1 Democracy and Participation

Question 1

Features of direct democracy

Answer 1

people engaged directly in political decision-making

decisions made on specific issues

Question 2

Use of direct democracy

Answer 2

referendums

Question 3

Example of direct democracy

Answer 3

2016 Brexit Referendum
vote on whether the UK should leave the EU
72% turnout
52% voted leave
48% voted stay

Question 4

Features of direct democracy

Answer 4

people vote for someone to make decisions on their behalf

representatives elected by smaller sections of society e.g. constituencies

Question 5

Use of representative democracy

Answer 5

MPs are elected to serve in Parliament
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish representatives elected to serve devolved bodies
local councillors elected to local councils

Question 6

Example of representative democracy

Answer 6

2019 General Election
people voted for a party to lead for 5 years based on manifestos
67% turnout
43.6% voted Conservative
32.1% voted Labour
11.6% voted Lib Dem

Question 7

Similarities between direct and representative democracy

Answer 7

engage the population in political decision-making and encourage political education

recognise people as the source of political power requiring the consent of the voters for legitimacy

try to balance competing interests within a country

Question 8

Advantages of direct democracy

Answer 8

everyone is able to have their voice directly heard - the purest form of democracy

encourages engagement of citizens and political education

decisions have great legitimacy

can solve controversial issues e.g. issues dividing parties or society

Question 9

Disadvantages of direct democracy

Answer 9

in large countries, it is difficult to use frequently given the number of decisions that need to be made

removes accountability for decisions made by politicians

tyranny of the majority, the minority are unlikely to have their voices heard

can be on highly complex issues, citizens may not have the time or education to make an informed decision

Question 10

Advantages of representative democracy

Answer 10

electing representatives works on a large scale

elections allow representatives to be held accountable for decisions, poor ones can be removed

avoid tyranny of the majority, allows minority representation

representatives have the time and responsibility to understand complex topics

Question 11

Disadvantages of representative democracy

Answer 11

impossible for the representative to make every voice in their constituency heard

encourages political apathy - people believing politics is only for the elected few

decisions lack legitimacy as they can be made by representatives elected years ago in a completely different situation

Question 12

Liberal democracy

Answer 12

free, fair, frequent elections
free media without censorship
tolerance of views
protection of the rights of citizens
government power limited

Question 13

Pluralist democracy

Answer 13

tolerance of a wide range of views
many centres of political power
competing parties between which power changes hands

Question 14

Elitist democracy

Answer 14

power concentrated in the hands of the few
political decision making dominated by small number of people - usually wealthy or well-educated

Question 15

1832 Reform Act

Answer 15

gave the vote to middle-class men

Question 16

1867 Reform Act

Answer 16

gave the vote to working-class men

Question 17

1918 Representation of the People Act

Answer 17

gave the vote to all men over 21 and many women over 30

Question 18

1928 Representation of the People Act

Answer 18

gave the vote to all men and women over 21

Question 19

1969 Representation of the People Act

Answer 19

lowered voting age from 21 to 18

Question 20

Who cannot vote?

Answer 20

under 18 year olds
prisoners
members of the House of Lords

Question 21

How can people participate in democracy?

Answer 21

vote - local or general elections

stand in election - 18, British citizen, £500 deposit

join a political party
join a pressure group or political movement - social media allows involvement in movements like Black Lives Matter

sign an e-petition - 10,000+ signatures means a response from government, 100,000+ signatures may be debated

Question 22

Why there is a participation crisis in the UK

Answer 22

turnout is low - 2010-2019 had turnouts of 65-69% (1/3 of the population not voting)

only 50% of 18-25 year olds have voted in the last 3 general elections

turnouts in local elections is even lower - 15.1% in the 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections

political parties have a total membership of less than 1 million (population of 70 million)

lack of impact of petitions has undermined this method - 2019 a petition to cancel Brexit got 6 million signatures

Question 23

Why there is not a participation crisis in the UK

Answer 23

turnout in recent elections has been higher than previous 2000s elections

recent election results have been closer (2010 coalition), this can increase turnout

calls for 2nd referendums on Scottish independence and Brexit - public’s demand to be involved in democracy

e-petitions e.g. change.org have seen huge participation, 2015 to 2019 Parliament run e-petitions gains nearly 23 million unique signatures

increase in Labour Party membership - up to over 500,000 from only 200,000 in 2014

Question 24

Sectional pressure groups

Answer 24

represents a relatively narrow section of society, often on a number of issues

e.g. trade unions represent specific industries

Question 25

Causal pressure groups

Answer 25

represents a wide cross-section of society but often on a single issue e.g. Liberty is a group defending rights in the UK that anyone is welcome to join

Question 26

Insider pressure groups

Answer 26

have some link to the government giving them the ability to influence government directly, due to being policy experts or having ideology that aligns with the government e.g. both Johnson and Starmer have given speeches at the CBI's annual conference

Question 27

Outsider pressure groups

Answer 27

do not have any links to the government, seek alternative methods to gain influence like engaging in public demonstrations e.g. Just Stop Oil protested by gluing themselves to the M25

Question 28

Features of think tanks

Answer 28

groups of experts that carry out research into public policy they hope will influence government policy often have a specific political view their research aims to progress

Question 29

Example of a think tank

Answer 29

The Institute for Fiscal Studies May 2022 they warned the government more would need to be done to help people with energy bills

Question 30

Concerns over think tanks

Answer 30

close ties to government could give them undue influence development of policy through think tanks has removed the function of parties doing this

Question 31

Features of lobbyists

Answer 31

an individual or organisation that can be hired for their political expertise or their connections to policy makers often they have previously worked with the government

Question 32

Example of a lobbyist

Answer 32

The Hanbury Strategy Group late 2022 this groups set up a unit that would help clients 'engage with the Opposition and prepare for the prospect of a Labour government

Question 33

Concerns over lobbyists

Answer 33

close links with government raises concerns over elite/ wealthy groups being able to 'buy' influence with the government scandals involving lobbying have undermined government credibility - cash for questions

Question 34

Direct action

Answer 34

includes protests and advertising in order to raise public awareness of an issue Greenpeace protestors interrupted Truss's Conference speech October 2022

Question 35

Legal action

Answer 35

challenge government policy in the courts Reclaim the Streets won a case against the Metropolitan Police for their actions at the vigil for Sarah Everard

Question 36

Mobilising the public

Answer 36

use of mass demonstrations, social media or petitions to show a lot of voters care about an issue to gain influence petition by Marcus Rashford gained over 1 million signatures to expand the free school meals programme

Question 37

Political action

Answer 37

work alongside politicians or pay lobbyists to directly influence policy, or donate to parties The National Farmers Union has submitted a number of responses to government plans regarding badger culling

Question 38

Factors that effect pressure group success

Answer 38

methods - government cannot be seen helping groups that break the law status - insider groups will find it easier to influence government in power - a government with similar ideology is more likely to listen wealth - affording lobbyists or advertising helps extent of support - government more likely to listen if it represents a large number of voters

Question 39

Where are rights protected in the UK?

Answer 39

Magna Carta 1215 - first outlined that no one should be imprisoned unlawfully Human Rights Act 1998 - enshrined the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law including the right to education, freedom of expression and freedom from torture Freedom of Information Act 2000 - allowed the public to request information from public authorities to ensure government transparency Equality Act 2010 - protects people against discrimination based on a number of protected characteristics including age, sex, race and disability

Question 40

How are rights protected in the UK?

Answer 40

the judiciary UK parliament devolved parliaments pressure groups the ECtHR (European Court of Human Rights)

Question 41

UK democracy is healthy

Answer 41

creation of the UK Supreme Court from 2005 added a body that could challenge the government increasing devolution has spread power throughout the UK referendums have become an increasing and accepted feature of UK democracy elections are free and fair, there is universal suffrage

Question 42

UK democracy is not healthy

Answer 42

the Supreme Court can be ignored by UK government as Parliament is sovereign Parliament has passed laws that restrict the rights of citizens, e.g. the right to strike and the right to protest FPTP undermines voter choice as minor parties are unlikely to win referendums are only called when the government wishes

Question 43

Arguments for votes at 16

Answer 43

16 year olds have significant responsibilities - consent, marriage, join the army, tax and NI young people have shown political activism 2014 Scottish referendum showed huge engagement - 75% voted can vote in Wales and Scotland - encourages taking on duties younger policies will impact them the most - e.g. Sunak National Service policy

Question 44

Arguments against votes at 16

Answer 44

some responsibilities still require parental permission not mature enough to buy alcohol and cigarettes most 16-17 year olds in full time education - unlikely to pay tax 18-24 voting turnout is the lowest - damages democracy few adult experiences - swayed by social media or peer pressure