Unit one Practice

Question 1

How does a referendum differ from an election?

Answer 1

A referendum is a form of direct democracy that gives the electorate a binary choice on a single issue. However an election elects a representative to represent the people in parliament over a period of time. Elections are held every five years yet referendums appear as a response to just one issue. The results of referendum can be seen as consultative whereas in UK the results of elections are seen as binding and final.

Question 2

State two ideas associated with liberalism

Answer 2

Freedom of speech
Tolerance
Promotion of individual rights and freedoms
Codified constitution and the limiting of the excessive state
Support of the most vulnerable through social welfare

Question 3

How do pressure groups promote functional representation?

Answer 3

Pressure groups can speak on behalf of the specific and the unique. Thus promoting functional representation.
It is beneficial that pressure groups break out (or supplement) the constraints of representative democracy and function to articulate the needs of the minority. Functional representation can also be promoted by representation of demographic groups and also minority opinion.

Question 4

What is functional representation?

Answer 4

Functional representation is where pressure groups supplement or add to the democratic process in society. Pressure groups are said to promote functional representation in several ways.

Question 5

Outline the workings of the party list system

Answer 5

• The system is one of proportional representation
• The system requires voters to choose a political party and usually not an individual candidate.
• Seats are allocated to reflect the % vote a party receives
• Lists can be open or closed and regional or national.
• Specific examples of the workings of list systems can be used such as the UK European elections and elsewhere.

Question 6

What is meant by the term ‘party system’?

Answer 6

The party system attempts to define the relationships within the political structure as to how parties function and operate and importantly how close they are to achieving governing status/power.

Question 7

What is a two party system?

Answer 7

A two party system is where only two of the parties (out of many) who contest the election have any chance of achieving governmental power.

Question 8

What is a two and a half party system?

Answer 8

• A two and a half party system is where there are two major parties who can have a significant take in government plus a minor or ‘third party’ this is similar to the current situation in the UK

Question 9

Name two other party systems

Answer 9

• Other party system categories include multi-party systems and one party dominant systems.

Question 10

Describe two political ideas that are considered to be right wing

Answer 10

Right wing political ideas stress a reduction in the role of the state and as such we see the reduction of the role of welfare and social security in the lives of the individual.

Right wing political ideas stress the importance of private ownership in business and for home ownership. There is a preference for privatisation of state assets.

Right wing ideas stress the promotion of a free market with minimal interference from the state.

Question 11

Describe two ways in which pressure groups promote political participation

Answer 11

Pressure groups aim to circulate information which will educate and inform the public which will make them inclined to participate.

They encourage members of the public to vote in elections to support a political party which may endorse the pressure group’s views.

They can use direct action to raise awareness and secure political participation.

Question 12

Outline two features of the UK’s parliamentary democracy system

Answer 12

Two Houses of Parliament one elected the other largely appointed
Elections normally take place within a five year window although in theory the PM can call an election with permission from the Monarch at his/her choosing. This has been modified under the Coalition agreement to set a fixed term Parliament for this current session
Parliamentary sovereignty means that parliament is considered to be the highest source of authority in the UK’s democratic structure.

Question 13

Give an example of current direct democracy

Answer 13

EU referendum

Question 14

Give an example of historical direct democracy

Answer 14

Athenian Democracy

Question 15

Define direct democracy

Answer 15

A system where the public make decisions themselves, they do not act through others
• Decisions are reached on a majoritarian basis
• This process of decision making is continuous and perpetual

Question 16

What is the link between elitism and pressure groups?

Answer 16

• Elitism refers to the distribution of power in society and pressure groups exercise power in the political framework.
• Elitism suggests that some pressure groups may be more important or influential than others as power is unevenly distributed.
• It posits the notion that some groups will be excluded from the policy process as a consequence of their lack of power.
• Overall elitism assumes that there is a ‘power struggle’ in political activity with winners and losers
• Elitism contradicts pluralist theory as regards pressure groups with more even distribution of power.

Question 17

How does factionalism apply to political parties?

Answer 17

• These factions have distinct principles which stress certain aspects of the broad set of policy and ideas of the political party
• For example in the Conservative Party one section is the Eurosceptics who are guarded concerning the UK’s further integration into the EU
• In the Labour Party factions can be said to exist between the Blairites or modernisers and the more traditional elements in the party

Question 18

Outline how the single transferable vote works?

Answer 18

• Voters rank their preferences in numerical order in multimember constituencies.
• Voters can choose (and rank) between candidates from the same party
• To gain election a candidate has to reach a quota of votes, this is calculated after all the votes have been cast
• The calculation made is known as the Droop formula
• A process of redistributing votes take place, where those with excess first preferences are elected and those with fewest votes are redistributed.

Question 19

Where is the STV used?

Answer 19

NI Assembly, Ni local government, Scottish Local government

Question 20

What quota does STV use?

Answer 20

Droop Quota

Question 21

What is democratic legitimacy?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Give three routes through which democratic legitimacy can be achieved

Answer 22

Elections. These can be a General election, local, devolved or European
By popular consent through a referendum.
By adhering to constitutional practices, laws and customs

Question 23

What is the link between pressure groups and pluralism?

Answer 23

• Pluralism considers how power is distributed in society. Pluralism views that it is healthy to have multiple sources of power. Pressure groups are an integral part of this possible dispersal.
• Pluralism requires minority representation which is facilitated by pressure groups.
• Pluralism is linked to diversity and choice: pressure groups again facilitate this with their diversity and proliferation.
• Pluralism theory considers governments listening to a range of pressure groups and deciding policy through consultation, a vast range of pressure groups create this and support pluralist theory.
• Pluralism accepts that some pressure groups will succeed and others fail, this is an accurate reflection of pressure group activity.

Question 24

Define adversary politics

Answer 24

• It is a situation where there is deep and fundamental divisions between the main parties on a wide range of key issues
• There is little common ground over which the main parties can agree
• These deep divisions are ideological and produce vastly differing policy alternatives
• The divide exists when those who hold these polar views are major parties that have a reasonable chance/opportunity to gain governmental power.

Question 25

Give an example of Adversary politics

Answer 25

Examples of adversary politics would be the UK in the early 1980‟s as the Labour Party under Michael Foot offered a significantly alternative option to the Conservatism delivered by the Thatcher governments.

Question 26

State three different elections regularly held in the UK

Answer 26

1) MAYORAL
2) REGIONAL
3) GENERAL