Democracy and participation Flashcards
(324 cards)
What is the most common reason that a decision will be left to the people in a referendum?
Because it is seen as so vital that it would be unsuitable for representatives to make this decision
State three advantages of DD
- Purest form of democracy as the people’s voice is clearly heard
- Can help avoid delay and deadlock in the poliitical system
- Greater legitimacy as the people have made the decision directly
State three disadvantages of DD
- Tyranny of the majority
- People may be too easily swayed by short term, emotional appeals and charasmatic individuals
- Some issues are too complex for the ordinary citizen to understand
What model of democracy is the most common in the world today?
Representative democracy
Who is held to account in GEs?
Both individual MPs and the government as a whole
Why do representatives have a dilemma in terms of how to represent constituents?
They have to decide whether to follow the delegate, trustee or mandate models when making decisions
Give an example of how constituency interests could clash with the national interest?
An MPs constituents could oppose an airport expansion in the area due to concerns over noise pollution and traffic, but the MP may also see the airport expansion as being in the national interest
What are the three different ways that constituency representation can work?
- Representing the interests of the constituency as a whole, such as looking for funding for local services
- It can mean representing the interests of individual constituents with the redress of grievances
- Could mean listening to the views of their constituents on a national issue. This could lead to a dilemma as the MP could have a different opinion to the majority of their constituents here
Give an example of the redress of grievances
A representative could champion a constituent who feels they have been unfairly treated by the tax office
Give some examples of occupational/social representation
- MPs who support or are supported by TUs could pursue the cause of workers. Others may represent other professions or teachers
- This function could apply to social groups like the elderly, the disabled, members of the LGBTQ+ community or low income groups
Give some examples of causes that a representative could champion
- Environmental protections
- Individual rights and liberties
- Greater equality
- Animal rights
Who mainly carries out causal representation?
Although MPs can carry this out, it is mainly performed by pressure groups
What does the type of representation an MP will follow depend upon?
Lots of factors, such as the issue in question and the nature of the individual MP
List the different types of representation
- Causal
- Occupational/social
- Party
- Constituency
- National interest
- Social representation
State 4 advantages of RD
- Representatives can develop expertise to tackle complex issues that the general public do not have the time of info to understand
- They can be held accountable at election time
- MPs have the time to deal with complex matters, allowing constituents to get on with their own lives
- Only practical way to transfer public opinion into political action in large modern countries
Give 4 disadvantages
- MPs may not act in the best interests of their constituents
- Difficult to hold MPs to account between elections
- Allowing voters to delegate responsibility to MPs can cause them to disengage from social and political issues ]
- Representatives bodies can be unrepresentative and ignore the needs and concerns of minorities
Make the case for DD
- Purest form of democracy as the voice of the people
- Decisions made directly by the people have more authority and legitimacy
- Decisions made by the people are more difficult for future governments to change
- Helps educate people about political issues
Make the case for RD
- MPs may have better judgement that the masses
- MPs may be more rational and less swayed by emotion
- MPs can protect minority interests
- MPs may be better informed than the general public
What is the name of the body that regulated RD in the UK?
The Electoral Commission
How does the EC do this?
They make sure that representation is fair, that all those who have the right to vote can register to do so and that parties do not have any undue influence through spending
What can we say about the current state of representation when we compare it to the past?
That it is broadly uncorrupted, fair and honest
I’ll say a level of government and you give its jurisdiction
!!!!!
Parish or town councils
The lowest level of government. Deal with local issues like parks and gardens, parking restrictions, public amenities (a facility that makes local life more enjoyable) and small planning issues
Local councils
May be county, district or metro councils depending on the area. They deal with local services such as transport, education, roads, social services and public health