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Democracy and Participation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the structure of the AQA exam for AGAT?

A

You must answer ONE question from a choice of two questions. The question is worth 25 marks.

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2
Q

What forms does democracy in the UK take?

A

Democracy in the UK comes in many forms - MPs, Lords, devolved parliaments, referendums and petitions all play a part.

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3
Q

What is a representative democracy?

A

In a representative democracy, representatives make political decisions on behalf of citizens.

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4
Q

How are Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in the UK?

A

Citizens elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons.

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5
Q

What role does the House of Lords play in the UK democracy?

A

The House of Lords is unelected, but its members also amend and approve laws.

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6
Q

What are devolved parliaments?

A

The Scottish Parliament, Welsh Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly also form part of the UK’s representative democracy.

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7
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

In a direct democracy, citizens make political decisions themselves.

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8
Q

What is the best-known form of direct democracy in the UK?

A

Referendums are the best-known form of direct democracy in the UK.

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9
Q

How many referendums have been held in the UK between 1997 and 2016?

A

Between 1997 and 2016, 9 referendums have been held on constitutional issues.

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10
Q

What is the purpose of e-petitions in the UK?

A

E-petitions allow citizens to express their views on any political or social issue. Any petition that attracts over 100,000 signatures is considered for debate in Parliament.

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11
Q

What does the Recall of MPs Act (2015) allow constituents to do?

A

Under this act, constituents can recall their local MP (vote to remove them from office) if the MP has been convicted of a crime and handed a prison sentence, suspended from the House of Commons for 10 days or more, or convicted of making false expenses claims.

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12
Q

What triggers a by-election under the Recall of MPs Act?

A

A by-election is triggered if 10% of eligible voters sign a petition.

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13
Q

What criteria can be used to judge democracies?

A

Democracies can be judged against the following criteria: levels of participation, opportunities for political influence, levels of trust in the political system, and how effectively rights are protected.

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14
Q

What is an elitist political system?

A

Elitist political systems allow those with wealth and connections to exercise disproportionate amounts of power.

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15
Q

What do defenders of the UK’s political system argue?

A

Defenders argue that it upholds the principles of pluralist democracy, where many groups and individuals are able to have political influence.

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16
Q

What rights does the Human Rights Act (1998) protect?

A

The Human Rights Act (1998) set out fundamental rights that belong to all in the UK, including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

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17
Q

How does the Supreme Court contribute to protecting rights?

A

The Supreme Court frequently defends minority rights in its rulings.

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18
Q

What evidence do critics use to argue that the UK is becoming elitist?

A

Critics point to high-profile examples of wealthy party donors achieving significant political influence, the influence of corporations and lobbyists, and the privileged backgrounds of many MPs.

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19
Q

What criticism exists regarding the appointments process for the House of Lords?

A

The appointments process has been criticized for a lack of democracy, as the prime minister oversees most nominations with no opportunity for voters to express their views.

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20
Q

How many peers were appointed to the House of Lords during Liz Truss’s premiership?

A

29 peers were appointed to the House of Lords during Liz Truss’s premiership, despite her short term in office.

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21
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A
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22
Q
A
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23
Q

What are the three main advantages of representative democracy?

A
  • Political decisions made by specialists
  • Representatives can take minority interests into account
  • Accountability for decisions made by representatives
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24
Q

What is a significant disadvantage of representative democracy related to scandals?

A

As there is a reliance on the good performance and conduct of those in power, several high-profile scandals in Parliament can damage trust.

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25
What was the turnout range for general elections in the UK between 2001 and 2019?
59% to 69%
26
What is the definition of 'mandate' in the context of representative democracy?
The extent to which a politician, party, or policy possesses legitimate authority by virtue of an election or referendum result
27
What was notable about the turnout in the 2024 general election?
Turnout dipped below 60% for the first time since 2001
28
What has been the highest turnout for elections to the Welsh Parliament as of 2021?
47%
29
Why might representatives avoid making necessary reforms?
To remain popular with the electorate
30
What is direct democracy?
A form of democracy that gives the people the most power
31
How do referendums benefit the electorate?
They give decision-making power to the people
32
What was the turnout for the 2016 Brexit referendum?
72%
33
What are some criticisms of direct democracy?
* Referendums can over-simplify complex issues * Require support from the prime minister to be held * Outcomes reflect majority views, which can be problematic * E-petitions can create an illusion of democracy
34
What was the turnout for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?
85%
35
True or False: E-petitions offer meaningful influence in the democratic process.
False
36
Fill in the blank: Turnout in the 2016 Brexit referendum was _______.
72%
37
Fill in the blank: The turnout for general elections between 2001 and 2019 was between _______ and _______.
59% and 69%
38
What percentage of MPs support direct democracy?
75%
39
What is a key issue with the outcomes of referendums?
They only consider the views of the majority
40
What is the significance of the 5% signature requirement in California for propositions?
It triggers a vote if enough support is gained
41
42
How many nationwide referendums has the UK held?
Three
43
What was the topic of the 1975 UK referendum?
Remaining in the European Economic Community
44
What was the outcome of the 2011 referendum regarding the Alternative Vote electoral system?
32% Yes, 68% No
45
What percentage of voters supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum?
52% Yes
46
What was the voter turnout for the 2016 EU referendum?
72% Turnout
47
What was required for the creation of the Scottish Assembly in 1979 to be approved?
40% of the registered electorate had to vote in favour
48
What were the results of the 1997 referendum on the creation of a Scottish Parliament?
52% Yes, 26% No
49
What was the outcome of the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum?
45% Yes, 55% No
50
What percentage of voters supported remaining in the United Kingdom in the 1973 Northern Ireland referendum?
99% Yes
51
What was the voter turnout for the 2004 referendum on the creation of a North East Assembly?
48% Turnout
52
What was the outcome of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement referendum?
71% Yes, 29% No
53
What were the results of the 1979 referendum regarding the creation of a Welsh Assembly?
20% Yes, 80% No
54
What are some arguments for holding more referendums in the UK?
* Legitimise major constitutional changes * Allow public expression on policies * Address issues politicians avoid
55
What are some arguments against holding more referendums in the UK?
* Campaigns are divisive * Outcomes can increase division * Distracts from other important issues * Can create voter fatigue
56
What impact did the 2016 EU referendum have on parliamentary productivity?
There was a fall in productivity
57
What is the term that refers to the right to vote?
franchise/suffrage ## Footnote The terms franchise and suffrage are often used interchangeably to describe voting rights.
58
What did the Great Reform Act of 1832 accomplish?
Abolished 'rotten boroughs' and created new constituencies for rapidly growing cities ## Footnote 'Rotten boroughs' were areas with representatives chosen by a small electorate, allowing manipulation by wealthy patrons.
59
What was the main goal of the Chartists?
To achieve universal male suffrage ## Footnote The Chartists campaigned for voting rights for the working class, believing the Great Reform Act was insufficient.
60
What did the Representation of the People Act (1867) accomplish?
Extended the franchise to all men who were property owners or paid household rent ## Footnote This act marked a significant step toward broader male suffrage.
61
What was the outcome of the Representation of the People Act (1884)?
Further extended suffrage to 60% of men by addressing differences between voters in cities and towns ## Footnote This act helped to standardize voting rights across different localities.
62
What did the Representation of the People Act (1918) achieve?
Enabled all men over the age of 21 to vote ## Footnote This act marked a significant expansion of voting rights in the UK.
63
What was the role of Mary Wollstonecraft in the women's suffrage movement?
She wrote about the need for women's suffrage in the late 18th century ## Footnote Wollstonecraft is often regarded as an early advocate for women's rights.
64
What were the two main organizations in the women's suffrage movement by the early 20th century?
* Suffragettes * Suffragists ## Footnote Suffragettes used radical methods, while suffragists aimed to build political connections.
65
What was the significance of the Representation of the People Act (1918) for women?
Extended the franchise to women over the age of 30 who owned property or were married to someone who did ## Footnote This act was a milestone in the fight for women's voting rights.
66
What did the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act (1928) achieve?
Extended the franchise to all women over the age of 21 ## Footnote This act was crucial in achieving gender equality in voting rights.
67
What change occurred in the voting age with the Representation of the People Act (1969)?
Lowered the voting age to 18 for men and women ## Footnote This made the UK one of the first democratic countries to include 18-year-olds in the electorate.
68
In which year was the voting age lowered to 16 for the Scottish elections?
2014 ## Footnote This change allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the Scottish independence referendum and subsequent elections.
69
When was the voting age lowered to 16 for Welsh elections?
2021 ## Footnote This change reflects the ongoing evolution of voting rights in the UK.
70
What is one proposed voting reform in the UK?
Giving all prisoners the right to vote ## Footnote This reform aims to address the disenfranchisement of prisoners in the electoral process.
71
What is a potential benefit of lowering the voting age to 16?
It could improve participation among young voters ## Footnote 75% of registered 16- and 17-year-olds voted in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
72
Which political parties have supported lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK?
* Labour * Liberal Democrats * SNP * Plaid Cymru ## Footnote These parties have advocated for this reform to encourage youth participation in democracy.
73
What percentage of registered voters aged 18-24 voted in the 2019 general election?
47% ## Footnote This low turnout rate among younger voters highlights the need for reforms to engage them.
74
What is a primary argument against lowering the voting age?
16- and 17-year-olds may be influenced by their parents' political views ## Footnote Critics argue that young voters lack the independence necessary to make informed decisions.
75
Fill in the blank: Electronic voting involves voting _______ or using electronic devices.
[online] ## Footnote Electronic voting aims to modernize the voting process and make it more accessible.
76
What is one concern regarding electronic voting?
Security vulnerabilities in online systems ## Footnote For example, electronic voting in Estonia has faced issues with hacking and fraud.
77
What was the original basis for the right to vote in the UK?
Voters were adults who paid taxes ## Footnote This historical criterion has evolved over time with various reforms aimed at expanding suffrage.
78
What is one argument in favor of electronic voting?
It could engage reluctant voters by making voting more accessible ## Footnote Advocates believe that modernizing the voting process could increase participation.
79
What was the outcome of the 2018 survey regarding support for lowering the voting age?
Only 34% of those of voting age supported the reform ## Footnote This indicates a lack of widespread public support for the proposal.
80
True or False: Most 16- and 17-year-olds pay taxes.
False ## Footnote Opponents argue that this lack of tax contribution means they have less at stake in the electoral process.
81
What was the impact of internet voting in Geneva, Switzerland?
Turnout among voters over the age of 80 increased, but no significant impact on other groups ## Footnote This suggests that while electronic voting can benefit some demographics, it may not universally improve turnout.
82
What is one potential drawback of compulsory voting?
It could expose young voters to important decisions before they are ready ## Footnote Critics argue that maturity and understanding of political issues are necessary for responsible voting.

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