Unit 1 Democracy

Question 1

Reserved Powers Of the Uk parliament

Answer 1

Immigration,Defence,Foreign Policy

Question 2

Prime Ministers Powers

Answer 2

Appointing the Cabinet, international role , cabinet chairperson

Question 3

Pressure Group Methods used

Answer 3

Peaceful demonstrations (marches and protest rally’s)
Setting up petitions
Direct action

Question 4

Reasons for people joining pressure groups

Answer 4

Many people feel strongly about a cause and wish for change in government policy.
Many people feel collective action is more effective than individual action.
People may have been personally effected by by the issue therefore want to join pressure groups regarding it.

Question 5

Uk General Election Campaign methods

Answer 5

Parties produce election leaflets.
Parties canvass voters.
Parties use the media.

Question 6

Reasons why some UK general election campaigns are more successful than others

Answer 6

A party’s election campaign is more likely to be successful if they have popular policies.

A party’s election campaign is more likely to be successful if they have a popular leader.

A party’s election campaign is more likely to be successful if they have more members and money.

A party’s election campaign is more likely to be successful if they positive media coverage.

Question 7

Advantages of first past the post

Answer 7

Fptp is a very simple and straightforward system

FPTP makes it more difficult for smaller parties with extreme views to win seats.

FPT is usually results in a one-party majority govt.

Question 8

Disadvantages of first past the post

Answer 8

Under FTP the % of seats is not proportional to the % of votes.

FPTP limits voter choice as in many constituencies it is either a foregone conclusion which party will win or at
best a ‘two-horse race’.

FPTP usually results in one party governing with a majority of seats despite winning a minority of votes.

Question 9

Role of the media in UK democracy

Answer 9

The can media try to influence political attitudes.

The media helps to inform the public on political issues.

The media acts as a ‘public watchdog’.

Question 10

Immigration example

Answer 10

E.g. the Illegal Migration Bill 2023 is in the process of being passed by the UK Parliament which will
aims to make it easier to detain and remove illegal immigrants, including asylum seekers.

Question 11

Defence example

Answer 11

Eg. in 2021 the UK Parliament
voted to increase the UK’s nuclear warhead stockpile.

Question 12

Foreign Policy Example

Answer 12

E.g. the UK Parliament had the final say on the UK’s withdrawal from
the EU, and has voted to give strategic and financial support to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War.

Question 13

Power of appointment example

Answer 13

E.g. in 2022 Rishi Sunak appointed his close ally Dominic Raab as Justice Secretary
who had been a vocal supporter of Sunak during the Conservative Party leadership contest.

Question 14

International role example

Answer 14

E.g. in 2022 Rishi Sunak met with other
world leaders to reach international agreements on climate change at COP-27.

Question 15

Cabinet Chairperson example

Answer 15

E.g. in 2022 Rishi Sunak has held Cabinet discussions to make decision on how to deal with the cost of living crisis.

Question 16

Marches and protests example

Answer 16

E.g. in 2019, a million people
attended a demonstration organised by the People’s Vote Campaign calling for a second referendum on Brexit.

Question 17

Petition example

Answer 17

Eg. in 2019, the
largest petition ever in the UK was signed by 6 million people calling on the govt. to stop Brexit.

Question 18

Direct action example

Answer 18

E.g.
in 2019, Extinction Rebellion held several non-violent direct action demonstrations such as blocking the runway
at Heathrow Airport.

Question 19

People feel strong about a cause example

Answer 19

E.g. someone who strongly believes that Britain should give up its oil use may wish
join JUST STOP OIL

Question 20

Collective action believer example

Answer 20

Eg. thousands
of people have joined together to participate in the Extinction Rebellion protests - and their collective voice
has placed the issue climate change up the political agenda.

Question 21

People personally effected example

Answer 21

Eg many black people participated in the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations as they had been personally effected by racism and racial inequality’s

Question 22

Election leaflets examples

Answer 22

E.g. in the 2019 GE, the Conservatives distributed leaflets to every household in Britain
promoting their main policy of “getting Brexit done”.

Question 23

Parties canvass voters example

Answer 23

Eg. SNP activists in the Falkirk area went door-to-door canvassing in communities like
Denny and Larbert to persuade voters to re-elect Johnny McNally, and promote the SNP’s main policy of holding another independence referendum.

Question 24

Parties using the media Example

Answer 24

Eg. in the 2019 GE, the Conservatives made dozens Facebook posts criticising Labour’s
leader, Jeremy Corbyn

Question 25

Popular Policies example

Answer 25

E.g. in the 2019 GE,
Conservatives’ main policy to “get Brexit done” was popular with most voters across the UK.

Question 26

Popular leader example

Answer 26

E.g. in
the 2019 GE, Boris Johnson was a more popular leader than Jeremy Corbyn.

Question 27

A parties success depends More members and money example

Answer 27

E.g, in the 2019 GE, the Conservatives spent over €1 million on its Facebook campaign alone.

Question 28

A party’s election campaign is more likely to be successful if they positive media coverage. Example

Answer 28

E.g. in the 2019 GE, the Conservatives were supported by most of the national
newspapers, including The Sun, Britain’s most read newspaper.

Question 29

FPTP keeps parties with extremist views out Example

Answer 29

E.g. in the 2010
GE. BNP won over 500,000 votes but no seats, whereas if a proportional electoral system had been used they would’ve won 12 seats

Question 30

FPTP is usually resulting in a one party majority government

Answer 30

E.g. 18 of the 21
post-war UK GEs produced a one-party majority govt. including in the 2019 GE when the Conservatives won an 80 seat majority despite only having 44% votes which allowed the govt to get their brexit deal passed

Question 31

FPTP Seats aren’t proportional to the number of votes they get .

Answer 31

Eg in the 2019 GE the Lib Dems won 11.5% of the votes despite only winning 11 seats which is <2% of the seats in parliament

Question 32

FPTP Limiting voter choice example

Answer 32

Eg in the 2019 GE many voters in north fife who normally vote conservative voted Lib Dems to help defeat the SNP MP

Question 33

Ftpt ends up with a party governing disadvantage example

Answer 33

Eg the conservatives won 80 seats despite only having 44% of the votes

Question 34

Media can try influence political attitudes example

Answer 34

E.g. young voters may have been influenced by Stormy’s support for Labour on social media in the 2019 GE.

Question 35

Media helps inform public on political issues example

Answer 35

E.g. an average of 6 million people watched
the leaders’ debates before the 2019 GE.

Question 36

Media acts a “public watchdog” example

Answer 36

E.g. several newspapers published details of parties in Downing St. during lockdown.

Question 37

Roles of MPs in a constituency

Answer 37

• Replying to letters/emails from their constituents.
• Holding surgeries, where constituents can come and meet the MP to discuss a particular concern.
• Attend meetings with community groups, local pressure groups and local businesses.
• Attend events such as the opening of a new hospital or visiting a local school.
• Using the media to highlight issues of concern or to interact with constituents.
• E.g. John McNally writes a weekly column in the Falkirk Herald, and regularly updates his Twitter account.