Role Of Elections In Democracy

Question 1

Roles and functions of elections

Answer 1

. Confer legitimacy on govt
. Help to form govts
. Choice of political programmes in manifesto

Question 2

What is mandate

Answer 2

Authority extended to the winning party or candidate

Question 3

Elections promote democracy

Answer 3

. Educate the public
. Encourage participation
. Choice given to electorates
. Elections show the ultimate will of the people

Question 4

Elections do not promote democracy

Answer 4

. Fails to educate with biased info

. No guarantee that politicians will to their manifesto e.g lib dems pledged not to raise tuition fees but 27 MPs voted to increase

. Pluralist democracy (not much choice given to public)