UK Politics - Democracy And Political Participation

Question 1

Representative democracy

Answer 1

Local representatives are elected who make decisions on the behalf of the citizens

Question 2

Direct democracy

Answer 2

The public votes on every single issue

Question 3

Parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 3

The power of the parliament to make whatever law they want

Question 4

Popular sovereignty

Answer 4

The power of the people to vote out ineffective governments

Question 5

Democratic participation

Answer 5

The ability of the people to influence politics through elections, campaigning, etc.

Question 6

Democratic deficit

Answer 6

When people lose faith in politics and refuse to vote for any party

Question 7

Advantages of direct democracy

Answer 7

• develops a sense of community and encourages genuine debate
• removes the need for trusted representatives as people can take responsibility for their own decisions
• 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

Question 8

Disadvantages of direct democracy

Answer 8

• Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision making is complicated
• Will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions so minority viewpoints are disregarded
• Many people will not want to, or feel qualified to take part in decision-making so political activists decide what happens

Question 9

Advantages of representative democracy

Answer 9

• Reduces chance of minority rights being overridden by “tyranny of the majority”
• Issues are complex in modern day and often need rapid response, making it a more practical system
• In theory, politicians are better informed than the average citizen on issues where they must take a view
• Elections allow people to hold representatives to account
• Politicians form parties which give people a good choice of representatives, pressure groups also form to represent different interests which promotes debate and pluralist democracy

Question 10

Disadvantages of representative democracy

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Tyranny of the majority

Answer 11

When minorities are persecuted by the majority in representative democracy

Question 12

Is the UK a representative or direct democracy?

Answer 12

The UK is a representative democracy as we elect politicians to make decisions on our behalf, but there are elements of direct democracy, such as referendums, e.g. Brexit, Scottish independence. Several mayors are also directly chosen, e.g. the mayor of London

Question 13

Features of UK democracy

Answer 13

Devolved governments, independent judiciary, free media, free and fair elections, wide range of political parties and pressure groups

Question 14

Problems with the UK democracy

Answer 14

• Under-representation of minority viewpoints under the first-past-the-post system
• house of lords lacks democratic legitimacy as they are appointed rather than elected
• lack of protection for citizens’ rights
• control of sections of the media by powerful business interests

Question 15

Who can vote in UK elections?

Answer 15

People over the age of 18, citizens of the UK, Republic of Ireland and commonwealth citizens, and UK nationals that have lived abroad for less than 15 years

Question 16

Who can’t vote in UK elections?

Answer 16

Under 18’s, EU citizens (apart from the Irish, although EU citizens can vote in local elections), prisoners, those convicted of corrupt or illegal electoral practices (they are barred for 5 years), those in psychiatric care