UK Democracy and Political Participation Flashcards
(88 cards)
1
Q
what does democracy mean?
A
a system where power is held by ‘the people’
2
Q
what is direct democracy?
A
a system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue, usually in the form of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response
3
Q
what is representative democracy?
A
a system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf
4
Q
what is a liberal democracy?
A
a form of democracy in which the right to vote will be widespread and representatives will act in the interest of everyone in society
5
Q
what is a majoritarian democracy?
A
a system whereby the will or desires of the majority of the population are the prime considerations of the government
6
Q
what is a parliamentary democracy?
A
a system where parliament stands as the highest form of authority. the executive branch will be drawn from and accountable to the peoples representatives in parliament
7
Q
what is a presidential democracy?
A
this is a system where the executive will be elected separately from the legislative body and is therefore chosen by and directly accountable to the people
8
Q
what is a pluralist democracy?
A
a system of government where there is competition between different groups who represent popular concerns to the government of the day
9
Q
what are the functions of democracy?
A
representation, accountability, participation, power dispersal, legitimacy, education
10
Q
what is an initiative?
A
a means by which the people, rather than the government, can call for a vote on a specific issue
11
Q
what is a petition?
A
an appeal to make something specific happen, usually be demonstrating a high level of popular support
12
Q
what are arguments in favour of direct democracy?
A
- a pure form of democracy
- increased legitimacy
- improves participation
- increases public engagement
- improves political education
- it works
13
Q
what are arguments against direct democracy?
A
- it is not practical
- tyranny of the majority
- undermines elected representatives
- low turnouts
- emotional responses
- populist outcomes
14
Q
what are positive aspects of democracy in the uk?
A
Free and fair elections, turnout,
universal suffrage, the party system, pressure groups, parliamentary sovereignty and devolution
15
Q
what does purdah mean?
A
a phrase used to describe the period before an election of vote where members of local councils or government are not allowed to make any new statements or proposals that could affect the way people vote. the period is usually 4 or 6 weeks.
16
Q
what is the electoral commission?
A
created in 2000 by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. The commission is independent from government and party influence and has they key responsibility of overseeing and strengthening democracy in the UK.
17
Q
how has turnout been changing in recent years?
A
historic averages: 75%
1997: 71%
2001: 59%
2005: 62%
2010: 65%
2015: 66%
2017: 69%
2019: 67.3%
2016 local council: 34.33%
Scottish independence referendum: 84.6%
EU referendum: 72%
18
Q
what is a pressure group?
A
a group of like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause in order to put pressure on policy-makers at Westminster and beyond
19
Q
what does democratic deficit mean?
A
a term used to describe the undemocratic nature of institutions or procedures that are supposed to promote democracy
20
Q
what are negative aspects of democracy in the uk?
A
unelected elements, turnout, the west lothian question and EVEL, the voting system, lack of meaningful choice, elitist pressure groups, weaknesses of the electoral commission, lack of entrenched rights
21
Q
what is an example of the house of lords negatively affecting democracy?
A
In October 2015 the House of Lords rejected a series of proposed cuts to the tax credit system. The proposals had recently been passed by a narrow vote in the House of Commons. The government then dropped plans to make the cuts but the situation raised questions over the nature and democratic legitimacy of the Lords:
- they were in the conservative manifesto so had a mandate to be carried out so under the salisbury doctrine the lords shouldn’t have rejected them
- the government presented it as a financial measure which the lords aren’t allowed to reject though the lords claimed it was a welfare bill
- the lords saw it as a piece of delegated legislation which meant they had the power to veto it
- the peers who rejected it were mostly labour and lib dem peers who had just lost the general election
- Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, a conservative peer who resides in the USA flew to the UK to vote despite not being affected by the issue
22
Q
how are rights in the uk undermined?
A
- freedom of speech - creation of ‘safe spaces’
- freedom of protest - measures taken to restrict protests outside of parliament
- right to vote - prisoners no right to vote
- right to due process - governments have been able to extend the period of detention without charge under the terrorism act to 28 days in 2006
23
Q
what is the franchise?
A
the right to vote in elections
24
Q
what was the Great Reform Act 1832?
A
voting rights were extended to property owners
25
what did the Representation of the People Act 1928 do?
extended the franchise to all citizens over the age of 21
26
what did the Representation of the People Act 1969 do?
extend the franchise to all people over the age of 18
27
who were the suffragists?
- the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies
- used peaceful methods of protest
- more than 100,000 members by 1914
28
who were the suffragettes?
- the Women’s Social and Political Union
- organisation run by Pankhurts
- used violent and illegal methods of protest
29
what groups have campaigned to give at least some prisoners the right to vote?
Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust, and Amnesty International
30
what case declared the blanket ban on all prisoners voting was a violation of their human rights (UK)?
Hirst v UK (2005)
31
arguments for prisoners being given the right to vote?
- the denial of the right to vote removes a sense of civic responsibility, making rehabilitation harder.
- there is no evidence that the loss of the franchise acts as a deterrent
- the right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed
- removal of the vote makes a prisoner a non-person and further alienates them from society
- the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the blanket ban on prisoners is a violation of the Human Rights Act
32
arguments against prisoners being given the right to vote?
- Those who commit a custodial crime against society should lose the right to have a say in how ghat society is run
- the threat of losing the right to vote prevents crime and enhances civic responsibility
- Giving convicted criminals the right to have a say in how laws are made would undermine the principle of justice
- Prisoners are concentrated in certain constituencies where they are unlikely to remain once free, so they should not be able to choose the local representatives for those communities.
33
what actions towards the franchise being extended to 16 and 17 year olds have taken place?
2011 - ‘votes at 16’ launches a new, interactive website to allow supporters to share it’s work
2015 - votes at 16 private members bill, proposed by Vicky Foxcroft MP, has its second reading in the House of Commons
2017- Liberal Democrats manifesto contained a commitment to lowering the voting age to 16
34
who is the votes at 16 group made up of
- British Youth Council
- Children’s Rights Alliance for England
- National Union of Students
- Public Achievement
- Scottish Youth Parliament
35
what are traditional methods of political participation?
voting, joining a party and helping it to campaign, joining a pressure group and helping to promote it, organising or signing a petition, going on a march, going on strike, writing a letter, standing for public office
36
what are modern ways of political participation?
e-petitions, blogging, protesting on social media, organising a demonstration via social media
37
arguments that there is a participation crisis in the uk?
low turnout in elections, lower party membership, the end of corporatism (working with different groups in government)
38
what was the membership of Labour and the Conservatives in the 1950s?
Labour had more than a million members and the conservative party had 2.8 million members
39
what percentage of the uk population was a member of a party in 1983 vs now?
1983 - 3.8%
| now - less than 1%
40
how many members do labour and the conservative party currently have?
labour - 430,000
| conservative - 200,000
41
arguments that there is not a participation crisis in the uk?
increasing turnout, more parties, pressure group membership, social campaigns
42
how many parties are currently represented in parliament?
11
43
what are examples of social campaigns on the internet increasing political participation?
- the ‘justice for the 96’ campaign was able to promote and encourage people to participate by signing an online petition to reopen the inquest into the Hillsborough disaster
- the ‘Occupy’ movement was able to use social media to coordinate and encourage supporters to occupy London in 2011
44
what are examples of sectional groups in the UK?
British Medical Association (BMA)
| Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
45
what are examples of causal groups in the UK?
- RSPCA
| - Oxfam
46
what is the difference between pressure groups with insider status and outsider status?
insider groups have a special relationship with the government and are given access to officials and decision makers. outsider groups do not have close links and may resort to activities that generate attention from the press
47
what methods do pressure groups use?
lobby, research and publish reports, give evidence at hearings, organise publicity campaigns, organise public demonstrations, publicity stunts, civil disobedience, go on strike, use a celebrity spokesperson, bring test cases to court, digital campaigns
48
what motivations do people have for joining a pressure group?
representation, personal beliefs, participation, material beliefs, need
49
arguments for the internet being good for pressure groups
- an online campaign can be a cheap way of spreading information and raising awareness, particularly if it goes viral
- the internet makes it easier and cheaper to coordinate a large group or event
- the internet gives people an easier and more convenient means of participation
50
arguments against the internet being good for pressure groups
- the marketplace can be swamped with groups, making it difficult to stand out. if a campaign does go viral, there is no way of guaranteeing that people will understand the message behind it
- to be really successful a group needs a professional website and expertise, which can be expensive
- the internet can lead to ‘slacktivism’ where people might ‘like’ something but fail to engage with the wider issue, making them less likely to get involved or join the group
51
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to insider status?
In 2014, the Howard League for Penal Reform successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends
52
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to wealth?
In 2012 the British Bankers Association paid lobbyists to persuade minister to cut cooperation tax and taxes on banks’ overseas subsidiaries.
53
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to large membership?
In 2015, the RSPB utilised over 500,000 members for its Big Garden Birdwatch
54
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to organisation?
In 2012, the RMT Union organised a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the Olympics.
55
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to expertise?
In 2016, the AA provided evidence and statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving
56
what is an example of a pressure group in the UK succeeding due to celebrity endorsement?
In 2009, Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign secured equal rights for British and Commonwealth soldiers
57
what is an example of a pressure group in the uk failing due to the government resisting pressure from the group?
the stop war coalition organised mass rallies and activities to stop the invasion of Iraq in 2003. However with a large majority and cross party support in parliament, the Blair government was able to resist the pressure and ignore the groups demands
58
what is an example of a pressure group in the uk failing due to countervailing forces?
the pro-smoking groups Forrest has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK, largely because it has lost out to the group ASH, which has successfully campaigned for restrictions on smoking
59
what is an example of a pressure group in the uk failing due to the goals of the group acting against public opinion?
groups such as the Coalition for Marriage failed in their campaign against legal recognition of gay marriage because most public opinion was in favour of its The group was therefore campaigning against a change that had public support
60
what is an example of a pressure group in the uk failing due to the group alienating the public?
violent groups such as ALF and PETA fail to achieve their goals because the public are opposed to their methods, even if they might support their cause. The same can be true of strike action if the public begins to blame the trade unions for the disruption caused
61
what is a think-tank?
a group that has been formed with the specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas
62
example of a left wing think and tank and right wing think tank?
left-wing: Fabian Society
| right-wing: Adam Smith Institute
63
what is a lobbyist?
someone who meets with key political figures and try to persuade them to support their aims
64
what is a corporation?
corporations often work closely with government in order to develop practical legislation. government consults corporations on certain policy ideas to check that they are practical and also to get help to implement key proposals
65
what are rights?
absolute, universal, and fundamental
66
what are positive rights?
positive rights are clearly given to a citizen, usually in the form of constitutional protection
67
what are negative rights?
negative rights are not explicitly set out and only exist because of an absence of any law banning them
68
what are recent developments of rights in the UK?
- 1998 Human Rights Act
- 2000 Freedom of Information At
- 2010 Equality Act
69
what is an example of think-tanks acting to protect rights in the uk?
a British think-tank the Westminster Social Policy Forum met in June 2016 to discuss transgender equality issues
70
arguments that the Human Rights Act effectively protects rights and liberties in the UK
- rights are now clearly enshrined in statute law
- legislation has to comply with the Human Rights Act
- citizens can access rights protection through UK-based courts
71
arguments that the Human Rights Act does not effectively protects rights and liberties in the UK
- the Act is not entrenched and therefore it can be replaced, as the conservative Party has pledged to do with a British Bill of Rights
- The Act cannot overturn primary legislation in parliament
- the Act can be ‘set aside’ by government, as happened with the derogation of rights of terror suspects after 9/11
72
examples of the Human Rights Act defending individual rights in the UK
2004 - a law that prevented a gay partner from inheriting a council flat was struck down as discrimination under the HRA
2011 - A special court ruled that local councils cannot force a vulnerable adult to live in a care home as it undermines their right to a family life
73
what are civil responsibilities?
duties which a citizen is expected to perform or abide by, in return for the rights and liberties they have been granted, such as to respect and obey the law and to pay taxes
74
arguments in favour of individual rights
- ensures protection from government abuse
- leeds to civil responsibilities
- necessary for a free society
75
arguments against individual rights
- can come at the expense of wider society
| - can hinder the effective operation of government
76
why has there been a growing number of conflicts between the government and judiciary since 1997 in the UK?
- human rights act given judges more power to challenge government ministers
- HRA made it easier for ordinary people to use judicial system to challenge government measures
- increased threat of terrorism has cause governments to take actions on the basis of national security which conflict individual rights
- perception that ministers are attempting to expand their powers at the expense of civil rights and liberties
77
strengths of the judiciary in defending rights of citizens in the UK
- judges exercise rule of law and can use the HRA and their power of judicial review to ensure rights are fully respected
- judiciary independent so can defend rights without political pressure
- judges are neutral so can protect a persons rights without discrimination so more effective at upholding individual rights
78
weaknesses of the judiciary in defending rights of citizens in the uk
- undemocratic and unaccountable so may abuse position. no incentive to promote controversial causes.
- senior judges work with parliament to advise on legality of legislation so less likely to approach issues with true neutrality
- lack of codified constitution so cannot strike down primary legislation
- judges unrepresentative and from a narrow social and gender background
79
strengths of parliament in defending rights of citizens in the UK
- parliament holds sovereignty
- more representative of people and views of society
- introduced and passed all acts relating to human rights
- MPs represent constituents and are in a position to raise the issue of citizens rights with government ministers
- democratically elected so more accountable
80
weaknesses of parliament in defending rights of citizens in the UK
- short-term political considerations may be more important
- has ability to suspend HRA to defend its goals
- usually dominate by governing party so tyranny of majority
- role of house of lords undermines democratic argument
- MPs may be reluctant to champion human rights if it benefits an unpopular element, such as criminals or terror suspects
81
what are example of pressure groups in the UK who raise awareness to threats of civil rights and put pressure on the government to ensure rights are protected?
- Liberty
- Amnesty International
- Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
- Equality Now
- Witness
82
what could be done to improve democracy in the uk?
compulsory voting, reform of the voting system, reform of the house of lords, greater recall of MPs, reform of the House of Commons, reforming the devolved system, reform of the monarchy, codifying the constitution, e democracy (eg online voting, online questioning of ministers, digital campaigning, online public consultation of a bill)
83
when regional democracy was proposed for the northeast in 2004 what was it rejected by?
77.93%
84
What is an example of pressure groups representing the interests of a minority?
The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 came about after over 100,000 disabled people engaged in mass protest.
85
What is an example of pressure groups having more members than political parties?
The conservative party has just over 200,000 members. However, the National Trust has close to 4,000,000 members.
86
how many members does the teachers union NASUWT have?
300,000
87
what is an example of strikes by a pressure group not succeeding their goal?
In 2015 and 2016, London Underground began to close ticket offices across the tube network. The RMT union launched a series of 48-hour strikes to disrupt the Tube network, as well as taking a legal case to the High Court. By June 2016, transport for London had closed 289 Ticket Offices, meaning the RMT Union had failed to achieve its goal.
88
How has Boris Johnson changed the ministerial code?
Watered down the 2022 ministerial code and blocked a bid to give his ethics advisor the power to investigate him.
Just days after Sue Gray’s report slammed No10’s leadership for the “culture” that led to Partygate, the Prime Minister issued a new version of the rules for ministers - allowing ministers to break the rules without resigning.
In his introduction to the previous edition of the ministerial code, the Prime Minister said ministers must "uphold the very highest standards of propriety" - words that have been removed from the revamped edition.
The new introduction says the code should "guide my ministers on how they should act and arrange their affairs".
And the foreword no longer explicitly mentions the seven Nolan principles of public life - integrity, objectivity, accountability, transparency, honesty and leadership in the public interest
