Democracy & participation

Question 1

How does voting work in a direct democracy?

Answer 1

• The citizens in a direct democracy vote themselves on the policies and laws which which are made by the government opposed to acting through others
• In a direct democracy, decisions are created by a majority voting decision
• Most UK decisions are not made direct referendum
  - But, some important decisions are made by referendums

Question 2

How to referendums work?

Answer 2

• Citizens directly vote on issues and the government creates policy based on the response
• the United Kingdom is the most

Question 3

What are referendums?

Answer 3

• Citizens directly vote on issues and the government creates policy based on this response
• The United Kingdom European Union referendum 2016:
  - 33 million Uk citizens voted on whether to remain a member of the EU or leave, 51.89% voted to leave
• Alternative vote referendum 2011:
  - over 19 million citizens voted against adopting the alternative vote system and chose to keep the current First Past the Post system

Question 4

what are online petitions?

Answer 4

-UK government set up a platform for people to make and sign petitions
- if a petition gains over 100,000 signature then parliament may debate the topic
- but topic must be sponsored by a back bench committee, so not entirely direct democracy

Question 5

what are some examples of online petitions?

Answer 5

• 1.6 million people signed a petition to stop trump from making a state visit to the UK
• MPs then debated Trump’s visit to parliament and changed it from a ‘state visit’ to a ‘working visit’ in 2018

Question 6

what are rallies and protests?

Answer 6

• groups of people concerned about the governments political actions may gather to show their support or disapproval
• but governments don’t have to respond to protest
• examples: in 2017 thousands of people gathered to protest in London against the government
• in 2010 thousands of students marched the tuition fee rise