Component 1: Democracy & Participation Flashcards Preview

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics > Component 1: Democracy & Participation > Flashcards

Flashcards in Component 1: Democracy & Participation Deck (65)
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1
Q

How does Baron Montesquieu outline the three branches of government in “Spirit of the laws”(1748)?

A
  • Judiciary (law makers/legal system) decides how/if laws are broken and what disciplinary measures to take if this occurs
  • legislature (creates laws/parliament)
  • Executive (passes laws of legislature) decides which laws are passed and the workings of the state
2
Q

Outline the process of law introducing

A

Legislature

 - --->Executive 
               - --->Judiciary
3
Q

Outline the requirements of direct democracy

A

Requires citizens of the state regularly attend meetings and engage in politics generally on a very detailed level to help make important decisions

4
Q

Outline requirements of representative democracy

A

Turn up to a polling station and vote

5
Q

Give reasons in favour of direct democracy

A
  • ensures fully representation of the voting electorate
  • allows people to engage with the running of the state outside of elections
  • gives citizens an active role in how their country is run and who runs it
6
Q

Give examples for each pro-direct democracy point.

A

-representation through inclusive bills and promotion of beneficial areas of advancement
E.g. Government funded development of technology to help the disabled
- active participation allows for empowerment of citizens
E.g. Minority groups feel heard and appreciated when a bill to their favour is passed (1973, 2013)
-role of citizens in decision making ensures rule of government does not become dictatorial
E.g. Lack their of when thatcher came to power and rise thereafter

7
Q

Give reasons in favour of representative democracy

A
  • democracy as a concept is susceptible to an ignorant populace, so should trust professional politicians to make informed decisions
  • size/lifestyle of modern societies makes the participation of every citizen in politics more difficult
  • necessity for trust between electorate and elected officials must exist regardless of brand of democracy, so should be trusted to do their jobs and receive consequences if the fail to do so
8
Q

What are key dates in the extension of franchise movement?

A

1832-“first reform act”(18% of male population)

1918-“representation of the people act” (all men and women over 30)

9
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 1,693,000 ?

A

1980

10
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 1980?

A

4.12%

11
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 1,137,000 ?

A

1989

12
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 840,000 ?

A

1998

13
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 560,000 ?

A

2006

14
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 476,000 ?

A

2008

15
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 397,000 ?

A

2010

16
Q

What year was party membership (main 3) at 490,000 ?

A

2016

17
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 1989?

A

2.63%

18
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 1998?

A

1.92%

19
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 2006?

A

1.28%

20
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 2008?

A

0.95%

21
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 2010?

A

0.80%

22
Q

What percentage of the population was a member of a political party in 2016?

A

1.08%

23
Q

year range 1980-2016

A

mean percentage of population of the total electorate is a member of one of three main parties = 3.32%

24
Q

1979

A

76.0 % turnout

25
Q

1983

A

72.7% turnout

26
Q

1987

A

75.3% turnout

27
Q

1992

A

77.7% turnout

28
Q

2001

A

59.4% turnout

29
Q

2005

A

61.3% turnout

30
Q

2010

A

65.2% turnout

31
Q

2015

A

66.1% turnout

32
Q

2017

A

68.7% turnout

33
Q

1997

A

71.4% turnout

34
Q

Should London have an elected mayor? (1998)

A

34.1% turnout

35
Q

Devolution of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? (1997-8)

A
  1. 4%-Scotland
  2. 1%-Wales
  3. 0%-Northern Ireland
36
Q

Should the AV electoral system be introduced? (2011)

A

42.2% turnout

37
Q

Should Scotland be independence? (2014)

A

84.6% turnout

38
Q

Should Britain exit the EU? (2016)

A

72.2% turnout

39
Q

***E-petition: against a plan to introduce charges for using roads (2007)

A

1.8 million

= government dropped plan

40
Q

***E-petition: Calling for the release of all documents relating to the Hillsborough football disaster of 1989 (2011)

A

139,000

= papers released and new inquest launched

41
Q

***E-petition: should there be a second EU referendum (2016)

A

3.8 million

The = Parliamentary debate held but no further action

42
Q

Name 6 types of democratic participation

A
  • Standing for public office
  • Active party membership
  • Active pressure group membership
  • Passive party membership
  • Digital activist
  • Voting!
43
Q

Why was there a small increase in party membership after 2010?

A

Rise in Labour party membership

in 2014, new method of party leadership election, (electing Ed Milliband) and increasing party membership

44
Q

P: standing for public office

A

E: Time and effort intensive participation
E: (2018 local election results (BBC))*

45
Q

P: Active party membership

A

E:
E:
The latest available estimates from political parties’ head offices, press releases and media outputs indicate that:
The Labour Party has around 552,000 members, as of January 2018[1]
The Conservative Party has 124,000 members as of March 2018[2]
The Scottish National Party has around 118,200 members, as of April 2018[3]
The Liberal Democrat Party has around 100,500 members, as of April 2018[3]
The Green Party (England and Wales) has 41,073 members, as of April 2018[3]
UKIP has around 21,200 members, as of April 2018[3]
Plaid Cymru has around 8,000 members, as of April 2018[3]

46
Q

P: Active pressure group membership

A

E: involves many means of direct action
E:
Action on Smoking and health, helped pass Health Act (2006)

47
Q

P: Passive part membership

A

E: often confines activity to just surrounding elections
E:

48
Q

P: Digital activist

A

E: political participationon the internet; mostly popular with and increasing in use by 18-25 years demographic
E: ***

49
Q

P: Voting

A

E: most fundamental and least taxing form of political participation; system is suseptible to ignorant or apathetic electorate; helpful to hold governments to account and ensure they carry outrepresentative function

E: 77.7 % turnout in 1992 drops to 68.7% turnout (dip in 2001 - 59.4, gradual increase in subsequent elections)

50
Q

*Labour (Councils)

A

Total74

51
Q

*Labour (Councils Change)

A

No results

52
Q

*Labour (Councillors Total)

A

2350

53
Q

*Labour (Councillors Change)

A

+79

54
Q

*Conservative(Councils)

A

Total46

55
Q

*Conservative (Councils Change)

A

-2

56
Q

*Conservative (Councillors Total)

A

1332

57
Q

*Conservative (Councillors Change)

A

-35

58
Q

*Liberal Democrat (Councils Total)

A

9

59
Q

*Liberal Democrat (Councils Change)

A

+4

60
Q

*Liberal Democrat (Councillors Total)

A

536

61
Q

*Liberal Democrat (Councillors Change)

A

+75

62
Q

*Independent (Councils Total)

A

0

63
Q

*Independent (Councils Change)

A

No results

64
Q

*Independent (Councillors Total)

A

97

65
Q

*Independent (Councillors Change)

A

No results