Direct Democracy

Question 1

Where was direct democracy first conceived?

Answer 1

Ancient Greece Athens

Question 2

what idea did direct democracy give to those in Ancient Greece, Athens ?

Answer 2

All tax paying citizens would have one vote of equal value to all others

Question 3

Due to citizen having one vote of equal value to all what did it mean they could do ?

Answer 3

Citizens could make important decisions directly, fairly and equally

Question 4

Give an example of how direct democracy in Ancient Greece was used for decisions ?

Answer 4

• whether state should go to war
• anti - state act commited by citizen should be exiled

Question 5

Examples of direct democracy’s ?

Answer 5

• referendum
• electronic petitions

Question 6

How has direct democracy returned today ?

Answer 6

Form of referendum

Question 7

Where are referendums used today ?

Answer 7

Common in some USA states and Europe

Question 8

What can direct democracy do for decisions made by politicians ?

Answer 8

Can add great **legitmacy ** to decisions made by politicians

Question 9

What is a referendum ?

Answer 9

Majoritian form of democracy in which the public vote on a single issue

Question 10

What must one side gain to win outright in a referendum?

Answer 10

Over 50%

Question 11

What must you do to win a referendum?

Answer 11

Side must gain over 50% of votes outright

Question 12

What does referendums allow for ?

Answer 12

Allows Public to determine government policy on vital issues

Question 13

What can be a challenge of referendums ?

Answer 13

By giving influence directly to the people , referendums challenge the core principle of representative democracy

Question 14

By giving direct influence to the people what are referendums challenging ?

Answer 14

Core principle of representative democracy

Question 15

Examples of referendums ?

Answer 15

• Scotland independence referendum (2014)
• UK membership of EU referendum (2016)

Question 16

What referendum was in 2016?

Answer 16

UK membership of EU referendum (2016)

Question 17

What referendum was in 2014?

Answer 17

Scotland independence referendum

Question 18

What was the Scotland independence referendum (2014) for ?

Answer 18

Scotland vote to remain part of the UK

Question 19

What percentage voted against the proposal of Scotland becoming an independent country for the ** Scottish independence referendum 2014**?

Answer 19

55% voter against proposal for Scotland to become an independent country

Question 20

What percentage voted in favour for Scotland to become an independent country , for the Scottish independence referendum 2014?

Answer 20

45 %

Question 21

55 % voted for what in the Scottish independence referendum 2014?

Answer 21

Against Scotland becoming an independent country

Question 22

45% voted for what in the Scottish independence referendum 2014?

Answer 22

In favour for Scotland to become an independent country

Question 23

In the UK membership of the EU referendum (2016) what percentage voted to leave the EU?

Answer 23

51%

Question 24

In the UK membership of the EU referendum (2016) what percentage voted to remain in the EU?

Answer 24

48%

Question 25

51% voted for what in the UK membership of the EU referendum (2016) ?

Answer 25

To leave the EU

Question 26

48 voted to do what in the UK membership of the EU referendum 2016?

Answer 26

To remain in the EU

Question 27

What is another example of a direct democracy apart from referendums ?

Answer 27

Electronic petitions

Question 28

Where are petitions normally on ?

Answer 28

Government website

Question 29

How many signatures must an election petition receive ?

Answer 29

10,000

Question 30

What happened if an electronic petition reaches 10,000 signatures?

Answer 30

Will be considered for debate in the House of Commons

Question 31

When have electronic petitions been used ?

Answer 31

- 2020 to fund for support for art , and theatres - whether meningitis B vaccination should be for all children

Question 32

How long did the Menigitis B vaccination electronic petition run for ?

Answer 32

6 months

Question 33

What year was the E-petition for more support for theatres and music ?

Answer 33

2020

Question 34

What was the petition in 2020 for ?

Answer 34

To support more theatres , art , and music

Question 35

What was happening during the 2020 art petition ?

Answer 35

Covid pandemic

Question 36

How many signatures did the E-petition for more support for theatre , art , and music have ?

Answer 36

**175,654** signatures

Question 37

What was the result of the e-petition for art, theatre and music having 175,654 signatures ?

Answer 37

Debated in parliament in June 2020

Question 38

As a result of the debate in the parliament what was the outcome of the E-petition for art ?

Answer 38

Government announced More funding to protect art

Question 39

When was the art e-petition debated in parliament ?

Answer 39

June 2020

Question 40

Why are E-petitions used ?

Answer 40

For parliament to engage with a number of issues the public feel **strongly** about

Question 41

What is an advantage of direct democracy ?

Answer 41

No one is to blame

Question 42

Example of advantage of direct democracy, no one is to blame ?

Answer 42

If you vote for something it’s on you , e.g EU brexit vote **51% **voted to leave so it’s on them

Question 43

Another advantage of direct democracy?

Answer 43

- equal value to all votes unlike representative systems were they vary in size of constituencies so do not all have equal value - sense of community

Question 44

Example of unequal vote due to varying size of constituencies

Answer 44

One constituent May have 2,000 people that vote another 50,000 people vote so 2,000 has more weight

Question 45

What are the disadvantage of direct democracy?

Answer 45

- people who are more educated vote for us , make better judgement - impractical in large modern state where decision making will be complicated - does not encourage political participation