Types of Democracy

Question 1

Why is direct democracy criticised?

Answer 1

• Impractical
• Expensive (UK GE cost 140m)
• General public aren’t experts
• Phrasing of the question can lead to manipulation
• Size of the electorate

Question 2

Why are mandates imporatnt in representative democracy?

Answer 2

• Elected politicians need a mandate to have legitimacy
• Authority is derived from the expressed consent of the voters in a constituency under represetnative democracy
• A random citizen saying they are a representative doesn’t give them authority

Question 3

Differences between direct and representative democracy?

Answer 3

• Every voter makes their own decision in direct and they are all worth the same amount.
• Representative democracies typically have “safe seats”.
• In representative, an elected politician makes the deicison on behalf of voters.