UK Democracy Flashcards
What is Democracy?
The rule of the people
What are the types of Democracy and their elements
Direct democracy - Decisions are made directly by the people. ( elements include; referendums, petitions, citizen juries and public consultations.
Representative / Indirect democracy - People to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. ( elements include; elections, Parliament and devolved bodies)
Is the UK a Direct democracy system or a Representative Democracy?
The UK is a Representative Democracy with some direct elements ( like referendums and petitions)
Why is the UK a Representative democracy with only some direct elements?
- Practical for a modern state
- Parliamentary sovereignty has been established
- Participation via elections which include direct elements has to show an upward trend.
- Multi-party system and devolution offer wider representation.
What could be the benefits of direct democracy to the UK?
- Direct democracy improves turnout, that historically can be below 50% in the UK.
- UK does not allow universal suffrage ( Prisoners and below 18 can not vote)
- D.D can reduce the influence of interest groups if engagement is high.
What is a Franchise?
The franchise is the right to vote, so those who hold the franchise are eligible to vote in elections.
How has the Franchise been extended over time
- Great Reform Act, 1832 = allowed property owners/ wealthy renters to vote.
- Second Reform Act, 1867 = enabled working-class men in cities who were householders to vote ( doubled size of the electorate)
- Third Reform Act, 18887 = All men who were householders.
- Representation of the People Act 1918 = All men 21+ and women 30+ who were householders or married to a householder
- Equal Franchise Act, 1928 = All men and women 21+
- Representation of the People Act, 1969 = All men and women 18+
What makes a country democratic / what are the three essential ingredients of democracy?
Universal Suffrage
Free and Fair Elections
High Turnout
List the features of UK Democracy?
- Free and fair elections ( + Regular elections - every 5 yrs according the 2011 Fixed Term Parliament Act / - The Monarch and Lords are not elected )
- High turnouts ( + Increasing since 2001 in general elections / - other elections usually below 50% )
- Devolution ( + spreads power to local communities / - has created an imbalance in the UK system; the West Lothian question )
- Parliamentary sovereignty ( + Parliament has power to control the govt / - Parliament is usually dominated by the govt)
- Universal suffrage ( + Everyone over 18 with few exceptions can vote / - 16 and 17 year olds and prisoners cannot vote)
- Pressure groups. ( + Campaign for and protect minority interests / - Act in own self -interest rather than national good)
- Party system. ( + UK has a multi-party system / - Safe seats and two party dominance)
Strengths of UK democractic system
- Everyone over the age of 18, who is not a prisoner, or mentally incapable has the right to vote.
- Everyone is represented through a constituency MP.
- The FPTP electoral system is simple and provides a clear winner for each seat.
- The Electoral Commission works hard to ensure that parties adhere to rules on spending and campaigning.
- New groups and parties can easily be created to take on new issues.
- There are thousands of Pressure groups representing a wide variety of interests and groups which can compete.
Weaknesses of UK democratic system
- The electoral system leads to wasted votes and unrepresentative outcomes in parliament.
- Safe seats across the UK mean that there is a lack of real choice in many constituencies.
- The fact that only two parties are in a realistic position to form a govt reduces the level of choice
- Low turnouts - only 2/3 of people voting G.E - this raise concerns about the democratic legitimacy of the govt
- Issues concerning the denial of franchise to 16- and 17 year olds.
Due to factors like wealth, size and status, the competition between Pressure groups is often unfair and elitist, giving more groups much greater power than others.
Explain and analyze three factors that influence the nature of UK Democracy?
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Define and explain the features of Parliamentary Democracy?
Parliamentary democracy is where the democratic governance of a state features an executive branch (the part of government with the authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state) derives legitimacy from, and is held accountable to, the legislature (Parliament, with the power to enact, amend and repeal laws).
- In a P.D system of government, the Head of state, is normally a different person from the head of government. E.g In the UK, which is a constitutional monarchy, the Queen is the ceremonial head of state whilst the Prime Minister is the head of Government.
What is Liberal Democracy?
In this system, Government gets its legitimacy from the people through regular elections, in which most adults can vote, with a good choice of candidates and a secret ballot.
- It tries to limit the power of the main branches of government over the individual.
- government should be accountable to the people for what it does, with Parliament holding it accountable
Arguments against direct democracy?
- eople would not have the knowledge or time to make important political decisions
- ‘tyranny of the majority’, where the interests of minorities can be ignored.
- People do not have the knowledge or time to make important political decisions.
