U1. Democracy and participation

Question 1

What is direct democracy?

Answer 1

A system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue usually in the form of a yes or no response (referendums)

Question 2

Give reasons in favour of DD?

Answer 2

A pure form of democracy 
Increased legitimacy 
Improves participation 
Increases public engagement 
Improves political education 
It functions effectively

Question 3

Give reasons against DD?

Answer 3

It is not practical 
Tyranny of the majority - minorities are left out 
Undermines elected representatives 
Low turnouts 
Emotional responses 
Populist outcomes & Demagoguery

Question 4

Define representative democracy

Answer 4

A system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf

Question 5

Describe a pluralist democracy

Answer 5

A system of government where there is competition between different groups who represent popular concerns to the government of the day

Question 6

Aspects of pluralist democracy

Answer 6

There will be a wide dispersal of powers among competing groups
There will be no elite groups
Groups will be internally democratic
Group leaders will be accountable to their members
There will be a range of access points
The government should be politically neutral

Question 7

What is Accountability?

Answer 7

This means that those who have been elected in a representative democracy must be made responsible for their policies, actions, decisions and general conduct. Without such accountability, representation becomes largely meaningless

Question 8

Explain Redress of grievances

Answer 8

The practice, adopted by many elected representatives, of taking up the case of an individual constituent who feels they have suffered an injustice, usually at the hands of government or an agency of the state

Question 9

Define manifesto

Answer 9

A statement of a party’s agreed policies produced during an election campaign to inform the public about the political platform upon which its candidates are standing. Candidates for the party are expected to support the manifesto and usually do so in the UK, though there may be expectations.

Question 10

What is a (electoral) mandate?

Answer 10

The principle, operating in the UK, whereby a party that has been elected to the government has the authority of the electorate to carry out its manifesto commitments

Question 11

What is a civil society?

Answer 11

A collective name for all the various associations, including parties, pressure groups, regions, voluntary organisations, charities etc. to which citizens belong and in which they may become active. Civil society acts as a vital counterbalance to the power of government.

Question 12

What does ‘limited government’ mean?

Answer 12

A feature of democracies with a constitutional safeguard is that the power of the government should have strict limits and that these limits will be enforced by the judiciary and the legal system in general

Question 13

Define pluralism

Answer 13

The idea that a wide variety of beliefs, lifestyles, religions etc. can flourish in a society and be tolerated

Question 14

Define hyperpluralism

Answer 14

A modern phenomenon describing the rapid growth in the number of interest and campaign groups operating in modern democracies. It is feared that the growth in numbers and influence of such groups makes government extremely difficult, as so many different demands and interests have to be satisfied

Question 15

What is ‘elitism’?

Answer 15

A description of a society or political system where power and influence are concentrated in the hands of a few people and organisations

Question 16

Explain decentralisation

Answer 16

The process of spreading power from the centre (i.e central government) both towards devolved governments in the national regions and to local government

Question 17

What is a petition?

Answer 17

An appeal to make something specific happen, usually by demonstrating a high level of popular support

Question 18

Define ‘purdah’

Answer 18

A phrase used to describe the period before an election or vote where members of local councils or government are not allowed to make any new statements or proposals that could affect the way in which people vote. The period is usually between 4 and 6 weeks

Question 19

Define pressure group

Answer 19

A group like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause in order to put pressure on policy makers at Westminster and beyond

Question 20

What is a democratic deficit?

Answer 20

A term used to describe the undemocratic nature of institutions or procedures that are supposed to promote democracy

Question 21

What is a participation crisis?

Answer 21

A term used to describe a failure of the public to participate in the political process, which can undermine democratic legitimacy

Question 22

Explain the term franchise

Answer 22

(also known as suffrage) The term ‘franchise’ essentially means the same as suffrage - that is, the right to vote. The franchise has been gradually extended in the UK since 1832 to include all adults over 18 (over 16 in Scotland) with a few exceptions, such as prisoners currently serving a sentence

Question 23

Explain e-democracy

Answer 23

A name used to describe the growing tendency for democracy to be carried out online in the form of e-petitions and other online campaigns

Question 24

Who were the suffragettes?

Answer 24

Campaigners in the early part of the twentieth century advocating votes for women, who used both parliamentary lobbying and civil disobedience as their methods

Question 25

Explain clicktocracy

Answer 25

The increasing practice of taking in surveys, petitions and political campaigns by registering one’s opinion online. The 38 Degrees site is a prominent example of this

Question 26

What is a promotional group?

Answer 26

An association whose goal is to promote a particular cause or set of beliefs or values. Such groups seek to promote favourable legislation, prevent unfavourable legislation or simply bring an issue onto the political agenda

Question 27

What is a sectional group?

Answer 27

An association which has an identifiable membership of supporting group. Such groups represent a section or society and are mainly concerned with their own interests

Question 28

Explain the term ‘lobbying’

Answer 28

An activity, commonly used by pressure groups, to promote causes and interests. Lobbying takes various forms, including organising large gatherings at parliament or council offices, seeking direct meetings with decision makers including ministers and councillors, and employing professional organisations to run campaigns

Question 29

Define group politics

Answer 29

A term that refers to the idea that political decision making involves meditating between the competing demands of different groups. It also implies that different groups have open access to decision making individuals and bodies and that the demands of different groups are heard

Question 30

What are civil liberties

Answer 30

The rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens which protect them from unfair and arbitrary treatment by the state and government. They are also those freedoms that are guaranteed by the state and the constitution. Civil liberties are sometimes referred to as civil rights especially in the USA

Question 31

Explain common law

Answer 31

Traditional concepts of how disputes should be settled and what rights individuals have. Common law is established by judges through judicial precedents when they declare what traditional, common law should be. It is sometimes described as ‘judge-made law’, although common law judgements can be found in law books or in digital form.

Question 32

Describe and explain formal equality

Answer 32

The term formal equality refers to aspects of equality that are established by law. The rule of law, in particular, establishes formal equality under the legal system - all must be treated equally by the courts and parliament. Formal equality may also refer to equal treatment for different sections of society, established in law. This is also often described as ‘equal rights’

Question 33

What is a think tank?

Answer 33

An organisation whose role is to undertake research into various aspects of public policy. They are financed either by government or by private sources or both and they are used by decision makers to inform they policy deliberation. They may be neutral or have a political axe to grind.

Question 34

What is an insider pressure group?

Answer 34

They have have close links with the decision makers at all levels. They are seen as reasonable e.g would not use methods such as civic disobedience to displace their opinions.

Question 35

Describe the characteristics of an insider pressure group

Answer 35

• Becoming involved in the early stages of policy and law making, meaning they are consulted by the decision makers and can offer advice and information
• Some groups employ professional lobbyists who can gain access to decision makers
• Government of different levels use specific committees to make decisions about policies. As a result, some groups may be represented in these bodies and have a privileged position. The NFU and IOD have advise the government on these committees. So have trade unions and professional bodies who represent the workers.
• Sectional groups may be called to testify before parliamentary committees, both select and legislative. However, they attend to give advice and information it is also an opportunity to have some long-term influence.

Question 36

What is an outsider pressure group?

Answer 36

have no links with the government, either because the decision makers do not wish to be associated with them or because they want to maintain independent from governance. For example, Greenpeace, which is very radical, will have nothing to do with the government and the government will have nothing to do with them.