Democracy and Participation Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
Examples of direct democracy
A
referendums, public consultations, focus groups
2
Q
Who are directly elected?
A
US President / Mayor
3
Q
Advantages of Direct Democracy
A
- gives equal weight to all votes
- encourages popular participation in politics
- people take responsibility for own decisions
- reduces dependency on representatives
- develops sense of community
- encourages genuine debate
4
Q
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
A
- impractical in a large heavily populated modern state
- representatives are more trusted and have the expertise to make complex decisions
- more open to manipulation by others e.g. pressure groups and media
- minority viewpoints often disregarded
5
Q
How does a representative democracy work?
A
voters elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
in an election parties will put forwards policies and the voter makes a choice
if representatives do not satisfy voters they can be held to account and removed at the next election
6
Q
Advantages of Representative Democracy
A
- most practical in a large modern state
- issues need rapid response
- in theory politicians are better informed than the average citizen
- reduces ‘ tyranny of the majority ‘
- representatives can be held account at elections
7
Q
Disadvantages of Representative Democracy
A
- reduces active participation
- not always truly representative of wider public (often run by elites pursuing their own agendas
- minorities still remain underrepresented as politicians are more likely to follow views of the majority
- politicians skilfully avoid accountability (dead cat/ red meat)
- politicians may be corrupt and incompetent
8
Q
Positive Aspects of UK Government
A
- devolved government (scotland, wales, NI, london are all allowed their own elected bodies to make local decisions
- independent judiciary (judges in court make decisions based on law not politics)
- free media (the media can report on anything it wants and can criticise the government freely (however, Gary Lineker 2023))
- free and fair elections
- wide range of political parties and pressure groups
9
Q
Gary Lineker 2023
A
taken off air following a critical tweet on government’s asylum policy
compared rhetoric of governments to that used in Nazi Germany
10
Q
Negative Aspects of UK Government
A
- FPTP underrepresents minority viewpoints
- Unelected House of Lords (lacks democratic legitimacy)
- Lack of protection for citizens rights
- Control of sections of the media by powerful business interests
11
Q
Why is voter turnout decreasing?
A
- society has become more consumerist (people make their minds more on an individual basis)
- social media (enables young to exchange political views and participate in online campaigns without engaging in the real world)
- political apathy
- political hapathy
12
Q
Political Apathy
A
lack of interest or awareness of contemporary events and political issues that affect society
13
Q
Political Hapathy
A
people are generally contented and see no need to push for political change
14
Q
Examples of well attended demonstrations
A
fuel prices, Iraq War, fox hunting and student tuition fees
15
Q
Why was there a low turnout in 2001 and 2005?
A
booming economy and presumably levels of contentment were higher
16
Q
Why was there a higher turnout in 2010 election?
A
less optimistic in terms of economy
time of austerity
17
Q
What does political participation depend on?
A
the issue at stake
18
Q
Turnout for Scottish Independence Referendum
A
84.6%
19
Q
Turnout for 2016 EU Referendum
A
72.2%
20
Q
How many constituencies did there used to be?
A
two
country (mainly rural areas)
boroughs (towns)
21
Q
Who was voting restricted to?
A
freehold property owners
22
Q
What issue did 1832 Great Reform Act address?
A
the issue of ‘rotten boroughs’
redistributed the constituency seats more line with population
23
Q
Who did the 1832 Great Reform Act grant the right to vote to?
A
smaller property holders and tenant farmers in the counties
24
Q
What percentage of population were entitled to vote after 1832 Great Reform Act?
A
5%
25
1918 Representation of People Act
all men over 21 and women over 30
26
1928 Representation of People Act
terms for men and women to vote equalised
full adult suffrage (both can vote at 21)
27
What year was full adult suffrage achieved?
1928
28
1969 Representation of People Act
voting age reduced to 18
29
Difference between suffragist and suffragette?
suffragist - someone who peacefully campaigns for women's right to vote
suffragette - someone who used violent means to campaign for women's right to vote
30
When did suffragette movement start?
1866
John Stuart Mill proposed an amendment that would allow men and women equal voting terms but was rejected 194 votes to 73
31
NUWSS
1897
suffragists
gradualist strategy
non violent tactics
32
WSPU
1903
Pankhurst
'Deeds Not Words'
wanted to heighten the profile of the suffrage movement in the media and parliament, e.g. law breaking, violence, hunger strikes
33
How did WW1 have an effect on suffrage movement?
Many women were employed in key industries to the war effort e.g. factories and weapon manufacturers
Women’s experiences in the war raised their self image and sense of individual identity
34
What are the recent debates on extending the franchise?
16 year olds
prisoners
foreign nationals with indefinite leave to remain in britain
people with UK passports living abroad
35
Extending Franchise to 16 Year Olds
Temporarily received right to vote in Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014
Credited with the much higher turnout in that vote
36
Arguments FOR extending franchise to 16 year olds
- youth interests are currently neglected by politicians who know they don’t need the votes of those under 16
- would strengthen political interest and engagement amongst young people
- 16 year olds can already join the army, have sex, get marriage and leave home etc
- high turnout of 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
37
Arguments AGAINST extending franchise to 16 year olds
- Most still live with parents, in education rather than full time employment
- Most have an incomplete understanding of and lack of interest in politics
- Childhood and adolescence should be a time of personal development and enjoyment not of weighty political responsibility
- Young people are not permanently denied representation (unlike women in the past)
- Turnout may decrease as 16-17 year olds may be less likely to vote therefore undermining legitimacy of elected governments
38
Arguments FOR Compulsory Voting
- gives greater democratic legitimacy to the elected government
- enforces greater participation in democratic process
- would solve participation crisis
- encourages voters to become better informed about political issues
- reduces tyranny of the majority
39
Arguments AGAINST Compulsory Voting
- violation of civil liberties as it would be an abuse of freedom
- does not guarantee a better engaged or more informed electorate
- significant extra administrative costs
- may increase the number of ill thought out and wasted votes
40
Extending Franchise to Prisoners
European Court of Human Rights found that it breached human rights by denying prisoners the right to vote
41
What are the types of Pressure Groups?
sectional/interest
cause/promotional
single cause
multi cause
insider
outsider
42
What were the NFU successful in doing? Why?
blocking US imports
they are an insider group
43
What were the NFU unsuccessful in doing?
securing remain vote in Brexit referendum
farmers got massive subsidies from Europe when Britain was part of EU
44
Dignity in Dying
in 2015 Lords approved 'Dignity in Dying' bill (promoting the right of individuals to end their lives)
Commons voted it out due to 'thin edge of the wedge argument'
45
ASH success
action on smoking and health
banning smoking in cars with children
46
Two examples of multi cause groups
Trade Unions - seek to influence policy in relation to workers
E.g. pensions, insurance, salary, maternity, equal opportunities, discrimination etc
RAC - seek to influence policy in relation to motor transport
E.g. petrol taxes, road use, congestion charges, car safety, car insurance, repair and maintenance, fuel efficiency, purchase and sale
47
What is 55 Tufton Street?
a loose coalition of 9 think tanks and campaign groups
48
What methods do 55 Tufton Street use?
soft power
indirect influence
49
Success of 55 Tufton Street
said to have perhaps more influence on the course of UK politics over past decades than many departments and most political parties
50
When did Tufton Street come into public attention?
TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) group
51
TaxPayers' Alliance Group Success
media friendly appraoch:
aimed squarely at the media
e.g. producing easy to digest briefings
journalists found it easier to transfer TPA research to front pages
e.g. always picked up phone ready with a quote tailored to exact story for reporters
52
Four reasons why some pressure groups will have more influence than others?
- resources (large membership to fund resources)
- tactics and leadership (experienced, capable leadership and knowing 'access points' in UK political system to apply pressure)
- public support (agenda in step with public opinion tend to be most successful)
- government attitudes (insider contacts are important, governments more likely to listen to those who are specialised)
53
RSPCA - resources
employs around 1600 people
supported by thousands of volunteers
can afford full page adverts in national newspapers
54
RSPCA - tactics and leadership
collaborated with two similar pressure groups so that they were not rivals to secure the ban on hunting with dogs in 2004
55
Why was the Snowdrop Campaign successful?
wanted to ban use of handguns
successful due to public reaction to 1996 Dunblane primary school massacre
56
What are think tanks?
policy specific groups of dedicated individuals that are usually headhunted from academia and have a political leaning
57
Advantages of think tanks
individually connected with MPs
can directly influence legislation
often called upon to aid in legislation (Blair and Consultation Periods)
58
When did Blair use Think Tanks?
to establish his third way shift in the face of a more left wing party membership
59
Consultation Periods
think tanks are often consulted
upon implementation of gay marriage there was a twelve week consultation where religious organisations and gay think tanks
60
Disadvantages of Think Tanks
removed from actual legislative process
simply present arguments for certain policies and legislation
lack the necessary route to government
have little impact over gov decisions
61
What are lobbyists?
individuals or groups trying to persuade someone in parliament to support a particular policy or campaign
62
Advantages of Lobbyists
have a route into legislation
often have financial backing
63
Stonewall Success
forced government to reduce age of consent for homosexuals to 16 so it is equal to that of heterosexuals
challenged ban on gay people in armed forces and government immediately suspended discharging homosexuals within months and changed the law
64
When is government more likely to listen to think tanks?
when their policies or campaigns regard less seismic decisions
government are more inclined to pursue its own interests in big decisions
65
Best for Britain
aimed to persuade MPs to back a Brexit referendum
Johnson ultimately went ahead with his campaign and promise to 'Get Brexit Done'
66
What are our civil rights / civil liberties guaranteed by?
1998 Human Rights Act
67
What does the 1998 Human Rights Act include?
right to fair and equal treatment
freedom of expression
freedom of conscience
right to vote
freedom of movement
68
What are Social Rights?
right to education
right to employment
right to healthcare
right to welfare provision
69
What milestones developed our rights?
1215 Magna Cart
1950 European Convention on Human Rights
2010 Equality Act
70
What did our rights look like until 1998?
there was no single document spelling out our rights
most were protected by acts of parliament and common law/custom
71
What rights did the Magna Carta establish?
- only concerned rights of nobles and freemen
- established right to trail by jury and unlawful seizure of property
72
European Convention on Human Rights 1950
International convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe
73
What did the 2010 Equality Act establish?
- equal pay act
- sex discrimination act
- race relations act
74
What 9 protections did the Equality Act establish?
age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion / belief, sex, sexual orientation
75
What rights are considered 'controversial'?
Right to form trade unions
Right to strike
Women's rights and minority rights
Right to safe working conditions
Freedom from unfair dismissal
Right to a decent standard of education
Pension rights
Right to engage in business without state interference
The right to purchase property
76
Law and Order - differing views between Conservatives and Labour?
Conservatives - argue for harsher punishments for criminals, more police and strong army
Labour - 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'
77
What does having a 'rights based culture' mean for the UK?
- all new legislation must be compliant with HRA
- judges can declare earlier acts of Parliament as incompatible with HRA
78
How does judicial review protect civil rights/liberties in the UK?
enables the legality of government actions to be properly scrutinised
79
Give two examples of successful judicial reviews
1. the government had not consulted fairly on compensation for people affected by the planned High Speed Rail link
2. High Court rulings that retired Gurkha soldiers should be allowed to settle in the UK
80
What is the criticism surrounding judicial review?
it is argued to place too much power in the hands of unelected and unaccountable judges
81
'Judge made law'
- issue of privacy
- judges have been accused of creating their own privacy law through the way they interpret the HRA
82
What do judges appear to give priority to? How does this occur?
the right to privacy over the right to freedom of expression
specific legislation on the subject had not been passed by parliament and was not explicitly covered by common law
83
Max Mosley
- head of F1
- High Court awarded him substantial damages when an article was published about his sex life which he argued had breached his privacy
84
What does the example of Max Mosley show?
wealthy individuals who could afford to take legal action have an unfair advantage
85
What did Max Mosley fail to do?
fail to rule that newspapers should notify people before printing stories about their personal lives
86
What is a serious fault of the HRA?
the way it seems to favour undeserving individuals rather than protecting the legitimate freedoms of UK citizens
87
What civil rights reform has the conservatives argued for?
replacement of HRA with a new 'British Bill of Rights' which would establish the supremacy of British courts over the European Court of Human Rights
88
Abu Qatada
- Islam extremist promoting use of violence
- ministers wanting to deport him to Jordan
- his legal advisors delayed the deportation on the ground that he might be tried for evidence using torture (a breach of HRA)
89
What is the most emotive area of the civil rights in the UK?
where the rights of individuals have come into conflict with the priorities of government e.g. counter terrorism
90
How does counter terrorism limit civil liberties?
ministers argued that they were entitled to detain terror suspects without trial on the grounds that a national emergency existed
91
What did the law lords rule in December 2004? (civil rights)
that the indefinite detention of foreign nationals on suspicion of involvement in terrorism was discriminatory
92
What new law did the government pass in response to the law lords rule?
introduce a system of control orders that enabled suspects to be closely monitored e.g. electronic tagging, removal of phones/internet access
93
Why is it incorrect to suggest there has been an unremitting erosion of human rights in response to fears of terrorism?
some restrictive measures have been abandoned in the face of parliamentary and public opposition
94
What did Blair government propose in November 2005? (civil rights)
- to extend the period that a suspect could be held before being charged from 14 to 90 but was defeated in the Commons. Government compromised on 28 days.
- Under the coalition this was reduced to 12 and Labour governments plan for compulsory identity cards was scrapped
95
What is the publics response to counter terrorism?
the public have been willing to sacrifice some liberties at a time of heightened concern over security
96
What rights do the government tend to prioritise?
tend to place safety of society above the protection of individual rights
97
What type of pressure groups tend to have limited success in deflecting government policy?
pro-human rights pressure groups
generally, governments are less likely to side with pressure groups that campaign for the rights of minority groups whom the wider public regards as undeserving of sympathy
98
Liberty pressure group
failed to stop the passage of the so called 'Snoopers Charter' which increases the power of the intelligence agencies by obliging internet companies to store customers browsing history information
