Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Key terms (25 cards)
Accountability
Those elected are made responsible for their policies, actions, decisions and general conduct. Without this, representation becomes largely meaningless
Civil Liberties/Civil Rights
The rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens which protect them from unfair and arbitrary treatment from the state/government. They are also the freedoms guaranteed by the state and the constitution
Civil Society
Various associations, including parties, pressure groups, religions, voluntary organisations, charities etc. to which citizens belong and in which they may become active. Acts as a vital counterbalance to thr power of the government.
Clickocracy
The rising participation in the form of surveys, petitions and political canpaigns by registering one’s opinion online e.g. 38 degrees.
Common Law/Unwritten Law
Traditional conceptions of how disputes should be settled and what rights individuals have. Established by judges through judicial precedents.
Decentralisation
The process of spreading power away from the central government to both the devolved and local governments.
Democratic Deficit
The features of a political system that do not conform to the traditional idea of a democracy.
Direct Democracy
A form of democracy where the electorate make key decisions e.g. referendums.
e-Democracy
The growing tendancy for democracy to be carried out online in the form of e-petitions and other online campaigns.
(Electoral) Mandate
A party that has been elected to government has the authority of the electorate to carry out its manifesto commitments.
Elitism
Power and influence are held in the hands of a few people and organisations.
Formal Equality
The aspects of equality that are established by law. Equal treatment for different sections of society, established in law (equal rights).
Franchise/Suffrage
The right to vote.
Group Politics
The idea that political decision making requires mediating between the competing demands of different groups.
Hyperpluralism
The rapid growth in the number of interesr snd campaign groups operating in modern democracies.
Limited Government
The power of the government should have strict limitations and these limitations should be enforced by the judiciary and the legal system in general.
Lobbying
Promotes causes and interests. Invloves organising large gatherings at Parliament or council offices seeking direct meetings with ministers and councillors, an employing professional organisations to rum campaigns.
Manifesto
A statement of a party’s agreed policies produced during an election campaign to inform the public about the stances that the candidates are adopting.
Pluralism/Pluralist Democracy
The idea that a wide variety of beliefs, lifestyles, religions etc. can flourish in a society and tollerated.
Promotional Group
An association whose goal is to promote a particular cause or set of beliefs or values.
Redress of Grievences
The practice of taking up the case of an individual constituent who feels they have suffered an injustice, usually at the hands of the government/state
Representative Democracy
A form of democracy where the people elect or somehow choose representatives who make political decisions on their behalf.
Sectional Group
An association that has an identifiable membership or supporting group. Represent an section of society and are mostly concerned with their own interests.
Think Tank
And organisation whose role is to undertake research into various aspects of public policy. Financed either by government or by private sources or both and they are used by decision makers to inform their policy deliberation.
