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Democracy & Participation Flashcards

1
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A
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2
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What is democracy?

A

Power of the people- decisions are made by the people, and the government is accountable for the people. Everyone is equal.

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3
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What is legitimacy?

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Government has right to power as they are elected in.

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4
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What is Direct Democracy?

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Relies on the participation of citizens, there is no distinction between government and the people as people actively self govern.

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5
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What are key features of a direct democracy?

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  1. Popular participation is direct
    2.Popular participation is immediate
  2. Popular participation is continuous
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6
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Pros of Direct Democracy

A

+disperses power away from professional politicians.
+Increase political participation
+‘pure’ democracy- people have to follow rules they make
+all votes count equally
+increases legitimacy of decisions- they’re more representative.

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7
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Cons of Direct Democracy

A

-issues to complex for people to understand
-often an emotional response from voters
-political apathy/ low turnout reduces legitimacy
-impractical in large states
-political duty takes time away from other work
-can create civil disputes
-too much power to wealthy groups who can distort the debate

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8
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What is Representative Democracy?

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Politicians are elected to politically represent voters.

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9
Q

What are the key features of a Representative democracy?

A
  1. free, fair and regular elections where all adults can vote (universal suffrage)
  2. representatives are accountable
  3. representatives sit in legislation and represent the voters
    4.there are
    political parties and pressure groups to represent people.
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10
Q

Pros of Representative democracy

A
  1. operates more practically in large states
  2. more practical then lots of referendums
  3. government by professionals
  4. relieves citizens of decision making burden
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11
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Cons of Representative Democracy

A
  1. First Past the Post means that parties are not fairly represented
  2. House of Lords are unelected
  3. Political apathy- division between people and government.
  4. elections happen only every few years, people detach
  5. not fully representatives of everyone, minorities
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12
Q

What are some features of liberal democracy?

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  1. frequent and fair elections
    2.power is separated so no one becomes too powerful
    3.checks and balances- each branch controls the power of the others
    4.strong civil liberties e.g. freedom of speech
    5.diversity and tolerance
    6.independent judiciary
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13
Q

What are some features of pluralist democracy?

A

ALL FEATURES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY +
1. lots of different political parties and pressure groups
2. power is widely dispersed
3.governments makes decisions having listened to the ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations

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14
Q

What are features of a parliamentary democracy?

A

(this is the UK) ALL FROM LIBERAL AND PKURALIST DEMOCRACY +
1.Parliament is sovereign (has ultimate power)
2.Government is drawn from parliament (all ministers drawn from MPs or peers)

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15
Q

How can people participate?

A
  1. Voting
  2. Joining a party
  3. joining a pressure group
  4. standing for elections
    5.making views known- individual politics
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16
Q

What is some proof of a democratic participation/ legitimacy crisis?

A
  1. Low turnout- turnout was 67% in 2019, up from 51% in 2001, but still well below 84% in 1950.
  2. Falling party membership due to disillusionment (disappointment) with politicians- except greens and SNP
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17
Q

What are the causes of the participation crisis?

A
  1. behaviour of politicians
    2.meida influence
  2. consensus politics (‘all the same’ mentality)
  3. FPTP
  4. cultural changes in society (declining community spirit)
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18
Q

What are some positive aspects of UK democracy?

A
  1. free parties and a variety of pressure groups
    2.government has a clear mandate (authority) to govern
  2. strong rights
  3. independent judiciary- impartial and independent of all external pressures so that those who appear before them and the wider public can have confidence that their cases will be decided fairly and in accordance with the law.
  4. MPs represent constituents
    6.free media
  5. referendums- political decisions brought to public vote
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19
Q

What is the definition of democratic deficit?

A

a deficiency or problem in the way democracy works (e.g. poor accountability)

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20
Q

What are negative aspects of UK democracy?

A
  1. Lords are unelected
  2. elective dictatorship (government too powerful, parliament too weak)
  3. First Past the Post- governments elected with less than 50% of votes, minority rule
    4.small parties under represented
    5.low turnout in elections
  4. party membership decreasing
    7.disillusionment amongst many voters
  5. lack of protection for citizen’s rights
    9.powerful media controlled by wealthy elite
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21
Q

How can democracy be improved?

A
  1. elected house of lords
  2. introduce a codified constitution- protects our rights
  3. Brexit may bring more subsidiarity (decisions made by higher authority, not on local levels)
  4. more power (devolution) to Scotland, Wales and N Ireland
  5. reduce number of MPs to 600
  6. introduce proportional democracy- gives minority parties and independent candidates better chance
  7. strengthening power of parliament
  8. ‘re-calling’ MPs who are failing
  9. votes at 16
  10. compulsory voting
  11. more referendums
  12. digital democracy- uses information and communication technology (ICT) in political and governance processes.
  13. citizen’s assemblies- explores the views of the public on political issues
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22
Q

How has the franchise been widened overtime?

A

1832- GREAT REFORM ACT- abolished ‘rotten boroughs’- these had no or few electors and were controlled by a powerful patron
1867- 2ND REFORM ACT- gave the vote to all settled male tenants
1884- 3RD REFORM ACT- franchise extended to rural and mining areas, enfranchising mostly all male tenants.
1918- REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE ACT- all men over 21, rid of all property qualifications and enfranchising women, 30+, who met property requirements
1928- EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT- all adults over 21 were enfranchised, universal adult suffrage
1969- voting age lowered from 21 to 18
2014- SCOTLAND- voting age lowered to 16

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23
Q

Who were the suffragists?

A

mainly middle class, believed in using non-violent ways to get the vote for women

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24
Q

Who were the suffragettes?

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working and middle class, used militant tactics to gain the vote (hunger strikes, burning properties, ect.)

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25
Q

Why do some argue that 16 year olds should be allowed to vote?

A
  1. Success of this in Scotland
    2.blurred line of adulthood- at 16 can work, leave school, ect. but not vote
  2. Would increase participation
  3. Would encourage parties to focus on youth issues
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26
Q

Why would some 16 year olds not be able to vote?

A
  1. 16 years olds could be immature and lack life experience to make a fair judgment
  2. Immaturity means they’re more likely to vote for extremist parties
  3. Puts political pressure on people too young
  4. Could just follow others (parents) views rather than forming their own opinion
  5. Deferred representation- their time to vote will come, they are not forbidden forever
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27
Q

Why would some argue that voting should be compulsory?

A
  1. Participation would increase
  2. Greater legitimacy- governments formed through this are more likely to rest on a popular majority
  3. Encourages civic duty- the more people vote, the more they will view them self as full citizens
  4. Voluntary voting disadvantages the most vulnerable groups in society, this will increase representation
28
Q

Why would some argue that voting should NOT be compulsory

A
  1. Abuse of an individuals free will
  2. Cosmetic democracy- addresses the problem but not the cause of political apathy, people will vote for the sake of it
  3. Worthless votes- number of random and unthinking votes would increase
  4. People who are disengaged but must vote are more likely to vote for extremist parties
29
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

Organised group, united by a cause or topic, who wish to influence the government/public opinion. An important part of representative democracy.

30
Q

What are the features of a pressure group?

A
  1. Seek to exert influence from the outside
  2. Typically, they have a narrow issue focus
  3. Members United by either a shared belief or common set of interest
31
Q

What is a sectional group?

A

Mainly concerned with the interests of a section of society (often economic interests) e.g., NFU, CBI, BMA and all trade unions.

32
Q

What is a promotional or cause group?

A

Promote a cause which they believe benefits the whole of society (not just a section) e.g., Greenpeace, RSPCA, Liberty.

33
Q

What is an insider group?

A

Have a close working relationship with government, consulted regularly, may even help to draft legislation, e.g., CBI, BMA, NFU.

34
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What is an outsider group?

A

Have few or no links to government, not consulted, often less successful than insiders. They aim to exert influence indirectly through mass media, public opinion campaigns and the use of protest policies.

35
Q

What are the functions is pressure groups?

A
  1. Representation of views.
  2. Inform and educate.
  3. Help government make decisions – have expertise.
  4. Encourage political participation between elections.
  5. Sectional groups protect the interests of their members.
36
Q

What are some differences between pressure groups and parties?

A
  1. Parties seek power through elections, PG influence
  2. PGs have a narrow focus, parties have policies on everything
  3. Parties seek good of country as a whole, PGs just accountable to their members only.
37
Q

What are the similarities between PGs and parties?

A
  1. Some PGs offer candidates at elections.
  2. Some parties have narrow aims, e.g. UKIP.
  3. Some PGs become parties, e.g. Green Party started off as a PG.
38
Q

What are the aims of pressure groups?

A
  1. Influence decisions
  2. affect legislation
  3. raise awareness
  4. mobilise public
    5 defend their members.
39
Q

What methods do pressure groups use to exert their influence?

A
  1. Influence decision makers. Lobby ministers and MPs, e.g., NFU.
  2. Affect legislation. Give evidence to committees in Parliament, e.g., ASH.
    3.Raise public awareness. Organise media campaign, petitions, publicity stunts, e.g., Greenpeace, RSPCA, Black Lives Matter.
    4.Mobilise public opinion. Organise demonstrations, civil disobedience, celebrity endorsements, e.g., NUS (tuition fees), trade unions, Plane Stupid, Extinction Rebellion
    5.Defend members. Use courts to defend rights, e.g., Stonewall (gay rights), Age UK (to prevent age discrimination).
40
Q

What factors determine Pressure Group success?

A
  1. Resources (money and organisation). E.g., Countryside Alliance watered down anti fox-hunting laws in 2004.
  2. Insider status, e.g., ASH helped to produce anti-smoking laws.
  3. Tactics, e.g., Save England’s Forests Campaign used a variety of tactics (e.g., e-petitions, celebrity campaign) to get government to cancel plans to sell off forests in 2010.
  4. Sharing same aims as government. E.g., CBI very happy when Cameron elected in 2010 and 2015. Cameron reduced corporation tax on company profits.
  5. Lack of Opposition. E.g., Make Poverty History – Cameron government increased overseas aid.
  6. Favourable circumstances. E.g., time was right for ASH to get smoking ban (studies had shown that a ban led to reductions in lung cancer).
    7.Celebrity Involvement. E.g., Gurkha Justice Campaign led by Dame Joanna Lumley. Free school meals campaign 2020 led by footballer Marcus Rashford MBE and for Racial Equality campaign, Raheem Sterling MBE
41
Q

What are two examples of pressure group success?

A
  1. BMA gets Government to ban smoking in cars carrying children
  2. Occupy London Movement 2011 outside St Paul’s – fails to weaken capitalist system but does succeed in getting publicity for the cause.
42
Q

What is pluralism?

A

good for democracy/society:
1. Numerous PGs to express views,
2. Governments listen to PGs,
3. Not one PG dominates,
4.PGs often balance each other out and power is dispersed or shared out.

43
Q

What is elitism?

A
  1. Only a few elite groups really matter, and they dominate
  2. Some PGs are very powerful and manipulative,
    3Governments ignore most PGs,
  3. Power is held by the few (who often control media)
44
Q

What factors determine the success of pressure groups?

A

1.wealth
2.size- pluralist groups believe that power is democratically based
3.organisation and leadership- help group to mobilise their resources effectively and to take concerted action
4. Compatibility with the government- groups are far more likely to to succeed when the government is is broadly sympathetic towards their aims
5. Popular support- greater political influence than ones with only minority support
6. Favourable circumstances
7. Celebrity involvement

45
Q

How have pressure groups grown in importance?

A
  1. More members
    2.more pressure group success
    3.larger number of access points
46
Q

Why might it be said the PGs are not becoming more important?

A
  1. PGs can only influence, government has power and final say,
  2. Information overload in media, many now support PGs but in a passive way,
  3. More PGs fail than succeed (more access points does not necessarily mean more success)
47
Q

How can Pressure Groups enhance democracy?

A
  1. PGs represent groups often ignored by parties, e.g., Shelter,
  2. PGs disperse power. Pluralism. Stops elective dictatorship,
  3. Educate,
  4. Provide advice and expertise to government, PGs help people to participate and provide outlet for public grievances (‘tension release’).
48
Q

How do Pressure Groups damage democracy?

A
  1. a) Can undermine elected politicians (e.g., Junior Doctors 2016) – not legitimate
  2. self-interested and selfish,
    3.too powerful – elitism- wealth wins,
  3. civil disobedience – an attack on law and order.
49
Q

What are think tanks?

A

groups of experts who offer solutions to political, social and economic issues.

50
Q

Benefit of think tanks

A

Enriches democracy by carrying out research and aiding public debate.

51
Q

Criticism of think tanks

A

Push policies and evidence that favour the powerful cooperate interests who fund them, undermining democracy.

52
Q

What is a lobbyist?

A

people paid by clients to seek to influence decision making

53
Q

Pros of lobbying

A
  1. Central part of any democracy because it allows for groups who are likely to be impacted by a particular decision to engage with the government & parliament
  2. Puts transparency at the heart of the political agenda in order to increase trust in politics.
54
Q

Cons of lobbying

A
  1. Can be abused by people by those seeking to further their own private interests
  2. Act has been heavily criticised
55
Q

What are corporations?

A

have considerable political influence e.g., banks, media groups, motor manufacturers. Vital to the running of the economy.

56
Q

What are corporations?

A

have considerable political influence e.g., banks, media groups, motor manufacturers. Vital in the running of the economy.

57
Q

Pro of cooperations?

A

They have a vital role in the economy, it is important for democracy that their voice is heard

58
Q

Con of cooperations

A

Unfair, politics is not a level playing field, their wealth gives them advantage

59
Q

What are human rights?

A

Rights common to all people, based on a moral view on what all humans deserve

60
Q

What are features of human rights?

A
  1. Universal- everyone is entitled to them
  2. Fundamental- one’s entitlement to them cannot be taken away
  3. Absolute- they must be upheld at all times
61
Q

Examples of Human rights

A
  1. Right to life
  2. Prohibition of torture
  3. Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
  4. Right to liberty and security
  5. Right to a fair trial
  6. No punishment without law
  7. Right to respect for private and family life
  8. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
  9. Freedom of expression
  10. Freedom of assembly and association
  11. Right to marry
  12. Prohibition of discrimination
62
Q

Examples of rights in the UK

A
  1. Magna Carta 1215 –limited royal power, introduced trial by jury, rule of law.
  2. European Convention on Human Rights,1950 –UK citizens can appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if rights infringed
  3. Human Rights Act 1998- incorporated the Convention into UK law
  4. Freedom of Information Act 2000 – gives citizens the right to view info about themselves
  5. The Equality Act 2010 – identified 9 protected characteristics (eg age disability), outlawed discrimination.
63
Q

Why might it be said that rights are well protected in the UK?

A
  1. HRA and ECHR codifies and protects rights and rights are protected by common law.
  2. Increasing independence of judges means they more willing to speak out to protect rights
  3. Judges are unbiased and neutral
64
Q

Why might it be said that human rights are NOT well protected in the UK

A
  1. Parliament is still sovereign, and Conservatives might get rid of it eventually. Also, Parliament can pass new legislation to weaken rights. No codified constitution
  2. judges cannot be proactive in protecting rights – have to wait for cases to come before the courts.
  3. many politicians have become more assertive in attacking judicial decisions especially in the light of the terror threat
65
Q

Examples of civil liberties pressure groups?

A
  1. Liberty. Pressured the Govt to drop plans for compulsory ID cards but failed in 2013 to stop the Govt introducing ‘secret courts’ which try terrorist suspects without all the evidence against them being disclosed.
  2. Howard League for Penal Reform has struggled to get Govt to protect the rights of prisoners (e.g., right to vote), although they did get the Govt to allow prisoners families the right to send them books.

Politics (1 decks)

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