Unit 1: Democracy and Participation questions

Question 1

Three features of representative democracy (10)

Answer 1

1. Free, fair and regular elections at multiple levels (e.g. GE and council elections)
2. Universal suffrage/wide franchise (e.g. Every British citizen 18+ due to Representation of the People Act 1969)
3. Assemblies pass laws (e.g. Parliament)

Question 2

Three forms of democratic participation (10)

Answer 2

1. Signing petitions
2. Joining a political party or pressure group
3. Voting in an election

Question 3

Three features of direct democracy (10)

Answer 3

1. Referendums
2. Majority voting
3. Public makes decisions, no representatives

Question 4

Three features of the UK’s democracy (10)

Answer 4

1. We have opposition parties - Labour, UKIP, Green, SNP, Lib Dems (currently)
2. Elections - we have GEs every five years (due to Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011)
3. FPTP electoral system in GE (although proposed reform AV referendum 2011)

Question 5

Three criticisms of representative democracy (10)

Answer 5

1. Turnout levels for elections are generally quite low - questions legitimacy of elected officials
2. We don’t have accurate descriptive representation - stats on ethnic minorities, women, etc.
3. Minorities/minority parties can feel excluded and marginalised under system due to FPTP

Question 6

In what ways has political participation declined in recent years? (10)

Answer 6

1. Low turnout levels for referenda - e.g. AV referendum turnout was only …?
2. Low turnout levels for elections - e.g. GE 71.4% in 1997 but only 59.4% in 2001/PCC elections as low as 15% in 2012
3. Party membership decline - Conservative party at 0.15 million in 2010

Question 7

Three circumstances referendums are used in the UK (10)

Answer 7

1. When promised in a manifesto - e.g. EU in/out referendum 2017 promised my Conservative party
2. Making constitutional changes - e.g. Scottish Independence referendum 2014/Scottish and Welsh devolution referendums of 1979
3. Changing the electoral system - e.g. AV referendum of 2011 to change electoral system from FPTP to AV

Question 8

Five ways democracy in the UK could be improved (10)

Answer 8

1. Compulsory voting - would lead to higher turnout
2. Lowering the voting age - would also lead to higher turnout + “future generations” would be making decisions
3. Changing the voting system - more people would feel like their vote counted and would lead to less tactical voting
4. Encouraging e-democracy - e.g. signing petitions online.
5. Referendums - people feel like their vote matters as they’re voting on a particular issue and every vote counts

Question 9

Three criticisms of referendums (10)

Answer 9

1. Due to parliamentary sovereignty, the government does not have to follow through with the results of referendums.
2. Voters could make “ill-informed” decisions - we could be better off having elected officials who have more political knowledge make the decisions for us
3. Government decides wording of question and when to hold referendums - could sway public opinion

Question 10

Three arguments against the introduction of compulsory voting (10)

Answer 10

1. Would increase number of “ill-informed” votes
2. Undemocratic to force people to vote
3. Would cause civil unrest and unhappiness

Question 11

Three arguments in favour of wider use of referendums (10)

Answer 11

1. Would increase direct democracy
2. People who don’t support current government could have their say
3. Gives people a say in issues like constitutional issues that they normally wouldn’t have a say in

Question 12

Define democracy (5)

Answer 12

“ruled by the people.”

1. Key political decisions are made by the people, this is reflected in the idea of government by the people.
2. Each citizen has a free and equal opportunity to influence political decisions.

Question 13

Define direct democracy (5)

Answer 13

A form of democracy based on the direct, unmediated and continuous participation of citizens in the task of government.

1. Ancient Athens
2. New England town hall meetings

Question 14

Define representative democracy (5)

Answer 14

A form of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people.

1. elected officials
2. regular elections to elect those officials

Question 15

Outline two ways (four), other than voting in elections and referendums, in which people can participate in politics (5)

Answer 15

1. Could join a political party and become active within rankings
2. Join a pressure group
3. Could stand in elections
4. Electronic participation

Question 16

Outline key features of a referendum (5)

Answer 16

1. popular vote in an issue of public policy
2. examples of direct democracy
3. Can be either binding or advisory (tend to be more advisory than binding due to parliamentary sovereignty but no referendum result has ever been ignored)

Question 17

Define liberal democracy (5)

Answer 17

Liberal democracy is a type of democracy which combines both liberal and
democratic features.
e.g. free and fair elections, wide suffrage, protection of civil liberties and individual rights,
and the use of representatives to act on citizens

Question 18

To what extent is their a ‘democratic deficit’ in the UK? (10)

Answer 18

+ Declining turnout - e.g. GE 71.4% in 1997 and 59.4% in 2001
+ A deficit in political education as the wider public lack interest and
knowledge in the political system.
- Reforms have taken place to develop democracy such as devolution.

Question 19

Distinguish between direct and representative democracy (5)

Answer 19

In direct, people make the decisions themselves, whilst in representative, the people elect officials to make decisions for themselves.

Question 20

What is meant by legitimacy? (5)

Answer 20

Legitimacy is a right to rule, it encourages citizens to obey the state and improves political stability. This can be achieved through receiving a majority mandate in a general election

Question 21

Define democratic legitimacy, and outline one way in which it is achieved. (5)

Answer 21

It is the accepted right to exercise power. When it has been achieved through a democratic route it is conferred by the people and also through the accepted political framework of the state.

1. Can be obtained through elections (local, devolved or national)
2. Popular consent through a referendum

Question 22

How does a referendum differ from an election?

Answer 22

1. Referendums are votes on a single issue. Example = Scottish Independence referendum 2014. This is an example of direct democracy.
2. Elections are votes on officials who will fill certain representative positions. Example = GE decides who is the government AND who represents local constituencies. This is an example of representative democracy.

Question 23

Outline two features of the UK’s system of parliamentary democracy (5)

Answer 23

1. Two houses of Parliament (one elected, one appointed)
2. Government secures authority through gaining of majority of MPs in the HoC.
   Extra:
3. Elections take place in five year windows (due to Fixed Parliament Act 2011)
4. Parliament is considered highest source of authority in UK democratic structure.

Question 24

Using an example, define direct democracy. (5)

Answer 24

Seen as a system where the public make decisions themselves, they do not act through others. Decisions are reached on a majoritarian basis.
e.g. Athenian democracy or New England town hall meetings and referendums.