3- Democracy And Participation Flashcards
Example of epetition
Over half million signed one demanding a ban on all ISIS members from returning o the uk- debate i commons march 2019
Example of open primary used
Sarah wollaston- became conservative canditate for tones
Participation in pressure groups
Estimated 40-50% uk population member of atleast 1
Votes at 16
Campaign to lower the voting age
Use online campaigns
Have had two private member bills attempted in 2017 and 2018
But both failed
Pros for 16 year olds voting
Can be well educated in schools
Citizenship lessons, uk youth parliament 11-18 y/o- engage in politics
-given the chance to vote in 2014 scottish independance
75% turnout in that afe grou
2015 onwards can vote in scottish local aned parliamentary elevtions
-habits developed at younger ages- would continue to be responsible citizens
-16 y/o have responsibilities and freedoms
Can joined the armed services have sex, - are mature enough
Cons for 16 y/o voting
-limited life experience on which to base their voting decisions- more likely to vote based on peer pressure and parenntal influence
-turnout v. Low 18-24- add to the overall problem of voter apathy
Can vote in the issle of man- 55% 2006, 46% 2016- overall decreased
-very few countries have voting age at 16- uk in mainstream
-more likely to consume fake news/social media- less well informed than older voters
Prisoners voting
-in uk cannot vote
Groups such as the howard league for penal reform support votes for prisoners
Prisoners voting- for
Hhuman right- echr 2005 rules against european humans right convention
Sweeping ban not fair on those with shorter sentences
-may be a good opportunity in to learn and fulfill civil duties
They are also affected by gov decisions— would return to society
Prisoners voting against
Broken the law- civil responsibiliities- broken law they are voting for
-other civil liberties removed- freedom
-not in society- dont know what voting for
Small part of population= 0.001%- too mmuch hassle and difficulties for small no people
Voter id laws
Conservatives want greater voter id laws- photo id needed
For voter id
Prevent voter frauf
Nothing discriminatory- anyone can apply and register- free compared to driving lisence
Against voter id
Additional barrier to voting
Discriminatory- 3.5 mill w/out acceptable photo id-likely to be from disadvantaged backgrounds- drivers licence or passport
Voter fraud only 28 cases
Over 8 mil expected to be off voter register
For voting compulsory
-voting is not just a right- it is a civil duty and responsibility- compiulsory voting reinforced this- could have improved education rate- people have to vote so feel respobsibility to inform themselves
-low turnout and voter apathy- undermine legitimacy of election results
-lowest turnout found amoung young, poor and ethnic minority- danger politicians feel less representative of these groups
Should responsibile and represent all groups in socity
Compulsory voting does not reomve right to rejevct all- have ‘none of the above’ option
Voting not compulsory
Forcing people to vote is a infringement of civil liberties
Responsivility of politicians should be to encourage to vote
Could lead to people making random. Ill informed choiuces- undermining the legitimacy of election results
Politicians should offer exciting radica suggestions and policies to encourage all sectors of society to vote
2017- 64% 18-24 voted -highest since 1992
Environmental issues and tuition fees high on agenda
Not voting may be a well informed deciision rather than of apathy
Introducing a fine for not voting may discriminate against those who work and have children- dont have time or opportunity
Evaluate the view that access to voting in the uk is too limited
Voter if
Prisoners voting
Lower voting age to 16
For- liberal
Against- conservative
Representative democracy
A form of democracy in which voters elect reps to take decicions on their behalf
Adv representative democracy
Deciisons made by professional, well inffofrmed politicians- more likely to understand complexity of issues- less emotional
Before bill becomes act- scrutiny and debate
Compromise- elected candidate represents interests of everyone- firect democracy-tyranny of the majority
Can hold reps to account and renew mandate- but vcant with direct democrac
Cons representative democracy/our current system
Hoc unrepresentative- fptp 2 party system- vhallenges health of rep democravy in uk
Hol unelected
Legitimacy of gov- lower voting %
Parliament not a true microcosm- less diverse
2019- 34% female
27% privately educated- 7% pop. \
Fewer 10% non white ethnic minority
-‘westminster bubble’- disconnect from ordinary voters
‘38 degrrees’ parliament should be movedo ut oof london- too remote from people claim to represent
Disproportionately influence of london based instituttions- pressure groups lobbying groups and media
Low levels of participation concern for free ad fair elevtion
Referendums
Most important example of direct democracy
Yes or no- single issue
Forms of direct democracy
Referendums
Epetitions
Recalls
Election of party leaders
Open primaries
Public consultations
E-petitions
100,000 signaitures- debated in parliament- considered debate hoc
Great way to make parliamnet more reponsive to public opinion
Cons- can. Be ignored
Limit no characters- limit explanation - cant talk in debate
Diff to ahieve no. needed but also small % population
Not be most importanc issue
Recalls
Recall of mps act 2015 gave constituents power to force by-election in case of serious wrongdoings v
10% pop of constituent need to sign
Pros recalls
Hold mps to account
Effective betweenn elections
No evidence personal vendetta
Cons recalls
Person being recalled can stand in by-election
Ihgh threshold
Not that long to next election
Personal vendetta
Election of party leaders
Main uk parties give a direct say to memvers when choosing party leader
Party leaders directly accountavble to their members
Criticism- too much influence for small group people
80-90,000 rishi v truss
Open primaries
Small no constuencies use open primaries to select parliamentary candidates- publiv rather than party members
Not cought on- used 1 in 2019
Public consults
Used to assess the views of the public on major decisions- hs2- people affected
Can be ignored
To be effective need a good cross section of public
Participation
engagement of the public in the political process
Formal participation
Electing mps
Voting in referendums
Membership of political parties
Attending public meetings
‘Top-down’
Informal participation
‘Bottom up’ grassroots activitu
Online actibiyt- signing/making e-petition
Purchasing/buying products for political reasons
Discussing politics with friends and damily
How is formal participation decliining
Turnourt 77.7% in 1992 to 67% 2019
Party membership 2.9mill in 1951 to 150,000 2015
Why formal participation is declining
-mistrucst of politicians and political institytions- eg. Scandals- partygate or 2009 expenses scandal
Resulting in negative mmedia rep of party
Changes in political cutlure anfd ideas
Internet has increassed its influence
Increase support single issue pressure group
But decrease support political party and trade union
Buycotts
Citizens using purchasing power to actively sipport certian products/services- fairtrade
Clictivism
More intuitive, low intensity participation- ‘liking’
Share political content-networking
Hacktivism
Hacking companies/gov, other establishments to take contro of their website, block or crash servers- for politival reasons
Online terrorism
Anonymous
Other forms n=informal participation
Protests/rallying
Join pressure gorup
Donation to political party
Strikes
Majoritarian democracy
Gov based on majority support of those who won in that constituency
Minority may be excluded
Consultative/participation democracy
Rep elements0 incorperate demands of direct democracy
Referendums, public consultatioins
Internet and social media- improved the health of democracy
-excellent opportunity for those to engage in poitis- 2016 brexit social media campaign
-esp. good for young people may not necessarily feel as committed to more traditional forms of political participation- labour 2017- encouraged more young people to vote
-benefits pluralism by incressing information and opinions open to people- smaller groups- easier to listen to thoughts
-e-petitions promote engagement and debate between elections
-online pressure groups- 38 degrees
Change.org- removing vat on tampons
-blogs may give more detailed, thoughtful information than more ‘instant’ forms of social media- eg. ‘Conservative home’
Internet and social media is bad for democracy
-social media not balanced- no guarentee that info provided is accurate- echochamber effect
-e-petitions, like referendums, reduce q to ‘uyes or no’
-increasingly common for messages to be antidemocratic
Misleading, hateful
-false impressions of how popular a view is- may be ‘trending’ but minority believe
-diff to distinguish betweem fact and opinion on bligs
Example of members of political party had power
1952- 2.8 mill members of conservatives
Pushed party to go further on house building
How did labour party increase in membership
2015 leadership contest
Claim to embody ‘mass movement’ of over half mill in mar 2017
Many claim snap election of 2017 did it
Snnp membership
120,000 members/5 miill pop
After independance referendum
Membership of partys demographic
2017- sussez uni
51% uni graduate
80% abc1
61% male
Importance of party memebrship
Choose local constituency candidate
Safe seats- means chooses mp
Mps make up selectorate that chooses party leader- pm
demographic of councillors
Local gov associations census of local authority counillors in 2013- 67.3% male (down from 70.1% in 2001
96% white ethnic origin- down form 97% in 2001
Av age councillor 60,2%
46.6% retired , only 19.2% full time work
Part time job in normal working hours
‘Councillores often called pale, stale and male’
Lobbying importance
important part of how legislation is scrutinised and ‘aslo a potential predator’
‘Often the first ones to alert mps when a government bill contains a nasty policy’
National trust lobbyig- 4.2 mill paird up members
Eg. Warned national planning policu framework proposed by minister supposed to lead to a rise in house building will mean that ‘local voices will not
Limiteations for pg
Transparency of lobbyuiung, non party ccampaigning and trade union adminsitration act 2014
Inc clause limit amount charities could spend on campaigns in lead up to general election
Pointless epetitions
Stop trump from visiting uk (when candidate) even though trump said nothing about visiting
Main problems with uk democratic system
Decline in trust in poliiticians and political process
Low turnout- reduce legitimacy of mandates
Decrease membership of political parties
High levels apathy and disengagemnt- reforms required to change this from a democratic deficit or participation crisis
Optimistic view on uk democracy
Low levels of engagemnet suggest people are content- hapathy
Some general eleections do imporve high turnout and referendums- brexit
Informal and new ways to participate- epetitions
Although party membership fallen.
Recently lab party seen sugre- as well as in pg
Reforms suggested to increase participation
Replace fptp to pr for westminster elections
Increase and enhance use of e-petition
Expansion digital democracy
Furtherdevolution
Lords reform
Enhance power of recall
Replace fptp to pr for westminster elections- how imporve
More rep
Eliminate safe seats and wasted votes- more incentive to vote
Increase and enhance use of epetitions
Greater say in what is debated in parliament- if automaticly in parliamentary vote/debate- more accountable
Expansion of digital democracy
Encourage further political discussion
More with modern time
Online votng- but could lead to hacking
Further devolution
Bring greater decision makng to the people
Greater divide n and south
Could increase voter fatigue
Turnout in local parlaiment low
