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Politics > UK Politics:Democracy & participation- Extending the franchise > Flashcards

UK Politics:Democracy & participation- Extending the franchise Flashcards

1
Q

What is the franchise?

A

The franchise is the right to vote, so those who hold the franchise are eligible to vote in elections.

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2
Q

How is the franchise determined in the UK?

A

The franchise is determined by legislation, as elections are conducted by law in the UK.

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3
Q

What is universal suffrage in the UK?

A

Universal suffrage extends the franchise to everyone over the age of 18 who is not a criminal, mentally incapable, or a peer.

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4
Q

What percentage of the UK population currently holds the franchise?

A

Approximately 71.5% of the current UK population holds the franchise.

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5
Q

What was the percentage of the UK population with the franchise 200 years ago?

A

About 2.7% of the UK population had the franchise 200 years ago.

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6
Q

What does the extension of the franchise reflect?

A

The extension of the franchise reflects the changing nature of democracy in the UK, as attitudes to class, gender, and age have evolved.

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7
Q

What was the rallying cry during the American War of Independence regarding the franchise?

A

‘No taxation without representation’ was the rallying cry of the colonies.

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8
Q

What significant change occurred in the franchise in 1832?

A

The Great Reform Act 1832 extended voting rights to property owners, adding 300,000 voters.

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9
Q

What was the voting rights situation before the Great Reform Act 1832?

A

Before 1832, the right to vote was limited to members of the upper class based on land ownership.

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10
Q

What did the Representation of the People Act 1918 achieve?

A

The Act extended the franchise to all women over the age of 30 and all men over the age of 21.

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11
Q

What were some arguments in favor of giving women the vote in the 1900s?

A

Arguments included that it would help end other inequalities and was a fundamental right.

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12
Q

What were some arguments against giving women the vote in the 1900s?

A

Arguments included that men and women had separate roles and that women had not fought to defend their country.

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13
Q

What did the Representation of the People Act 1928 accomplish?

A

The Act extended the franchise to all citizens over the age of 21, regardless of gender.

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14
Q

What was the significance of the Representation of the People Act 1969?

A

It extended the franchise to 18-year-olds, reflecting social changes and the increasing independence of young adults.

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15
Q

What was the common rallying cry for the 26th Amendment in the USA?

A

‘Old enough to fight, old enough to vote’ was the rallying cry for extending the franchise to young men.

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16
Q

What did the Latey Committee recommend regarding the voting age?

A

The Latey Committee recommended lowering the voting age to 18, citing the maturity and independence of 18-year-olds.

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17
Q

What is the Fawcett Society?

A

The Fawcett Society is a modern pressure group that campaigns for women’s rights, named in honour of Millicent Fawcett.

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18
Q

What was the first petition for women’s suffrage?

A

In 1866, the first petition to give women the right to vote was presented to parliament.

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19
Q

What was the Manchester Society for Women’s Suffrage?

A

The Manchester Society for Women’s Suffrage was one of the first movements created after the failure to extend the franchise to women.

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20
Q

What was the NUWSS?

A

The NUWSS, or National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, was unified in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett and was nicknamed the ‘Suffragists’.

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21
Q

What type of group was the NUWSS?

A

The NUWSS was an internally democratic group with members electing their president and decisions made through elected committees.

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22
Q

Who were the typical members of the NUWSS?

A

Most members were middle class and campaigned for various women’s rights issues, such as marriage rights and employment rights.

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23
Q

Could men join the NUWSS?

A

Yes, anyone could join the NUWSS, and some men did join the group.

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24
Q

What methods did the NUWSS use?

A

The methods of the NUWSS were peaceful, applying pressure through persuasion. Their activities included: writing letters, writing pamphlets, giving educational lectures, organising petitions, and holding peaceful marches and protests.

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25
Q

What was the membership of the NUWSS by 1914?

A

By 1914, the NUWSS had more than 100,000 members in 400 branches spread across the whole country.

26
Q

What was the WSPU nicknamed?

A

The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was nicknamed the ‘Suffragettes’.

27
Q

Who founded the WSPU?

A

The WSPU was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia, in 1903.

28
Q

Where was the WSPU initially based?

A

The WSPU was initially based in Manchester.

29
Q

What were the aims of the WSPU?

A

The aims of the WSPU were to secure equal voting rights for women, have a female-only membership, be a group of deeds or action, and focus only on political equality.

30
Q

What methods did the WSPU use to campaign?

A

The WSPU used methods such as disrupting political party meetings, chaining themselves to public railings, smashing windows, attacking police officers, blowing up buildings, burning buildings, destroying letters in post boxes, and going on hunger strike in prison.

31
Q

What happened on Black Friday, 18 November 1910?

A

On Black Friday, a WSPU protest resulted in a fight with police that saw many women assaulted, both physically and sexually.

32
Q

What was the Cat and Mouse Act of 1913?

A

The Cat and Mouse Act allowed a woman on the brink of death to be temporarily released from prison to regain strength before being returned.

33
Q

What was the public opinion towards the WSPU by 1914?

A

By 1914, public opinion was firmly against the WSPU and its cause.

34
Q

What did the WSPU promise when war broke out in 1914?

A

The WSPU promised to end violent methods for the duration of the war and began to help the government organize women workers.

35
Q

What are the arguments for violent methods in the suffrage movement?

A

Arguments for violent methods include raising public awareness, keeping the issue in the public eye, creating sympathy through police suppression, and that opponents were unlikely to be deterred by violence.

36
Q

What are the arguments against violent methods in the suffrage movement?

A

Arguments against violent methods include proving women were not responsible enough to vote, preventing the government from giving in to terrorists, turning moderates away, and that peaceful efforts during WWI were more effective.

37
Q

What distinguishes Suffragists from Suffragettes?

A

Suffragists had open membership, were internally democratic, used peaceful methods, worked with the government, and had a national network. Suffragettes had female-only membership, were run by the Pankhursts, used violent methods, tried to intimidate the government, and were centered around London.

38
Q

What is the current issue regarding prison voting rights in the USA?

A

In the USA, some states allow prisoners to vote while others permanently deny the right, raising concerns about disenfranchisement of minority groups.

39
Q

What is the campaign for extending the franchise to prisoners in the UK?

A

The campaign aims to extend voting rights to some prisoners, initiated by legal challenges and supported by groups like the Howard League for Penal Reform.

40
Q

Who is John Hirst and what did he campaign for?

A

John Hirst campaigned to restore prisoners’ right to vote after his own legal challenges were upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.

41
Q

What are the arguments for giving prisoners the right to vote?

A

Arguments for giving prisoners the right to vote include enhancing civic responsibility, the fundamental nature of voting rights, and the European Court ruling against blanket bans.

42
Q

What are the arguments against giving prisoners the right to vote?

A

Arguments against giving prisoners the right to vote include that it undermines justice, that it should be a privilege for contributing members of society, and concerns about prisoners’ influence in local elections.

43
Q

What is the campaign for votes at 16?

A

Votes at 16 is a coalition campaign advocating for the franchise to be extended to 16- and 17-year-olds.

44
Q

List things which 16 year olds can do

A
  • Give full consent to medical treatment
    -Leave school and enter work or training
  • Pay income taxand nationalinsurance
    -Obtain tax credit andwelfarebenefits in their own
    right
    -Become an amember of atrade union ora cooperativesociety
  • Get married orenter a civilpartnership
    -Consent tosexualrelationships
    -Become adirector of a company
    -Join the armed forces
    -Change their name by deedpoll
45
Q

Where can 16-year-olds vote?

A

16-year-olds have the right to vote in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Austria, Nicaragua, Brazil, Ecuador, state elections in Germany, Hungary (if married), Slovenia (if employed), Argentina (compulsory after 18), and Scotland (Scottish independence referendum of 2014).

46
Q

What is ‘Votes at 16’?

A

‘Votes at 16’ is an umbrella group made up of various organizations including the British Youth Council, Children’s Rights Alliance for England, National Union of Students, Public Achievement, and Scottish Youth Parliament.

47
Q

What support does ‘Votes at 16’ have?

A

The organization has the support of politicians from all political parties and provides them with evidence and support to change legislation.

48
Q

What happened in 1999 regarding voting age?

A

Simon Hughes MP proposed an amendment to give 16-and 17-year-olds the right to vote, which was defeated by 434 to 36.

49
Q

What significant event occurred in 2000?

A

The Young People’s Rights Network was established.

50
Q

What happened in 2001 related to votes at 16?

A

Representatives of the Young People’s Rights Network met with the Electoral Reform Society to discuss campaigning for votes at 16. The Liberal Democrats publicly supported the campaign.

51
Q

What was introduced in 2005?

A

Stephen Williams MP introduced a private members’ bill — Representation of the People (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill, which was supported by 128 MPs but ultimately voted against by 136 MPs.

52
Q

What resolution did the SNP pass in 2007?

A

The Scottish National Party (SNP) passed a resolution at its annual conference in support of votes at 16.

53
Q

What significant action did the SNP take in 2009?

A

The SNP passed a resolution to allow 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in an independence referendum.

54
Q

What did ‘Votes at 16’ launch in 2011?

A

‘Votes at 16’ launched a new, interactive website to allow supporters to share its work.

55
Q

What happened in 2013 regarding the voting age?

A

Lord Tyler introduced a bill to the House of Lords calling for the voting age to be lowered.

56
Q

What occurred in 2015 related to votes at 16?

A

Votes at 16 Private Members’ Bill, proposed by Vicky Foxcroft MP, had its second reading in the House of Commons.

57
Q

What resources does the Votes at 16 website offer?

A

The website offers resources to adopt a lord, email MPs, spread awareness, pass model motions, engage community groups, plan campaigns, and lobby representatives.

58
Q

What is the impact of the campaign for votes at 16?

A

The campaign has gained strength, with 16 local councils, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and Northern Irish Assembly voting to support votes at 16, indicating rising support among MPs and peers.

59
Q

Were the Suffragists: National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societie and where they violent?

A

1987
-Peaceful middle class

60
Q

Where the Suffragettes: Women’s Social and Political Union peaceful and when were they established?

A

-‘deeds not works’ , violent
-1903

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