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Politics > UK Politics: dem & participation- Forms of democracy > Flashcards

UK Politics: dem & participation- Forms of democracy Flashcards

1
Q

What is liberal democracy?

A

In this form of democracy, the right to vote will be widespread and representatives will act in the interests of everyone in society.

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2
Q

What is majoritarian democracy?

A

This is a system whereby the will or desires of the majority of the population are the prime considerations of the government.

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3
Q

What is parliamentary democracy?

A

This is a system where parliament stands as the highest form of authority. The executive branch will be drawn from and accountable to the people’s representatives in parliament.

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4
Q

What is presidential democracy?

A

This is a system where the executive will be elected separately from the legislative body and is therefore chosen by and directly accountable to the people.

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5
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

This refers to any occasion when the citizens are directly involved in the decision-making process.

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6
Q

What is representative democracy?

A

This describes any system where the people transfer the power to make decisions to an elected representative.

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7
Q

What is a characteristic of parliamentary democracy?

A

The government is drawn from members of parliament.

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8
Q

How is the government held accountable in parliamentary democracy?

A

The government is held to account by parliament.

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9
Q

What type of system exists in parliamentary democracy?

A

There is a unified system, whereby the executive and legislature are from the same party.

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10
Q

In parliamentary democracy, how are the head of state and head of government related?

A

The head of state and head of government are likely to be separate.

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11
Q

What is a characteristic of presidential democracy? (interms of how the people element thte legislature and the executive )

A

The government is elected separately from members of the legislature.

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12
Q

Who holds the government accountable in presidential democracy?

A

The electorate holds the government to account.

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13
Q

What is a possibility in presidential democracy regarding government control(Of the legislature)

A

There is the possibility of a divided government when different parties control the executive and legislature.

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14
Q

In presidential democracy, how are the head of state and head of government related?

A

The head of state will usually be the head of government as well.

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15
Q

What is pluralist democracy?

A

A system of government where there is competition between different groups who represent popular concerns to the government of the day.

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16
Q

What does pluralism refer to?

A

The broad idea that there is competition between different groups who represent different concerns, either as parties or as pressure groups.

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17
Q

How is power distributed in a pluralist democracy?

A

Power is widely and evenly distributed across society rather than concentrated in the hands of an elite.

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18
Q

What role does the government play in a pluralist democracy?

A

The government should remain neutral and make decisions based on the merits of the competing arguments.

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19
Q

What are key characteristics of a pluralist democracy?

A
  1. Wide dispersal of power among competing groups
  2. No elite groups
  3. Groups will be internally democratic
  4. Group leaders will be accountable to their members
  5. A range of access points
  6. The government should be politically neutral
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20
Q

What is the purpose of democracy?

A

The purpose of democracy includes various functions that ensure the representation, accountability, participation, power dispersal, legitimacy, and education of the citizenry.

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21
Q

What does representation in democracy mean?

A

There must be a means for the people to express their views to the government.

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22
Q

What is accountability in the context of democracy?

A

There must be a process for the government to explain and take responsibility for its actions.

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23
Q

What does participation refer to in a democratic system?

A

There must be a way for the people to engage and take part in the political process.

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24
Q

What is meant by power dispersal in democracy? Why is it done?

A

There should be a system that ensures power is spread across different political bodies to prevent dominance by one body.

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25
Q

What is the significance of legitimacy in democracy?

A

The selection process for different branches of government should have legal authority and fairly represent the will of the people.

26
Q

Why is education important in a democratic society?

A

The political process should be open to all, and there should be an educated and informed citizenry.

27
Q

What are the different forms a democracy can take?

A

Liberal, Majoritarian, Parliamentary, Presidential, Direct, Representative

28
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

Direct democracy refers to a system where eligible citizens make political decisions themselves without representatives.

29
Q

How are decisions made in direct democracy?

A

Decisions are typically made by a majority vote on a simple for or against basis.

30
Q

What is an initiative in the context of direct democracy?

A

An initiative is a means by which the people, rather than the government, can call for a vote on a specific issue.

31
Q

What is a petition?

A

A petition is an appeal to make something specific happen, usually by demonstrating a high level of popular support.

32
Q

Why is direct democracy considered the purest form of democracy?

A

It allows people to express their opinions directly, without being misinterpreted.

33
Q

What is the most common form of direct democracy?

A

The most common form is the use of referendums, where the public votes directly on an issue.

34
Q

Who calls referendums?

A

Referendums are called by representatives or those in charge.

35
Q

What are initiatives in some regions of the United States?

A

Initiatives are similar to referendums but are proposed and called by a percentage of the population.

36
Q

What is a town hall meeting?

A

A town hall meeting is a system where members of the public can attend and express their views directly to those in power.

37
Q

What are citizens’ juries?

A

Citizens’ juries are an element of direct democracy in the UK that allows people to express their opinion on a particular policy.

38
Q

What role do public petitions play in direct democracy?

A

Public petitions allow the people to express their opinion on a particular area of government.

39
Q

What is Initiative A?

A

A means by which the people, rather than the government, can call for a vote on a specific issue.

40
Q

What is a Petition?

A

An appeal to make something specific happen, usually by demonstrating a high level of popular support.

41
Q

What is an argument in favor of direct democracy to do with direct say?

A

It is a pure form of democracy because everyone has a say on an issue rather than having their views expressed through representatives.

42
Q

What is an argument against direct democracy to do with logisical concerns?

A

It is not practical due to the number of issues and the size of the population, making a system of direct democracy unresponsive.

43
Q

How does direct democracy increase legitimacy?

A

Decisions have greater democratic legitimacy because they have the support of the majority of the people.

44
Q

What is the ‘tyranny of the majority’?

A

Minority groups and interests may have their needs and concerns overlooked when decisions are based on a majority vote.

45
Q

How does direct democracy improve participation?

A

Participation is greater when people have more opportunities to be involved in issues that directly affect them.

46
Q

What is a drawback of direct democracy regarding elected representatives?

A

It undermines the role of representatives, allowing them to pass the responsibility for difficult decisions to the public.

47
Q

How does direct democracy increase public engagement?

A

Regular public debates and discussions of issues help to improve public engagement in the running of the country.

48
Q

What is a concern regarding voter turnout in direct democracy?

A

A low turnout means that only a small group of people make decisions which affect everyone, undermining the legitimacy of those decisions.

49
Q

How does direct democracy improve political education?

A

Political education is improved because people need to be informed in order to make decisions.

50
Q

What is a potential issue with emotional voting?

A

People can tend to vote on the basis of emotion rather than the practical considerations of major issues.

51
Q

What is an example of a country that effectively uses direct democracy?

A

Countries like Switzerland regularly use direct democracy to make decisions.

52
Q

What is a risk of populist outcomes in direct democracy?

A

People can tend to vote on popular short-term measures that will benefit them, rather than consider what is in the national interest.

53
Q

List the argument for direct democracy

A

A pure form of democracy.
Increased legitimacy.
Improves participation
Increases public engagement.
Improves political education.
It works. E.g. Switzerland

54
Q

List arguments against direct democracy

A

It is not practical
Tyranny of the majority
Undermines elected representatives
Low turnouts
Emotional responses
Populist outcomes

55
Q

KEEP GOING

A

Yayaya

56
Q

What do elected representatives do?

A

Elected representatives debate and discuss laws on behalf of the people who have elected them.

57
Q

How can elected representatives act?

A

They may act on what their constituents want or on what they think would be best for their constituents.

58
Q

Who else may elected representatives represent?

A

They may represent wider groups when debating and creating laws.

59
Q

.

A

.

60
Q

What do elected representatives do?

A

Elected representatives debate and discuss laws on behalf of the people who have elected them.

61
Q

How can elected representatives act?

A

They may act on what their constituents want or on what they think would be best for their constituents.

62
Q

.

A

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Politics (22 decks)

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