Example Questions Flashcards
(50 cards)
Jenkins report
An electoral system should:
Allow Broad proportionality
Provide stable government
Provide more voter choice
Keep a good constituency link
Jenkins report recommend
AV - Jenkins report in support for AV by 85%
2011 ref, 68% voted to keep FPTP
For a codified constitution
Would provide greater clarity on what is / isnt constitutional
Authoritative reference in court
Limit power of state and its institutions
Would provide greater protection for rights of citizens
And better inform them
Our system is outdated
Most conventions date back to pre modern era
Against a codified constitution
Pragmatic adaptation has worked well so far and is preferable
No elite consensus on what a codified constitution should look like
Would be rigid and difficult to amend
Gives judges who are accountable greater political power
No great popular demand
Other issues more important
-
Explain and analyse three ways in which new labour reformed the UK constitution
Describe three ways of scrutinising parliament
Describe recent developments since 1977
Should 16 and 17-year-olds be given the right to vote
FOR:
Responsibilities without rides can have a job pay tax so should have right to vote how can we fight Wars but have a say about if they should happen
Youth interest is ignored could offer new debates on issues such as education drug laws social morality it gives a new perspective
Lead to Stronger political engagements 18 to 24 year olds have lowest turnout rate 16 17 year olds helped to increase youth turnout in Scottish independence referendum of 2014 75% of 16 and 70 year olds vote versus 54 of 18 to 24 year olds
Irrational cutoff age if 16 and 17 year olds are excluded from politics and grounds of their knowledge and understanding the principal is very inconsistently applied what about poly educated and ignorant adults
Against:
Deferred representation representation is only delayed by wants two years until 18 18 year old are likely to be broadly in touch with same interests and concerns as 16 and 17 year olds
Immature voters most still love with parents and are still in education not full citizens similar to why women didn’t get the vote
Preserving Childhood Adolescent should be a period during which young people can concentrate on school and enjoyment
Undermining turnout may cause turnout to decline as young voters are less likely to vote than old voters
Should prisoners be given the right to vote
for
Harder to rehabilitate the denial of the right to vote removes a sense of civil responsibility making rehabilitation harder
Fundamental right the right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed
Alienation makes prisoner a non-person and further alienates them from Society by not being able to vote
European rulings the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the blanket ban on prisoners is a violation of human rights
Not a deterrent
Against:
punishment those who commit a crime against society should lose the right to have a say and how about Society is run deterrent the Threat of losing the rights of oat presents crime and enhances Civil responsibility
Undermines Justice giving convicted criminals the right to have the same how laws are made undermines the principle of Justice and constituencies undermined
fptp
Voting - SIMPLE; VOTERS PUT AN X NEXT TO THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATE. EASY TO UNDERSTAND- WHOEVER GETS THE MOST VOTES WINS.
CONSTITUENCIES- EACH CONSTITUENCY IS REPRESENTED BY 1 MP, SO CONSTITUENCIES KNOW WHO TO CONTACT.
PARTIES- FPTP TENDS TO PRODUCE A TWO PARTY SYSTEM, GIVING VOTERS A CLEAR CHOICE BETWEEN TWO BROAD PARTIES, EACH OF WHICH HAS A REALISTIC CHANCE OF FORMING A GOVT. EXTREMIST PARTIES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WIN A SEAT.
GOVERNMENTS- FPTP TENDS TO RESULT IN MAJ SINGLE PARTY GOVTS WHO FIND IT EASIER TO PASS LEGISLATION. MAJ GOVTS HAVE A CLEAR MANDATE FOR THEIR MANIFESTO, GOVTS ARE EASILY HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE ELECTORATE FOR IMPLEMENTING THEIR MANIFESTOS. COALITIONS AND MINORITY GOVTS ARE RARE - SEEN AS A GOOD THING AS TRADITIONALLY WEAKER GOVT, LESS STABLE THAN MAJ
TING- MILLIONS OF WASTED VOTES NATIONALLY; ENCOURAGES TACTICAL VOTING, CHOICE OF CANDIDATE IS MADE BY PARTY NOT PEOPLE, IF A VOTER WISHES TO VOTE TORY, EG, HEY CANNOT CHOSE BETWEEN A SELECTION OF TORIES. TURNOUT TENDS TO BE LOWER IN COUNTRIES THAT USE FPTP.
CONSTITUENCIES- A MAJ OF VOTERS IN A CONSTITUENCY MAY HAVE VOTED AGAINST THEIR REP. VOTERS IN SAFE SEATS CAN FEEL THEY DO NOT NEED TO VOTE, NO POINT VOTING TO SUPPORT THE PARTY. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS TEND TO FOCUS ON MARGINAL SEATS, IGNORING SAFE SEATS. IN 2017, ONLY 97 MARG SEATS {SEATS WON BY A MAJ OF 5% OR LESS}, MEANING VAST MAJ OF SEATS WERE UNCOMPETITIVE. DIFFERING POP SIZES MEANS NOT ALL VOTES COUNT EQUALLY, IN 2017, THE LARGEST UK CONSTITUENCY WAS ISLE OF WIGHT - 109,000 ; SMALLEST WAS IN SCOTLAND WITH 21,200.
PARTIES- IT FAVOURS PARTIES WITH CONCENTRATED GEOGRAPHICAL SUPPORT. MINOR PARTIES WIN FAR FEWER SEATS IN THE HOC THAN THEY WOULD IF SEATS WERE ALLOCATED PROPORTIONALLY TO VOTES. A NOTORIOUS EXAMPLE - 2015 UKIP WON 1 SEAT FOR 3.9 MIL VOTES. MINOR PARTIES STRUGGLE TO CONVINCE SUPPORTERS TO VOTE FOR THEM, AS THEIR VOTE IS LIKELY TO BE WASTED. DIFFICULT FOR NEW PARTIES TO BREAK INTO POLITICS.
GOVTS- FPTP EXAGGERATE THE MANDATE THAT GOVTS ACTUALLY HAVE. IN 1997, LABOUR WON 2.5 X MORE SEATS THAT TORY, BUT ONLY GOT 1.4 X AS MANY VOTES - WINNERS BONUS. SINCE 2010, RISE OF MINOR AND REGIONAL PARTIES, (SNP, SINCE 2015) HAS MADE IT HARDER FOR TORIES OR LABOUR TO WIN A LARGE MAJ. IN EFFECT, UK NOW HAS MULTI PARTY SYSTEM BUT A VOTING SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR TWO. DOES NOT GUARANTEE A STRONG MAJ. FROM 2010 - 15, UK HAD A COLATION GOVT, MINORITY GOVT FROM 2017.
IS THERE A PARTICIPATION CRISIS???
RNOUT IN GENERAL ELECTIONS HAS FALLEN IN RECENT DECADES. IN 1950 MORE THAN 80% OF ELECTORATE VOTED, IN 2001 JUST 59% DID - RECORD LOW
SOME ELECTIONS HAD EVEN WORSE TURNOUT- IN 2012 PPC ELECTION HAD A 15% TO.
PARTY MEMBERSHIP HAS FALLEN SINCE 1950S, TORIES HAD 2.5 MIL, NOW 124,000 IN 2018
PARTISAN DEALIGNMENT
TRADE UNIONS HAVE FEWER MEMBERS AND ARE LESS POWERFUL THAN IN 1980S
POLITICAL APATHY APPEARS TO BE COMMONPLACE AMONG YOUNG PPL. TO DATA FOR 18-24 YR OLDS SHOW THEY ARE LESS POLITICALLY ENGAGED THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP
DISILLUSIONMENT WITH POLITICIANS Has INCREASED SINCE 2009 EXPENSES SCANDAL
‘SLACKTIVISM’ DESCRIBES THE TENDENCY FOR PPL TO PARTICIPATE IN A SUPERFICIAL WAY- BY LIKING / SHARING POLITICAL CONTENT ONLINE.
RNOUT IN GENERAL ELECTIONS HAS RISEN SINCE 2001 REACHING 69% IN 2017 ELECTION
TO IN RECENT REFS HAS ALSO BEEN HIGH. 85 % VOTED IN 2014 SCOTTISH INDY REF, 72% IN 2016 EU REF - ELECTORATE ISS ELECTIVE - DONT GOIVE A SHIT ABOUT PCC.
MEMBERSHIP IS INCREASING - LAB HAS 500,00 MEMBS AND SNP MEMBERSHIP HAS MORE THAN QUADRUPLED SINCE 14 INDY REF
SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CHANGED - NATURE OF POL PARTICIPATION HASD - POL PARTIES USE MEDIA TO REACH ELECTORATE
PRESSURE GROUP MEMBERSHIP HAS INCREASED
NEW PARTIES DONE WELL IN RECENT YRS, UKIP -SNP- GREEN PARTY MADE PROGRESS
‘Representative democracy is better than direct democracy’ Analyse and evaluate (25 marks)
Almost all modern western democracies use representative government, regular elections are held so that people can elect representatives. In the uk there are separate national and local elections- these elected representatives become a part of a legislative assembly that make these laws, some elected reps follow delegate model (how constituents want them to), trustee model (edmund burke-mps follow what they think is best.)Disadvantages of direct democracy- the public may not fully understand the question they are voting on. Elected representatives might be better placed to analsye and evaluate the issue./ the majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a majority group, tyranny of majority/people may vote for emotional or populist short term reasons, rather than taking a more considered view/ holding so many votes is slow and expensive, particularly in countries with large populations
Advantages of direct democracy, people can participate directlyin the decision making process / the wishes of the people cannot be ignored by their elected representatives in government/ people motivated to become well informed about political issues/ decisions have the direct authority of the people, gives them greater legitimacy.
Explain explain and analyze three circumstances under which referendums have been held in the UK nine marks
they are also held as part of a coalition agreement but this is rare for example the av referendum coalition deal 2010
they are also held due to partly party management in an attempt to settle divisions these are common, the EEC in 1975 and brexit in 2016
they are also called due to political pressure this has happened twice in recent years for example UKIP was successful in forcing brexit referendum and the SNP forced the Indy ref in 2014
Explain and analyse three movements and reforms that enabled the UK to become a democratic state (9 marks
Great reform act 1832- one in five men could vote 5.6% of total population
Representation of the people act 1918- a product of the political and social changes caused by ww1. Alll men over 21 (or 19 for veterans) could vote. Women over 30 who met the property qualification could vote
Representation of the people act 1928. Women finally received the vote on equal terms to men. All men and women over 21 could vote. Property qualifications were removed.
xplain and analyse three features of democracy (9 marks
Rule of law. The countries laws apply equally to everyone and anyone who breaks the law will be punished. Av dicey pillar
Accountability. The government is accountable to the people. If the electorate thinks the government has done a bad job, it can vote in a different government. Collective / individual responsibility.
Participation. People participate in politics. This can be through voting, joining political parties or pressure groups or lobbying their elected representatives or the government.
Explain and analyse three arguments in favour of reforming FPTP (9 marks
Voting- it encourages millions of wasted votes nationally. It encourages tactical voting. The choice of candidate is made by the party, not the voter. If a voter wishes to vote conservative, they cannot choose between a selection of conservative candidates. At the 2019 general election, of the 32 million votes cast, only 9.4 million votes were ‘decisive’ in securing a candidate’s election .Turnout tends to be lower in countries that use FPTP than in countries with proportional systems. ?List system would potentially eliminate surplus and wasted votes as it is the most proportional system.
Constituencies - a majority of voters in their constituency may have voted against their represnetaive. Voters in safe seats can feel their is no point in voting if they do not support that party, election campaigns tend to ignore safe seats and focus on marginal seats instead. In 2019, there were only 67 marginal seats, meaning that the vast majority of seats were uncomeptative. Differing population sizes in each constituencies mean that not all votes count equally; in 2019 the largest uk constituency was the isle of wight- 113,020 electorate. Smallest constituency was in scotland with 21,106. STV potentially eliminate, parties are repped in each constituency while maintaining cons link.
Parties -it favours parties with concentrated geographical support, minor parties win far fewer seats in the hoc than they would if seats were allocated proportionally to votes. In 2015, ukip won just one seat for 3.9 million votes. Minor parties struggle to convince supporters to vote for them, as their vote is likely to be wasted, difficult for new parties to break into politics. AMS is fair to all parties- more voter choice, select local and natonal leader. Highly proprtonal hybrid system.
Explain and analyse three arguments against the greater use of referendums (9 marks
Refs offer no protection against the tyranny of the majority. Churchill said refs are ‘devices of demagouges and dictators’. Uk european union membership referendum 2016, 52 voted to leave, 48 to stay, unexpected . cameron included the ref to stop tory voters switching to ukip and to placate eurosceptics in his party yet resigned because his massive political gamble had faled
Referendums can threaten parliamentary sovereignty and representative democracy. Clement attlee said ‘devices alien to our traditions’. Scottish independence ref 2014, cameron critiscised by some tories for calling the ref as risk of breaking up uk, cameron argued he had no choice, snp had won majority in 2011 scottish parliament elections with an independence ref in their manifesto. Snp - yes scotland / lib dems and labour ran ‘better together’-
Governments still hold the power , not the people- tend not to hold if they think they will loose. Scottish devolution ref 1997, welsh devolution ref 1997 and greater london authority ref 1998 were used by blair to legitimise his constitutional changes and part of his devolution programme. The scottish devolution ref 1997 got yes by 74%, it is more than likely blair knew the outcome would be yes.
Explain influences on parliament
One feature on government and parliament is think tanks. Think tanks are organisations that exist purely to develop new policies. They are especially influential in recent years given tony blair increased the use of think tanks. #
Give example
Another feature of influence on government and politics is lobbyists. These are political operatives who are paid to influence the government. Lobbying in the uk has grown in uk over last 2 decades - over 100 lobbying firms in uk. Dyson example
Another feature on the influence og government and parliament ix the media. Governmdents are scrtutinisde by the media and are keen to attract positive reports. Government ministers often have close relationshipsx and personal links with key figures in the media. For example, in 2012 the close friendship between pm david cameron and rebekah brooks was revealed. She is former editor of world news and the sun.
More example
EXPLAIN AND ANALYSE THREE PEROGATIVE POWERS OF THE PM
One perogative power of the pm is deciding who is and who isnt in the cabinet. This is signiifcant because those PMs with large majorities, like David Cameron can use it to their advantage. For example, his addition of John Osbourne to the cabinet was extremely beneficial to Cameron as thye had a close politcal relationship. Yet, this power of patronage is contrained as those without a large majority cannot choose their cabinet freely. For example May had to include both Brexiteers and remainers, with the likes of Boris Johnson, a big beast being unshakabele, much to May’s dmeise - check in folder.
Another perogative power of the PM is the ability to deliver boradcats to the whole nation. In the forst lockdown, an estimated 22 million watched Boris Johnson’s speech. This was signiifcant as it allowed him to convey messages efficently and effectively, as well as broadcasting his authority. Johnson did not consult parliament about the lockdown, emphassing hios perogative power.
Finally, the pm has the power to deploy armed forces, which os extremely powerful. The government is not formally requied to discuss this within parliament nor seek their apporval. For example, May with the air strikes in Syria. She argued this was not an act of war and thus did not require parlimentary consent, thus emphasing her perogative power. However, arguably may broke convention as she should have consulted parliament. Another example of this is Tony Blair with his 2008 invasion of Iraq, there was no pressure within the cabinet or the wider party, or public for uk troops to be mobilised and no sense that natioanl securtiy wa simmensley threwatend by iraq. Instead, the decision was largely a result of Blair wanting to cement his strong personal relationship with Bush, and to deepen the ‘colation of willing’, for this he recived hevay critiscm. This highlights how powerful thier perogative power is but equally how perpgative powers can be abused.