of expression for citizens

Question 7

Non - Democratic systems

Answer 7

• Cannot vote for national leaders, only for local officials, less/one candidate(s)
• Dictators that decide everything
• No rule of law
• Dictators are for life, cannot be voted out or voted in by elections
• Military might control politics
• Citizens cannot have any effect on politics and cannot take part in parties of groups
• No free media expression