Unit 1 - Democracy And Political Participation

Question 0

What is legitimacy?

Answer 0

Means in general “the right to govern “and to make laws which will be enforced and are likely to be obeyed by the people.

For example: the government in the UK is universally recognised - more legitimate -whereas the government in Kosovo is disputed

Legitimacy refers to the right of an individual or body to be recognised and have the right to exercise power. In democratic countries legitimacy is normally conveyed by election

Rule of law applies

Question 1

Features of a modern democracy?

Answer 1

Free and fair regular elections
The rule of law applies
Open access to independent info
Different political ideologies

Question 2

What two core principles is democracy based on?

Answer 2

Political participation – key decisions are made by the people. This is reflected in the idea of government by the people.

Political equality – all citizens have free and equal opportunities to influence political decisions

Question 3

Legitimacy can refer to the degree to which a body of government can be justified in extreme Power.

What does power refer to and what are the three levels of it?

Answer 3

Power refers to the ability of an individual or body to force others to do something they might otherwise do.
3 levels:
Tradition
Election 
Influence

Question 4

Legitimacy is closely related to authority.

What is authority and what 3 sources is it said to derive from?

Answer 4

Authority - the right to exercise power

3 sources
Tradition
Election
Charisma

Question 4

In a democratic world, legitimacy is normally defined by election.

How can it be argued that the British government lacks legitimacy?

Answer 4

It’s elected on a minority vote.

Example: could be argued that the 2010 coalition lacked legitimacy because it did not have an electoral mandate.

Question 5

What is citizenship?

Answer 5

The status of being a citizen grants a person that enjoyment of certain rights.
For example right to vote, stand for office, granted a fair trial with accused of crime, treated equally by the law and guaranteed justice.

It also implies the enjoyment of civil liberties. For example freedom of expression, of movement, of thought, of association.

It also carry certain duties or obligations for example available, pay taxes, possibly defend the country.

Modern idea – “active citizenship “– developed by Labour 1990 – followed by conservatives after 2010 – “big society program “ ; is that as a citizen we have the duty to be politically active for example volunteering for charity work, environmental protection, socially responsible

Question 6

What is direct democracy? (Simple)

Answer 6

Direct democracy is most simple defined as “rule by the people”.

Question 7

What is democracy?

Answer 7

Any system of government whether people have access to independent information And are able to influence government decisions.

Also implies that government makes itself accountable to the people.

It can take a number of forms – main to being direct and representative democracy.

Question 8

What is direct democracy? (Complex)

Answer 8

Direct democracy obliterates the distinction between the government and the self government.

People make the political decisions, it based on unmediated continuous participation.

Question 9

3 features of direct democracy?

Answer 9

Direct - people make policy decisions, they do not merely choose who will rule on their behalf.

Unmediated - people are the government, there is no separate class of politicians

Continuous - people participate in politics on a regular basis.

Question 10

Examples of direct democracy?

Answer 10

Historical - ancient Athens

Modern - referendums. However this is used to supplement representative democracy

Question 11

What is representative democracy?

Answer 11

An limited and indirect form of democracy which operates through representatives speaking for and acting on behalf of the people. Representatives can be chosen or removed through elections.

Question 12

3 featured of representative democracy?

Answer 12

Indirect - publics do not exercise power themselves - choose who will rule on their behalf

Mediated - people linked to government through representative institutions

Limited - infrequent and brief, being restricted to the act of voting every few years

Question 13

What is the effectiveness of a representative democracy based on?

Answer 13

Representative democracy usually operates through the mechanism of elections.

Therefore based on the extent to which the electoral process gives people control over government

Question 14

What is a referendum

Answer 14

A popular vote on a issue of public policy

Question 15

What is party representation?

Answer 15

If a representative is a member of a party they are expected to support and vote for the known policies of the party

Question 16

What is meant by “delegation”?

Answer 16

Idea that representatives should very closely follow the wishes of those who have elected him or her

Question 17

“Burkean” representation?

Answer 17

Conservative philosopher Edmund Burke stated that representatives should make judgements by themselves and not slavishly follow those of their constituency or party

Question 18

Legitimacy can refer to the declared of which a body or government can be justified in exercising power.

What is power and what are the 3 levels of it?

Answer 18

Power is the ability of an individual or body to force others to do something they might not otherwise do.
3 levels:
Coercion 
Political power
Influence

Question 19

What is a pluralist democracy?

Answer 19

A pluralist democracy describes a political system where there is more than one centre of power. - dispersed among individuals, bodies and institutions.

Multiple parties and political associations and are allowed to operate,

Different political ideas are allowed to flourish

Example: USA

Question 20

What is a liberal democracy?

Answer 20

A form of government in which representative democracy appraise under the principle of liberalism I.E protecting the rights of the individual, which are generally enshrined in law.
Individual liberties are respected and well protected. There is a strong constitution that limits the power of Governments.
E.g Germany