representative v direct democracy Flashcards
pluralism
type of democracy where a government makes decisions as a result of various ideas, contrasting arguements from various groups and organisations.
elitisms
legitimacy, accountability
legitimacy - the rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely-held agreements, such as a government’s right to rule following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed rules.
representation models
Trustee - ‘Burkean’ use their knowledge to make decisions they think are best
delegate - chose a representative to use their expertise to make informed choices for electorate in their interest
synoptic links to direct democracy
- referendums
is Representative democracy ineffective in the uk
ETVT representative democracy no longer gives people power
yes: accountability, the Mps party determines how they vote (whips),
5 year term, safe seats have increased
no power: recall of mps act (ao2-rare and scandals very common), direct democracy - referendums, marginal seats- campaign for reelection
whats a liberal democracy
- existace of a constitution
-importance of rule of law -> A.V Dicey codified rule of law - existamnce of political parties and plurality
- expectation to protect rights
- suffrage
- freedom of press and expression
- limited government
limited gov is central to this, separation of powera and checks and balances - uk vote of no confidence means uk retains this - otherwise would be iliberal
how has the value of civil liberties come about in a liberal democracy
magna carta 1215 - Habeas Corpus > 1998 Human Rights Act
nature of uk gov to be liberal
head of gov - parliamentary democracy, limits on pm - simple majority in a vote of no confidence
freedom of elections -independent electoral commission
freedom of the press - free press which can be critical of government AO2 - although usually holds bias r/l
respect for rights - protecting right of minority groups
feature of direct democracy
- referendums
- petitions/ e petitions
- recall elections
- initiatives
- citizens juries
whats the recall of mps act
Recall of MPs Act 2015 - DD, remove a politician from office, can give voters control over representatives, was difficult to do this before the act
came about after the MPs expenses scandal of 09-10, mps kept their seats despite abusin expense system.
meant in 2010, all 3 main parties as a form of recall in their manifesto
significance of e-petitions
yes - right to petition was in the bill of rights 1689, Blair government set up a website in 2005, strength of feeling on the ‘road tax’, meant gov dropped the plan.
- the wright committee in 2009 recommended a new system to give petitioners more rights, included in conservative party manifesto in coalition gov
- meets criteria - 5 signature live for 6 months, reaaches 10,000 the gov will respond
no - before 2009 there was nothing to stop the gov from ignoring an e petition
can be rejected if : not witin paRL OR GOVS RESPONSIBILITY, towards a specific person, refers to active legal proceedings, party political views
significance of recall of mps act 2015
(mp convicted of criminal offence, committee on standards bars then from hoc, false misleading expense claims. speaker of house initiatives it ->by election if 10% want)
yes - power to citizens they didn’t previously have accountability, allow an mp to be removed if they have been suspended, arguably aren’t doing their job effectively
no - limited scope (3 circumstances) cant be recalled for performance ag matt Hancock absent for im a celeb. power remains in hands of mps, a committee of MPs to decide on suspension, could already be removed
whats citizens juries in the uk
individuals brought together to consider social and political issues, allows governements to directly consider the views of voters outside an election season
