Democracy And Political Participation

Question 1

Democracy

Answer 1

A system where power is held by the people

Question 2

Direct democracy

Answer 2

A form of government where people make decisions for themselves, citizens are directly involved in the decision making process

Question 3

Indirect democracy

Answer 3

Where people elect a representative on their behalf and they make decisions, able to be held accountable for their actions

Question 4

Liberal democracy

Answer 4

Right to vote is widespread and representatives act in the interest of everyone

Question 5

Representative democracy

Answer 5

Any system where the people transfer the power to make decisions to an elected representative

Question 6

Majoritarian democracy

Answer 6

A system whereby the will or desires of the majority of the population are the prime considerations

Question 7

Parliamentary democracy

Answer 7

A system where parliament stands as the highest form of authority

Question 8

Presidential democracy

Answer 8

A system where the executive will be elected separately from the legislative body and chosen directly by the people

Question 9

How effective is democracy in the UK?
Positives

Answer 9

-Free and fair elections
-Increased turnout
-Universal suffrage
-The party system
-Pressure groups
-Parliamentary sovereignty
-Devolution

Question 10

How effective is democracy in the UK?
Negatives

Answer 10

-Unelected elements
-Low turnout
-West Lothian Question, EVEL
-Voting system
-Lack of meaningful choice
-Elitist pressure groups
-Weakness of the Electoral Commission
-Lack of entrenched rights

Question 11

1832 Reform Act

Answer 11

-1/5 men with homes had a lease of £10 or more got the vote
-Seats must be created for MPs in new industrial towns
-Seats for MPs from rotten boroughs had to be removed
-Only 5.6% of the population more could vote
-Working class could still not vote

Question 12

Representation of the People Act 1918

Answer 12

-Gave women from all backgrounds more opportunity to earn money and pay taxes
-Changes to marriage laws = women could divorce their husbands

Question 13

Representation of the People Act 1928

Answer 13

-Equal pay for equal work
-Benefits to provide for widows with children
-Equality in the franchise
-Equal recognition of mothers as guardians
-Equal access to the legal profession

Question 14

Representation of the People Act 1969

Answer 14

-Anyone over the age of 18 could vote regardless of race, gender, wealth

Question 15

Did violent methods help women get the vote?
Yes

Answer 15

-Media reported/raised public awareness
-Police brutality created sympathy
-Regular attacks kept the issue relevant

Question 16

Did violent methods help women get the vote?
No

Answer 16

-‘Proved’ women were not responsible to vote
-Turned man moderate men and women away
-Government could not be seen giving in to ‘terrorists’

Question 17

Prisoners and the right to vote
For

Answer 17

-Removes a sense of civic responsibility
-Right to vote is fundamental
-Harder to rehabilitate if removed

Question 18

Prisoners and the right to vote
Against

Answer 18

-Losing the voter deters crime and enhances civic responsibility
-Undermines the principle of justice if given the right to vote
-Those who commit crimes should lose the right to have a say in society

Question 19

Is there a participation crisis in the UK?
Yes

Answer 19

-Electoral participation: fewer people are turning out to vote
Party membership: less than 1% are a member of a political party
-The end of corporatism: Thatcher disrupted group activity to favour individual wakening of trade unions, people are unwilling to fight for collective interests
-Political apathy: marked among 18 to 24 year olds who are less likely to vote
-Many modern political participation methods amount to ‘slacktivism’ and not true activism

Question 20

Is there a participation crisis in the UK?
No

Answer 20

-Increasing turnout
-More political parties
-Increase in pressure group membership
-Social media makes it easier and cheaper to get involved
-Social movements and less structures campaign groups focusing on direct action can attract strong support and commitment, especially from young voters

Question 21

Sectional pressure groups

Answer 21

-Protects the interests of its members
-Look after their own section of society
-British Medical Association, trade unions
-Usually have the same or similar occupations
-Act in the best interests of their embers, usually to pressure those in power to get the best deal possible
-Closed membership

Question 22

Casual groups

Answer 22

-Promote values and/or principles
-Campaign for a particular cause often one that does not directly affects its members
-Came from a wide variety of backgrounds
-Oxfam, Rspca

Question 23

Pressure group methods

Answer 23

-Lobbying: meet with politicians and civil servants to argue their case and try to persuade them to adopt their ideas
-Civil disobedience: may use illegal methods as a form of civil disobedience by disrupting public events or staging a sit in to cause disruption and bring attention to their case
-Organise publicity demonstrations: may organise large demonstrations such as marches and rallies to demonstrate to those in power the strengths and support for their case, likely to gain publicity and spread awareness
-Think Tanks: formed with specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas, align themselves with the party at the time.

Question 24

Pressure group successes

Answer 24

-‘Justice for Gurkhas’ campaign. After 4 years in 2009, all Gurkhas who had fought for Britain given settlement rights (celeb endorsement)
-2014, Howard League for Penal Reform campaigned to end ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them (insider status)
-2012, British Bankers Association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporate tax (wealth)

Question 25

Pressure group failures

Answer 25

-Conservative government determined to introduce new policies for a 7 day NHS, BMA campaign against failed (goal contradicts government policy)
-Stop the War Coalition organised mass rallies to stop invasion of Iraq in 2003 which the Blair government was unable to resist pressure and ignore (government can resist pressure groups)
-Forrest/pro smoking groups failed to prevent smoking ban, lost to ASH (countervailing forces)

Question 26

Does the Human Rights Act protect rights and liberties in the UK?
Yes

Answer 26

-Rights are now clearly enshrined in statute law
-Legislation must comply with the HRA
-Citizens can access rights protection through UK based courts
-2004 = a law that prevented a gay partner from inheriting a council flat was struck down as discrimination under the HRA
-Positive rights are clearly given to a citizen, usually in the form of a constitutional protection

Question 27

Does the Human Rights Act protect rights and liberties in the UK?
No

Answer 27

-The act is not entrenched and therefore it can be replaced as the tory party have pledged to do with the British Bill of Rights
-The act can be ‘set aside’ by government as happened with the derogation of the rights or terror suspects after 9/11
-The act cannot overturn primary legislation parliament
-Negative rights are not explicitly set out and only exist because of an absence of any laws banning them

Question 28

Strengths of the judiciary defending the rights of citizens

Answer 28

-Exercise the rule of law and use the Human Rights Act and ensure rights are fully respected
-Can defend rights on law without political pressure as it is independent
-Judges are neutral and can protect rights without discrimination

Question 29

Weaknesses of the judiciary defending the rights of citizens

Answer 29

-Judges are undemocratic so many abuse the position
-Senior judges work with parliament to advise
-Lack of a codified constitution means judiciary cannot strike down primary legislation
-Powerless to stop abuse over the Human Rights Act

Question 30

Strengths of parliament defending the rights of citizens

Answer 30

-Holds sovereignty
-More representative of the people and reflect values
-Passed all acts relating to human rights
-MPs represent constituents and can raise rights issues
-Democratically elected so is accountable

Question 31

Weaknesses of parliament defending the rights of citizens

Answer 31

-Short term considerations may be more important
-Has ability to suspend the Human Rights Act
-Dominated by governing party leading to tyranny of majority
-House of Lords undermines democratic arguments
-MPs reluctant to champion Human Rights Act cases if benefits unpopular elements