Essay Plans Flashcards

1
Q

Direct democracy system should be adopted

A

Against: Representative systems offer parties and manifestos with clear and coherent choices and options, can be removed if don’t follow through
For: But this trust is sometimes betrayed and sometimes is too late,

Against: tyranny of majority
For: minority rights not always safeguarded under FPTP due to influences of elections and lobbying, encourages popular participation, decisions have greater legitimacy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Is the UK a truly representative democracy?

A

For: Free elections, pressure groups, media, referendums, citizens can get involved and express themselves
Against: FPTP distorts voters wishes, excludes minorities, wasted votes, tactical voting and those who may have voted don’t as put off by this, seems pointless

For: Various institutions and bodies have checks over gov. Can Protect civil rights, independent judiciary, HOL, opposition
Against: Parl sov, majorities, whips can do what like

For: Pressure groups
Against: If on unpopular issues or not aligned with gov policy unlikely to make difference

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

UK Democracy is healthy?

A

For: free parties, choice
Against: can betray trust, undue influence of funders, lobbyists

For: Free elections
Against: FPTP, apathy

For: rights protected e.g. by HRA by HOL by judiciary
Against: parl, have eroded rights, whips and bribes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Is there a participation crisis in the Uk?

A

Against: not ideal but has increased since early 2000s and in line with most similar countries, turnout still high in key, important issues and referendums
For: turnout decreased, apathy, low among young people, especially low in ‘minor’ elections and among the disadvantaged, also party membership has decreased

Against: other ways e.g., pressure groups, protesting, petitions, social media
For: these methods have limited impact, especially in niche issues or not in line with gov policy, or not many resources, also this shows apathy with system and that it isn’t serving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Reforming UK democracy/suffrage

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Reforming UK democracy/suffrage

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Reforming UK democracy/suffrage

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Pressure groups enhance democracy

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Pressure groups have been effective

A

FOR: if insider can use expertise and resources to make changes, gov influenced
AGAINST: If mission doesn’t align with gov poll won’t enjoy this

FOR: however even if this is true can Gail public support to put pressure on gov, especially with social media
AGAINST: however stunts to gain attention that cause inconvenience can alienate, public have shown limited patience and ability to put up with these e.g. fuel prices, extinction rebellion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Think tanks and lobbyists

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Factors affecting pressure group success

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Factors affecting pressure group success

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Rights are protected adequately in the UK

A

For: Parliament can block attempts to impede on rights
Against: HOL ineffective, big majorities under FPTP aided by bribery and whips and parl sov means is hard. And gov has shown it can impede on rights, especially to counter terror threats

For: Independent judiciary, rights-based culture, HRA, judicial review
Against: Not binding , parl sov, can get around by changing the law if doesn’t want to plainly ignore, HRA in itself favours undeserving people but can also be derogated from

For: Pressure groups, petitions protests
Against: have been limited by law, limited success if not laughing with gov pol or on niche or unpopular issues, non-binding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Should parties receive state funding?

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Do political parties enhance democracy?

A

For: Voter choice, participation , education , manifestos
Against: Too much consensus, little choice, whips beat out individuality, undue influence from big donors and business, can betray trusts

For: ensure United opposition that can scrutinise gov effectively and check on it, ensure good policy-making
Against: in reality factions make difficult along with much opposition is not in interest of people , e.g. PMQs, whips, as don’t want to hand achievements to other parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Is the Conservative Party true to roots?

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Is the Labour Party true to roots?

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Is the Lib Dem party true to roots?

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Party systems

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Party systems

A

.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Party systems

A

.

22
Q

Small parties have an impact

A

.

23
Q

Factors affecting party success

A

.

24
Q

Factors affecting party success

A

.

25
Q

Factors affecting party success

A

.

26
Q

The UK should retain FPTP

A

.

27
Q

The UK should adopt PR

A

.

28
Q

The UK should adopt AMS

A

.

29
Q

The UK should adopt STV

A

.

30
Q

The UK should adopt SV

A

.

31
Q

Electoral systems have had positive impact in UK

A

.

32
Q

Elections improve democracy

A

.

33
Q

Referendums should be used more in the UK

A

.

34
Q

Class is still important in affecting voting behaviour

A

.

35
Q

Partisan dealignment has occurred

A

.

36
Q

Gender has large effect in voting behaviour

A

.

37
Q

Age has large effect in voting behaviour

A

.

38
Q

Ethnicity has large effect in voting behaviour

A

.

39
Q

Education has large effect in voting behaviour

A

.

40
Q

Region has large effect in voting behaviour

A

.

41
Q

Rational choice theory is true

A

.

42
Q

Most important factor affecting voting behaviour

A

.

43
Q

People rather than policies win elections

A

.

44
Q

Circumstance has biggest effect in election outcomes

A

.

45
Q

Is traditional media still important

A

Against: Circulation of newspapers has declined massively in recent years
However: Still online a lot and quoted in media such as tv, radio and social media

Against: young people use social media instead, less regulated and more independence
However: youth as demographic less influential as turnout low and much apathy

Against: newspapers reflect public opinion, market, focus on issues that matter to public
For: trend of murdoch changing support, only mirror supported labour in 2015

46
Q

Most important form of media is social media

A

.

47
Q

Opinion polls matter

A

.

48
Q

The media are influential and shape views

A

For: Viewership is still high for debates, election broadcasts, also radio
Against: Declining, rise of more independent, unregulated social media

For: trend on elections
Against: changed in response to public mood, market, external circumstances

For: can scrutinise and analyse government decisions, provide valuable and respected analysis
Against: increasingly focused on individuals, sensationalism and criticisms of being establishment, causes dissolutionment

49
Q

Examples of parties breaking manifesto pledges

A

Labour promising not to increase tuition fees
Lid Dems promising to oppose pledge to increase tuition fees
Conservative levelling up policy: The analysis of the 12 targets set by Michael Gove in his 2022 levelling up white paper by the Guardian shows there has been no progress in six of them, including three where evidence suggests things have got worse.

50
Q

Recent low turnout in general elections and trend

A

67.3% in 2019
up from 59.4% in 2001 but average from 1945-97 was