Democracy And Participation Flashcards
What are the types of democracy?
Direct
Representative
Liberal
Pluralist
Direct democracy
Public makes decisions themselves, don’t act through others
‘People are the government’, no politicians
Decisions based on simple majority
Continuous process. Citizens would make decisions daily
Historical-Athenian democracy
Contemporary-referendum
Purest form of democracy
Referendums
Element of direct democracy still used in UK
Public get to vote on an issue
No legal obligation for government to accept result
e.g Brexit. 52-48%
Indy ref Scotland-55-45% to stay
AV-68-32% rejection
Representative democracy
Chosen political framework of most developed countries in the west.
Public not personally involved (representatives), free fair and regular elections at range of levels, universal suffrage/wide franchise, assemblies or legislatures that pass laws (Parliament), decisions reached on basis of majority, tolerance of different viewpoints, widespread civil rights , range of parties, pressure groups
UK is one.
Positives of direct democracy
Genuine democracy in action-people determine destiny
Removes layer of people who distort actual views of people and over represent certain interests
More understanding and informed society
Extend greater legitimacy on actions taken
Regular participation in government creates more vibrant society
Negatives of direct democracy
May be more a reflection of an idea or aspiration rather than practical possibility
Not achievable with large scale society e.g 45 million voters in UK
Need for experts in certain fields who can take informed decisions and have practical LT view for society
Public May become tired of effort and commitment to process and become content with limited involvement
Positives of representative democracy
Power placed in hands of talent-in terms of law and economics government posts filled by people who possess detailed knowledge in these areas
Only practical form of democracy in large modern society
Relieves burden on citizens and allows them to carry on with their chosen pursuits
Provides accountability and stability e.g elections
Negatives of representative democracy
Indirect democracy
Participation levels often low which questions legitimacy of system
Narrow level of representation as not true reflection of public
Seen as elite group who may not represent views of public or act in their interests
Two party system offers limited electoral choice and elite rule
Liberal democracy
Both liberal and democratic features combined.
Democratic-free and fair elections, wide suffrage and use of representatives to act on behalf of citizens behalf (rep demo)
Liberal-constitutionalism, checks and balances and protection of indy rights and freedom
e.g UK and US
Pluralist democracy
Participation via organised groups speaking up for a collective interest.
Pressure groups seen to reflect this form and act as agents for change in society
Comp by numerous groups seeking to advance their particular cause or interest
Req widespread dispersal of power and availability of numerous avenues for groups to access the political system with
Contrasted with elitism
Liberal demo strengths
Free, fair and regular elections Wide suffrage Reps-citizens valued and empowered Constitutionalism Protection of rights and freedoms Checks and balances
Liberal demo weaknesses
PM can go to war w/o Parliament consultation
Citizens may not be properly rep
Politicians still have power and can misuse it e.g strip rights, get rid of universal declaration of human rights
Rep demo with nice lick of paint
Pluralist demo strengths
More participation, more voices heard Not elitist More change, more often Constant accountability-no need to wait for election People power
Pluralist demo weaknesses
Who's in charge? No centralised power No accountability Chaotic Who funds them? Not every viewpoint heard equally? Will people compromise? Unlikely
Who has the vote in the UK?
18+
British/Irish or qualifying commonwealth citizen
Not legally excluded from voting
Resident at UK address (or UK citizen living abroad who has been able to vote for last 15yrs)
Who can’t vote in the UK?
U18
EU citizens
Lords
Prisoners
Those convicted of electoral corruption barred for 5 years
Compulsory detained in a psychiatric hospital
What were the two types of constituency before 1832 and who could vote in them?
Counties-only those who owned freehold property worth 40 shillings (£2)
Parliamentary boroughs-freeman status or Potwallopers (had a large fireplace in their house which could hold a large cooking pot)
Issues with voting before 1832
Plural voting No women Seat distribution didn't match population distribution Rotten and pocket boroughs Total electoral-approx 400k men
1832 reform act
Abolished rotten boroughs and gave seats to new industrial towns for first time e.g Manchester
Votes for some tenant farmers and smallholders in counties alongside 40 shilling freeholder
Uniform franchise qualification-£10 householder. Allowed those living in properties of that rentable value to vote
Electorate increased to 650,000 (5% adults)
1867 reform
Enfranchised 1.5mn men
Male urban householders and lodgers paying £10 year for unfurnished accommodation could vote
52 seats redistributed from small towns (pop <10k e.g Chichester) to growing industrial towns or counties e.g Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds who saw rep increase from 2 to 3 MPs
UoL given seat
1884 franchise act
Gave counties same voting rights as boroughs
5.5mn could vote but 40% men still couldn’t due to status
1884, 67 and 32 did nothing for women regardless of wealth
Representation of the People Act 1918
Men 21+
Women of property 30+
Electorate increased to 21mn-8.4 were women (40% ‘stake’ in vote)
22% women over 30 couldn’t vote because they didn’t own property (working class)
Representation of the people act 1928
= voting rights for women
21+ voting age
Plural voting 1948
Abolition of 12 separate uni constituencies
Increase of no. MPs to 613
Representation of the people act 1969
Extended vote to 18+
Arguments FOR votes at 16
Discussed it so much but nothing has happened Gain other sig rights Seeking a voice elsewhere e.g gangs Young people like to change things Engages youth Disenfranchisement-connect w/ politics Prejudice historic and now Quality of votes Other countries do it Young people's lives affected by govt but can't choose them Gives youth a voice
Arguments AGAINST votes at 16
Young people do have a voice-discussing ideas lots doesn’t mean its a good idea. People in power have no incentive to give the vote
Marriage restricted, age of full consent 18. Two personal, one is society. Unrelated
Bit extreme-people can vote+are in gangs. Having a vote doesn’t change anything
Opinions change as you age. Unaware of faculties of world (idealistic+no real world experience). Small stake-1.5mn
Politics isn’t on UK curriculum-don’t know about it. Could be influenced by parents, are people with the vote engaged?
16 y/o become 18 eventually, women will never compare too men
Little change to 18-busy w/ education
Just because other countries do it successfully doesn’t mean it will be the same here-different society
Same as younger people-not just youth as well e.g prisoners, mental patients
Youth Parliament-gives voice
What are pressure groups?
Groups who try to influence public policy in interest of particular cause
Exist because UK is pluralist democracy
Organised groups of people who come together, usually outside govt, w/ common cause
e.g RSPCA, 38 Degrees, Greenpeace
Pluralism
Belief in commitment to diversity or multiplicity
Suggests society is diverse and power is widely dispersed
PG help ensure diversity recognised and dispersed power
Rod Rhodes, Wyn Grant
No power concentrated in elite or ruling class
Elitism
Some individuals w/ intellect, wealth, specialised training or experience or other distinctive attributes are those who’s views on a matter are to be taken most seriously or carry most weight
Views/actions most likely to be constructive to society
Small minority (economic elite and policy planning networks) hold most power of which is indy of state’s demo process
Members of elite able to extert sig power over policy decisions of both major corps and govt
e.g David Marsh, Martin Smith
What are the 4 types of PG?
Local/national/European/transitional
Temp/perm (single/multi issue)
Interest and cause groups
Insider/outsider
Interest groups
Promotes interest of a particular section of society RESTRICTED membership Members have own interests to promote Strong contacts w/ govt CBI, NFU, TUC, BMA
Cause/promotional groups
Seek to advance particular ideals or principles
OPEN membership
Members motivated by moral or altruistic concerns (betterment of others(
WWF, RSPB
5mn members of enviro groups e.g Greenpeace due to publicity of concerns over recent years
Promote causes/values
Less influential w/ govt
Cause group sub-types and what they are
Attitude-change people’s attitudes on issues e.g Greenpeace
Political-aim to achieve political goal e.g electoral reform
Sectional=aim to protect section of society but open membership e.g NSPCC
Insider groups
Regularly consulted by govt depts
Legit interests and viewed by govt as ‘experts’
Restraint=small, incremental change rather than widespread
‘Prisoners’=rely on govt e.g Welsh Tourist Board
‘Low profile’=BTS pressure e.g NT
‘High profile’= consciously use media e.g RGN
