1. Democracy and Participation

Question 1

What is democracy’s literal meaning

Answer 1

Rule by the people

Question 2

Term: Direct Democracy

Answer 2

Democracy in a literal sense where people directly make decisions.

Question 3

Term: Representative Democracy

Answer 3

Also known as indirect democracy.
People choose representatives (politicians) to make decisions on their behalf.
Representatives are elected through free and fair elections and should be responsive to voters’ needs.

Question 4

Strengths of Direct Democracy:

Answer 4

Real Democracy: People choose policies/laws directly, making decisions more legitimate.
Reduced Political Influence: Politicians have less influence compared to representative democracy.
Educational Benefits: Encourages political awareness as people become more informed about issues they vote on.

Question 5

Weaknesses of Direct Democracy:

Answer 5

Impractical in Large Societies: Difficult to implement in modern societies with large populations.
Low Voter Turnout: No guarantee of high voter participation or informed decision-making.
Potential for Poor Decisions: Lack of expertise and information may lead to suboptimal decisions.

Question 6

Strengths of Representative Democracy:

Answer 6

Expertise and Knowledge: Decisions made by representatives with more knowledge and expertise.
Encourages Compromise: People are less emotionally attached as decisions are made by representatives.
Practical for Large Societies: Suitable for modern societies with large populations and complex issues.

Question 7

5 Types of Direct Democracy

Answer 7

• Referendums
• Electronic Petitions
• Consultative Exercises
• Open Primaries
• Election of the Leadership of Political Parties

Question 8

Direct Democracy - Referendums

Answer 8

• Referendums allow the public to directly express their views on single issues. For example the 2014 Scottish Referendums. 44.4% voted for Scottish Independence where as 53% voted to stay within the UK

Question 9

Direct Democracy - Referendums Advantages

Answer 9

Providing the public with a direct choice can help settle controversial issues. Since the public has voted directly, the result has greater legitimacy.

Question 10

Direct Democracy - Referendums Disadvantages

Answer 10

• Critics note that referendums require a detailed understanding of issues which the public may lack.

Question 11

Direct Democracy - Electronic Petitions

Answer 11

If the petition on the government reaches 100,000 signatures. It will be considered for debate at Westminister Hall or the Chambers of the house of Commons. This means that Parliament has to engage with issues that the public feels strongly about

Question 12

Direct Democracy - Electronic Petitions Advantages

Answer 12

In 2020, England footballer Marcus Rashford’s #EndChildFoodPoverty gained 1.1 million signatures which generated high public enthusiasm to commit to free school meals for low income families during the holidays.

Question 13

Direct Democracy - Electronic Petitions Disadvantages

Answer 13

Can create false expectations and consume parliamentary time

Issues in which Parliament cannot do - 1 million signatures to revoke Sir Tony Blair’s Knighthood, as they are bestowed upon the monarch.

Question 14

Direct Democracy - Consultative Exercises

Answer 14

When governing bodies want to assess the likely reaction to their proposed policies. Communities that will be affected were consulted over the expansion of Heathrow and the HS2 Rail LINK.