TOPIC 2 - REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY Flashcards
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF POLITICS PARTIES?
1.REPRESENTATION
2. ENABLING PARTICIPATION
3. SELECTING CANDIDATES
4.POLICY FORMATION
5.PROVIDING A GOVT
6. EDUCATING PUBLIC
7. REINFORCING CONSENT
REPRESENTATION EXPLANATION
ENSURE THAT DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS ARE REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT
REPRESENTATION EXAMPLE
BY ELECTING GREEN MPS, WE ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENT ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED DURING DEBATE
WHAT ARE LEFT WING VIEWS?
DESIRE CHANGE, REFORM AND ALTERATION TO WAY IN WHICH SOCIETY OPERATES. INVOLVES RADICAL CRITICISM OF CAPITALISM.
WHICH PARTIES ARE LEFT WING?
LABOUR (CENTRE LEFT)
GREEN ( LEFT)
WHAT IDEAS ARE CLASSED AS LEFT WING?
- NATIONALISATION
- HIGH GOVT SPENDING
- MIN WAGE
- FAIR TRADE
- HIGH BENEFITS
- IMMIGRATION
- COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS
- UNIVERSALISM
WHAT ARE RIGHT WING VIEWS?
REFLECTS SUPPORT FOR LITTLE OR NO CHANGE STRESSING THE NEED FOR ORDER STABILITY AND HIERACHY.
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF RIGHT WING PARTIES?
TORIES ( RIGHT WING TO CENTRE RIGHT)
REFORM UK ( RIGHT WING)
WHAT IDEAS ARE DESCRIBED AS RIGHT WING?
- PRIVATISATION
- LOW GOVT SPENDING
- ANTI - MULTICULTURALISM
- LOW BENEFITS
- PRIVATE SCHOOLS
- GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
ENABLING PARTICIPATION EXPLANATION
PARTIES PROVIDE A VARIETY OF MEANS BY WHICH CITIZENS CAN GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
WHAT WAYS DO PARTIES ENABLE PARTICIPATION?
- ALLOW PEOPLE TO JOIN AS MEMBERS
- ALLOW MEMBERS TO FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO A CAUSE
- ALLOW THEM TO VOTE ON POLICIES AT PARTY CONFERENCES.
- ENABLE THEM TO STAND FOR OFFICE
SELECTING CANDIDATES EXPLANATION
VITAL FOR DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEGISLATORS. POLITICAL PARTIES VET CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEW THEM IN A COMPETITVE PROCESS TP ENSURE THAT ONLY THE BEST CANDIDATES MAKE IT THROUGH.
SELECTING CANDIDATES CRITICISM WITH EXAMPLE
HARDER TO DO AT SNAP ELECTIONS AND CAN LEAD TO MPS E.G IMRAN AHMAD KHAN ( CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER - RAN FOR WAKEFIELD IN 2019)
POLICY FORMATION EXPLANATION
TO MAKE THEM ATTRACTIVE TO VOTERS, PARTIES WILL DEVELOPN POLICIES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CITIZENS.
PROVIDING A GOVT EXPLANATION
IN THE UK, A PM IS NOT DIRECTLY ELECTED AND INSTEAD WE ELECT AN MP WHO REPRESENTS A PARTY. LEADER OF PARTY WITH MOST MPS BECOME THE PM.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC EXPLANATION
TO TRY AND GAIN VOTES, PARTIES WILL CONDUCT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THEIR POLICIES. ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO ENGAGE.
REINFORCING CONSENT
ALL MAJOR UK POLITICAL PARTIES ARE COMMITTED TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY. THIS ENSURES THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT REMAINS LEGITIMATE AND THEREFORE BINDS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
WHAT ARE CRITICISMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES?
- PARTISANSHIP
- CONSERVATIVE
- REINFORCES SOCIAL DIVISION
- BENEFIT THE ELITE
- INTERNALLY DEMOCRATIC
PARTISANSHIP EXPLANATION
PARTISANSHIP CAN STIFLE DEBATES E.G OPPOSING POLICIES DUE TO THE FACT IS IS CONSERVATIVE RATHER THAN BASED ON PRINCIPLE. REINFORCED BY WHIP SYSTEM.
CONSERVATIVE EXPLANATION
CAN PREVENT NEW OR RADICAL IDEAS FOR DEVELOPING IN ORDER TO KEEP SUPPORT FROM MAINSTREAM. ( CENTRIST POLICIES DUE TO FPTP)
REINFORCES SOCIAL DIVISION EXPLANATION
CAN BE SEEN TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DIVISION OF WORKING (LABOUR) VS UPPER ( CONSERVATIVE)
WHAT IS CLASS DEALIGNMENT?
PROCESS WHERE INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BELONGING TO A CERTAIN CLASS AND FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES FAIL TO MAKE A CLASS CONNECTION WITH THEIR VOTING PATTERN.
BENEFIT THE ELITE EXPLANATION
CATER TO THE ELITE - MPS ARE MORE WHITE, MALE AND PRIVATELY EDICATED COMPARED TO THE PUBLIC. TO BE SELECTED A CANDIDATE, AN MP MUST DEVOTE HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME AND SOMETIMES MONEY WHICH THE POOR CAN’T AFFORD.
INTERNALLY UNDEMOCRATIC EXPLANATION?
POWER OF UNIONS IN LABOUR
MEMBERS OF TORIES DON’T GET TO VOTE ON POLICY DIRECTLY AND CAN ONLY VORE FOR 1 OF 2 LEADERS AND CANDIDATES CAN ONLY BE PICKED FROM AN APPROVED LIST.
WHAT IS A DELEGATE?
ELECTED TO ACT AS A VOICE FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS BUT ARE EXPECTED TO ACT ACCORDING TO PREFERENCES OF THOSE THEY REPRESENT.
LIMITED AUTONOMY
WHAT IS A REPRESENTATIVE?
ELECTED TO SERVE ON BEHALF OF THEIR CONSTIUENCY IN A BROADER LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY. HAVE GREATER FREEDOM AND ARE NOT STRICTLY BOUND BY DIRECT WISHES OF THEIR VOTERS - ACT AS TRUSTEES.
