Unit 1- Democracy & Political Participation

Question 0

Define liberal democracy (5 marks)

Answer 0

> Carried out according to Rule of Law
Public gives consent but govt. acts accordingly also
People’s rights protected (HRA)
Free press

Question 1

Define legitimacy (5 marks)

Answer 1

> Right to govern
> Electoral Mandate
> Consent by People
>> Rosseau Social Contract Theory
>> 2010 coalition lacked

Question 2

What is representative democracy (5 marks)

Answer 2

> Vote for representatives to govern
> General Election 2010
> Regular elections based on universal    suffrage
> Accountable professional politicians
>> Burkean representation

Question 3

Explain 3 advantages of a representative democracy. (10 marks)

Answer 3

1. Reps have more experience & knowledge, can be make educated decisions
2. Reps accountable but people not
3. Not emotional, make rational decisions
4. Sections of society can be well represented

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a referendum?

Answer 4

> Important constitutional change
requires ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer
Parliament will always accept result
Helps resolve govt. divide

Question 5

With examples, give four uses for a referendum

Answer 5

1. When govt is divided
   e. g. 2011 AV (no)
2. Proposed constitutional change
   e. g. 1998 London elected mayor (yes)
3. Entrench constitutional change
   e. g. 1997 Wales Assembly
4. Need to secure popular consent
   e. g. 1998 Good Friday Agreement end conflict (Yes)

Question 6

Give 3 disadvantages of a representative democracy.

Answer 6

1. Reps may follow party line instead of constituents wishes
2. Hard to make reps accountable in between elections
3. Reps may ignore people to suit own political advantage e.g. MP tax scandal

Question 7

Give 3 advantages to direct democracy.

Answer 7

1. People can be more involved with direct action and improves democracy
2. It is the purest form of democracy
   Important decisions are strengthened if they receive the consent of the people and can give decisions more legitimacy.
3. Referendums and direct consultations can educate the public about political issues.

Question 8

Give 3 disadvantages to direct democracy.

Answer 8

1. Issues may be too complex to be understood for average person
   e. g. British membership of the Euro
2. People may vote in an emotional, irrational way
   e. g. vote on capital punishment
3. Can encourage ‘TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY’ which oppresses minorities
   e. g. USA 2008 Prop 8 (against gay marriage)

Question 9

Give four ways in which political participation can be enhanced

Answer 9

1. Lowering voting age to 16
2. Compulsory voting
3. Citizenship education
4. e-democracy

Question 10

Give evidence of decline in political participation (4 points)

Answer 10

1. Low voter turnouts in general elections
   e. g. 1992 78%, 2010 65%
2. Low referendum turnouts
   e. g. 1975 65%, 2011 42%
3. Party membership falling
   e. g Conservatives 400,000 in 1990s halved in 2000s
4. Evidence of widespread disillusionment with party politics in the UK
   e. g. More pressure group activism than political party activism.

Question 11

Give five ways to enhance democracy in the UK

Answer 11

1. Making the House of Lords elected (argue for and against)
2. Change the FPTP voting system
3. Ways to increase election turnout e.g. compulsory but not very democratic as freedom
4. Introduce a codified constitution (argue for and against)
5. Decentralising the political system

Question 12

Explain the main ways people are represented in the UK (10 marks)

Answer 12

1. Through representatives (MPs) -Explain Burkean representation, Parliament represents Constituencies, sections & national interests
2. Pressure groups- represent different sections of society
3. The government as a whole represents the national interests e.g. promote exports to China, India , South Korea etc.

Question 13

Explain three ways in which the British political system may be seen as undemocratic. (10 marks)

Answer 13

1. FPTP election system is unfair
2. Unelected House of Lords (appointed by Queen after Prime Minister advises)
3. No codified constitution, people’s rights are not entrenched

Question 14

To what extent can the UK be a liberal democracy?

25 marks

Answer 14

• Free regular elections.
• Free media.
• Rights are protected in law.
• Undemocratic institutions such as the House of Lords.
• Rights are not fully protected because of the sovereignty of parliament.
• There is no codified, entrenched constitution so power distribution is undefined.
• Power can be said to be too centralised

Question 15

Why have referendums been held in the UK?

25 marks

Answer 15

• When government itself is divided on an issue. Examples: 1975 European Community referendum, AV referendum in 2011.
• When a key constitution change is proposed and the change needs to be entrenched and consented to. Examples: 1997 votes in Scottish and Welsh devolution.
• When a divided community needs to be united round a new political settlement. Example: 1998 referendum on the Northern Ireland Belfast (Good Friday ) Agreement.

Question 16

Explain the democratic deficit and ways in which it could be eliminated (25 marks)

Answer 16

• There is too much power in the hands of executive government.
• Power is too centralised
• Rights are inadequately protected.
• Political participation is falling in terms of voting and party membership.
• The persistence of undemocratic institutions such as the House of Lords.
• By strengthening both houses of parliament, possibly with a constitution to balance power between the executive and legislature.
• By granting more devolution to the national regions, strengthening powers of local government.
• By introducing a new Bill of Rights, binding on parliament and government.
• By increasing participation (see question 7 above)
• By reforming the House of Lords, making it elected.