Democracy

Question 1

How does voting work in a Direct Democracy?

Answer 1

• citizens vote on policies and law made by the government instead of voting through others
• decisions reached by a majority vote
• most uk decision are not made by direct democracy
  —> but most important ones made by referendums

Question 2

How do referendums work?

Answer 2

• citizens directly vote on issues and the governments create policies based on the response

Question 3

What are 2 examples of referendums?

Answer 3

• Uk European Union referendum 2016:
  - 33 million voted on wether to remain a member of the EU or leave, 51.89% voted leave
• Alternative vote referendum 2011:
  - over 19 million citizens voted against adopting the alternative vote system and chose to keep the current FPTP system

Question 4

What are online petitions?

Answer 4

• Uk parliament set up a platform for people to make and sign online petitions
• If a petition gains over 100,000 signatures parliament may debate the topic
• But the topic must be supported by ‘backbenches business committees’ so is not entirely direct

Question 5

Examples of online petitions?

Answer 5

1.6 million people signed a petition to stop US president Donald Trump from making a state visit to the UK
—> MPs debated this and changed it from a ‘state visit’ to a ‘working visite’ in 2018

Question 6

How do Rallies and Protests work?

Answer 6

• groups pf people worried about the governments politics actions may gather to demonstrate their support or disapproval
• government do not have to respond

Question 7

Examples of Protests and Rallies

Answer 7

• In 2017 thousands gathered to protest in London against government’s economic and political decisions. People disapproved of austerity measures
• In 2010 thousands of students protested in London about the rise of tuition fees

Question 8

What are advantages of Direct Democracy?

Answer 8

• Purest Form
  . Purest from and does not involve interpretation
• All votes count equally
  .