Democracy & Participation Flashcards
(36 cards)
Direct Democracy
Features/Advantages/Disadvantages
Direct Democracy - When the electorate decides on policy initiatives without the use of elected representatives (e.g. referenda)
Features:
- Based on Athenian Democracy.
- Uses Referendums.
- Usually involves significant, irreversible constitutional change (UK).
Strengths:
- Gives people power in decision making
- Gives equal weight to votes
- Encourages political participation
- Develops community and debate
Weaknesses:
- Slows legislative process
- Tyranny of the Majority
- Many do not feel qualified to participate
- Impractical in a large, populated state
Examples:
- 2016 EU Referendum (52-48%)
- 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum (55-45%)
- 2011 Alternative Vote Referendum (60-30%)
Representative Democracy
Features/Advantages/Disadvantages
Representative Democracy - When the electorate elects representatives to vote on policy initiatives on their behalf
Features:
- Regular Elections
- Representative Assemblies
- Government/Representative Accountability
- Parties represent their members
- Pressure Groups represent their members
Strengths:
- Practical in a large, populated state
- Elections hold representatives to account
- Gives coherence and a better choice
- Politicians are generally better informed than the average citizen
Weakness:
- Could reduce participation as people hand responsibility to politicians
- Parties/Pressure Groups are run by elites with their own agenda
- Minorities can be underrepresented
- Politicians can be corrupt and incompetent
Examples:
- General Elections
- Local Elections
Pluralist Democracy
Political System where there is more than one centre of power:
- Power and influence is not concentrated excessively (e.g. Devolution)
- Legal and Cultural Tolerance (e.g. Independent Judiciary)
- Political Parties are free to operate and join.
- Pressure Groups are free to operate and join.
- Free Media.
- Free/Fair Elections
The Case for Reform
Under-representation of Minority Viewpoints in the House of Commons:
- Parliament uses FPTP, which means that vote share and number of seats won are not proportional.
House of Lords lacks Democratic Legitimacy:
- The House of Lords is wholly unelected.
- Although reforms such as the House of Lords Act 1999 sought to remove hereditary peers and introduce an Independent Appointment Commission, reform has generally been limited.
Lack of Protection for Citizens’ Rights:
- The ECHR was formally incorporated into UK Law in the Human Rights Act 1998.
- However, as courts can ‘derogate’ from the Act at their discretion, this arguably creates inadequate protection of rights.
Control of the Media:
- 5 billionaires control 80% of the UK’s media.
- The Murdoch has owned a number of newspapers simultaneously, such as The Sun, The Times, and the Sunday Times.
Issues in UK Politics
(Democratic Deficit/Participation Crisis)
Democratic Deficit - Deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works, especially in terms of accountability and control (e.g. the House of Commons and PMQs)
Participation Crisis/Political Apathy - Lack of engagement with the political system (e.g. a low turnout in an election)
Positive Features of UK Democracy
- Free Media (lack of regulation regarding what can/can’t be published)
- Independent Judiciary (Constitutional Reform Act 2005, separating the Judiciary from Executive and Legislature)
- Devolved Governments (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland have their own regional Parliaments/Assemblies)
- Free/Fair Elections
- Wide Range of Parties/Pressure Groups
Negative Features of UK Democracy
- Under-representation of Minorities (FPTP)
- House of Lords lacks Democratic Legitimacy (Unelected, Lords Spiritual, etc)
- Lack of Protection of Citizens’ Rights (Govt can derogate from Human Rights Act, as it is statute law it can be repealed)
- The Media is controlled by wealthy, unaccountable business interests (e.g. Rupert Murdoch)
- Growing Apathy (Avg Turnout 1945-1997 was 76%, since 1997 this is 66%. National Party Membership has fallen from 3.8% in 1983 to 1%)
Franchise in the UK
Franchise - Having the right to vote in a public election
People without the Franchise in the UK:
- Under 18s
- Non-British Citizens (apart from Irish citizens)
- People who have not registered to vote
- People convicted of Electoral Fraud
- Members of the House of Lords
- People detained in a Psychiatric Hospital
- People in Prison
Great Reform Act (1832)
Introduced by the Whig PM Lord Grey and was the first major piece of electoral legislation.
- Abolished ‘rotten boroughs’ and created urban seats in places like Manchester
- Extended the Franchise to new groups, such as Shopkeepers, Tenant Farmers, Small Property Holders
- Created a standard qualification for the Franchise
Reform Act (1867) & Reform Act (1884)
The Reform Act (1867) was introduced by Tory PM Benjamin Disraeli
- Extended Franchise to Men 21+ who rented rather than owned, which essentially allowed working class men to vote for the first time.
- The electorate rose from about 1.4million to about 2.5million, however, this was still only about 10% of the population, and it was mainly middle class people who could vote.
The Reform Act (1884) was introduced by Liberal PM William Gladstone
- Extended Franchise concessions made to borough seats to the country, so farmers and miners could now vote, for example.
- Men 21+ could vote providing they either paid £10+ annual rent, or held land with a value of £10+.
- Around 5million could vote, which was about 18% of the population.
-
Representation of the People Act (1918)
Introduced by Liberal PM David Lloyd George
- Extended the Franchise to all men aged 21+, regardless of wealth/income
- Enfranchised women aged 30+ who themselves or their husbands met a property qualification, which gave 2/3 of UK women the vote
- 75% of the population could now vote
Equal Franchise Act 1928
Introduced by Tory PM Stanley Baldwin
- The qualifications for female suffrage were made the same as men, meaning all adults over the age of 21 could now vote.
Representation of the People Act (1948)
Introduced by Labour PM Clement Attlee
- Plural Voting Abolished (1 Person = 1 Vote)
- Abolition of University Constituencies
Representation of the People Act (1969)
Introduced by Labour PM Harold Wilson
- Extension of the Franchise to all adults aged 18+
Suffragists
Suffragists were members of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, founded in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett.
- Suffragists were mainly middle-class women who believed in non-violent methods of persuasion, such as peaceful protests and petitions
Suffragettes
Suffragettes were members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst.
- Members were mainly working and middle-class, and used more militant tactics such as disrupting political meetings and breaking windows of government offices.
- In 1913, Emily Davison through herself under the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby, killing herself to raise awareness of the suffragette movement.
Suffragists vs Suffragettes
Some historians argue that the work of Suffragists has been largely discarded by modern historians/activists, and that violent Suffragettes actually alienated potential supporters. Others argue that the right for women to the vote came from their efforts in filling vital industry during WW1, not due to their political activism.
Votes at 16 - For & Against
For:
- Youth Political Groups exist (e.g. Party Youth Wings, UK Youth Parliament)
- 16 Year-Olds can leave school, work, and join the military, so they should be allowed to vote
- More Political Engagement (3/4 of 16 Year-Olds voted in 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum)
- Exists in Scotland and Wales
- Young People should be allowed a say on their future (2016 EU Referendum, Young People wanted to Remain)
Against:
- Some Young People lack Life Experience/Maturity
- Political Education in Schools is lackluster
- Rights of 16 Year-Olds is limited, and very few are full-time employed
- 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum attracted unusually high levels of support
- Most countries deny 16 Year-Olds the vote
Pressure Groups
Pressure Group - An association of people whose purpose is to further the interests of a specific section of society or to promote a particular cause.
Sectional Groups/Cause Groups/Social Movements
Sectional Groups - A group which represents the specific interests of a section of society (e.g. Trade Unions)
Cause Groups - A group which represents a cause rather than the interests of its members (e.g. Green Peace)
Social Movement - A loosely structured cause group, which tend to be more radical (e.g. Extinction Rebellion)
Insider/Outsider Groups
Insider Groups - Groups that operate inside the political system, and are often consulted by the government (e.g. National Union of Teachers)
Outsider Groups - Groups that have limited links to the government and seek to influence decision making through mobilizing public opinion (e.g. Green Peace)
Methods of Pressure Groups
Lobbying - Using government connections to offer advise on legislation, in return for influence. Briefing MPs on issues of concern, and giving evidence to select committees.
Email Campaigns - Sending Emails to people to raise publicity for themselves and/or an issue
Petitions - Getting people to sign a petition in order to show popular support for change
Demonstrations - Protests, sometimes encouraging civil disobedience.
Factors in the Influence of Pressure Groups
Resources - Large membership will mean that the group will likely have better financial support, and a larger base of activists to sway public opinion. The RSPCA employs 1600 people and has thousands of volunteers, and can also run TV ads.
Tactics/Leadership - Experienced and capable leaders are vital to success; the RSPCA played an important role in the ban on hunting with dogs in 2004, in collaboration with other pressure groups.
Public Support - Pressure Groups with more public support are more successful: the Snowdrop Campaign to ban handguns following the 1996 Dunblane School Shooting won support from both the public and media.
Government Attitudes - Contracts in the government/civil service is important, as government will listen to groups with common ground and specialist knowledge: the National Farmer’s Union’s links to DEFRA were important in introducing the 2013 Badger Cull.
Comparison between Pressure Groups
Case Study
British Medical Association (BMA) - Trade Union (Sectional/Insider)
Methods:
- Strikes
- Lobbying
Influence:
- Briefing MPs and Peers on medical matters
- Providing written/oral evidence to select committees/inquiries (e.g. COVID-19)
- Influencing legislation (e.g. 2001, gained govt recognition over recruitment issues)
Extinction Rebellion (XR) - Social Movement (Cause/Outsider)
Methods:
- Civil Disobedience
- Protests/Rallies
- Publicity Stunts
- Inconveniencing the Public
Influence:
- Little influence, although the movements is sympathetic to left-leaning parties, so they can influence climate change-related policy in those parties.
