UK- Democracy and participation Flashcards
What is Direct Democracy?
In which individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf. An example of direct democracy.
What is Representative Democracy?
In which people elect representatives (or political party) who make decisions on their behalf.
What are the advantages of Direct Democracy?
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- Gives equal weight to all votes, unlike a representative system where the varying sizes of constituencies mean that votes do not all have equal value.
- Encourages popular participation in politics by expecting people to take their duties as citizens seriously.
- Removes the need for trusted representatives, as people can take responsibility for their own decisions.
- Develops a sense of community and encourages genuine debate.
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
- Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision-making is complicated.
- Many people will not want to - or feel qualified to - take part in decision-making, so political activists decide what happens.
- Open to manipulation by the cleverest and most articulate speaker, who will persuade people to support their viewpoint. eg bojo and the brexit referendum where a very complex uissuewas simpliment
- Will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions, so minority viewpoints are disregarded.
Advantages of Representative Democracy
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- The only practical system in a large modern state, where issues are complex and often need rapid response (e.g. deployment of troops).
- Politicians form parties, bringing coherence and giving people a real choice of representative. Pressure groups form to represent different interests, promoting debate and encouraging pluralist democracy.
- Reduces chances of minority rights being overridden by ‘tyranny of the majority’.
- Elections allow people to hold representatives to account.
- Politicians are (in theory) better informed than the average citizen about the many issues on which they must take a view.
Disadvantages of Representative Democracy
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- May lead to reduced participation as people choose to hand responsibility to politicians.
- Parties and pressure groups are often run by elites pursuing their own agendas, not truly representing the people.
- Minorities may still find themselves underrepresented as politicians are more likely to follow the views of the majority to secure election.
- Politicians are skillful in avoiding accountability, especially as general elections are five years apart in the UK.
- Politicians may be corrupt and incompetent, may betray election promises or put loyalty to their party before responsibility to the electorate.
Define Pluralist Democracy
A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations.
What Positive Democratic Features does the UK Have?
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- Free Media that challenges government policy and exposes the misdeeds of politicians.
- Independent judiciary that upholds the rule of law and protects a wide range of personal freedom.
- Devolved governments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and elected majors for London and other English cities, enabling more decisions to be takes closer to local people.
- Free and fair elections, largely free of corruption and intimidation, in recent years supplement by opportunities to vote in referendums.
- Wide range of political parties and pressure groups to which people may belong.
What are some arguments that suggest the UK isn’t democratic?
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- Underrepresentation of minority viewpoints due to the voting system (First Past The Post)
- House of Lords lacks democratic legitimacy. The House of Lords is wholly unelected.
- Lack of protection for citizens’ rights. Governments can ‘derogate from’ (suspend) articles of the Human Rights Act in certain situations.
- Control of sections of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests. For example, the powerful Murdoch group has owned a number of British newspapers simultaneously including, The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun.
democracy and participation
three movements and reforms that enabled the uk to become a democracy
intro uk is a representative democracy- elects officials to act on their behalf
1-The Chartists. Embodies ideas of universal manhood suffrage. Indirectly led to second reform act 1876,Second reform act 1876. Enfranchised working class men in cities. Began ideas of democracy
2-Suffragists. Female suffrage. Meant by 1918 most women were enfranchised and led to representation of the people act 1918
3- representation of the peole act 1969 . lowered the voting age to 18. enfranchising the younger generation.
democracy and participation
Explain and analyse three features of democracy
intro: uk is a representative democracy- system og government in which people vote for elected representatives
1-Representation. Those who are elected should represent their constituents by listening to their people.is calls however for 16 year old votes eg in scotland ?
2-Participation. People need to be involved in politics to ensure the right people are elected. EG joins pressure groups. join party, e-petitions - however is in decline
3-Accountability. You need to be able to scrutinise governments at both a parliamentary and local level. Eg E-petitions recall petitions, PMQs?
democracy and participation
Explain and Analyse three factors that could potentially affect voter turnout
1-Political engagement. turnout for brexit referendum was 75% compared to the police and crime commissioner election 33.2% across the 38 PCC elections held in May 2021. Are there any valence issues such as Brexit in the 2019 election?
2-Age. Those over 65 turn out in larger amounts that 18 year olds. has been increasing across the last three general elections, whereas turnout among the 55-74 age group dipped in 2019.
3-Marginality of seats. In the 65 swing seats in Britain, turnout is much higher. people do not feel their vote is wasted
participation
Explain 3 forms of participation
1- membership of political parties. Involved in campaigning, attending meeting to discuss policy, voting on party leader
2- Joining a pressure group. Can be through striking with trade unions or setting the political agenda through social movements eg BLM
3- Signing e-petitions. More modern form of participation, raising concerns with MPs ad taking them to parliament.
FOR - There is a participation crisis in the UK
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- turnout in general election has fallen significantly since the 1950’s where more than 80% voted, but in 2024 59.7% voted.
- some elections have worse turnout such as the police and crime commissioners in 2024 which saw 23.5% turnout.
- Party membership is in decline since 1950’s. For example the conservatives had around 2.5 million members but as of 024 only have around 131,000 members. Same pattern with the Labour Party who had 1 million but now have around 370,000. PARTY DEALIGNMENT
- disillusion with political scandals eg partygate
AGAINST - There isn’t a participation crisis
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- while turnout in general elections has been in decline, some referendums have seen an increase in turnout. For example the Brexit referendum in 2016 72% - people turnout for more controversial topics
- some parties have seen an influx in party membership, such as the SNP which has increased 4x since 2014
- The membership of pressure groups have increased eg the national trust in one of the largest in Europe with over 5 million
What are 3 ways of increasing participation ?
- reducing the voting age too 16 eg Scottish independence referendum
- changing the electoral system to a more representative one eg proportional representation
- increasing political education
