Unit 1: Participation and Democracy Flashcards
(37 cards)
What is a constitutional democracy?
A democracy that operates within a clear constitutional framework and focuses on inidividual freedom and minority rights
What is a majoritatian democracy?
A form of democracy based on the principle of majority rule and the collective interests of society are placed above paritucular or minority interests
What is the main benefit of representative democracy?
It allows the people to decide who governs while the day-to-day policy making is left in the hands of professionals.
What are the core features of UK democracy? [3]
- democratic elections
- parliament
- pressure groups
What are the supplementary features of UK democracy? [3]
- referendums
- devolution
- the European Parliament
What features make UK elections democratic? [3]
- free and fair
- based on universal suffrage
- competitive and provide electoral choice
What are the main features of free and fair elections in the UK? [5]
- the secret ballot, introduced in 1872
- ‘one person, one vote’ established in 1948
- proportional representation for elections to political bodies created since 1997
- the electoral commission, established in 2000
- fixed-term parliaments, introduced by Cameron (contestable)
What are the objectives of the Electoral Commission? [2]
- well-run: -elections -electoral registration -referendums
- transparency and compliance in party and election finance
What are the main responsibilities of the Electoral Commission? [6]
- reports on elections and referendums
- consultants for changes to election law and electoral procedures
- regulate referendum questions
- register political parties
- establish and enforce rules on election finance
- publish details of party/candidate finance details
What are key benefits of direct democracy? [4]
- genuine/pure democracy. collective destiny/general will
- personal development - educational benefits. creates better informed and more interested citizens through regular participation - greater understanding of how society does and should work
- end of professional politics - ends public’s dependence on self-serving career politicians.
- legitimate government - people are more likely to accept decisions they made themselves. take all responsibility.
List the devolution referendums since 1997 [7]
- 1997 Scottish Parliament/tax varying powers (‘Yes’ 74% / 64%) (Turnout 60%)
- 1997 Welsh Assembly (‘Yes 50%) (Turnout 50%)
- 1998 Good Friday Agreement - Northern Ireland Assembly (‘Yes’ 72%) (Turnout 80%)
- 1998 Greater London Authority (‘Yes’ 72%) (Turnout 34%)
- 2004 Northeast England Assembly (‘No’ 78%) (Turnout 48%)
- 2011 Welsh Assembly primary legislative powers (‘Yes’ 63%) (Turnout 35%)
- 2011 AV (‘No’ 68%) (Turnout 42%)
Which five referendums were laid out in the 2010 coalition’s programme for government?
- introduction of AV vote (‘No)
- any further transfer of power to Brussels
- further Welsh devolution (primary legislative powers) (‘Yes’)
- creation of directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities (mostly ‘No’)
- the possibility of local referendums on any local issue, instigated by residents (but were already possible to a lesser extent)
Why has there been a revived interest in referendums? [3]
- Lib Dems in government; have always been proponents of electoral reform
- Since 1997; convention of public endorsement of constitutional reform
- good way of avoiding conflict in a divided or coalition government
What are the main features of a majoritarian democracy? [5]
- protects society
- parliamentary sovereignty
- majoritarian elections
- single-party rule
- centralized government
What are the main features of a constitutional democracy? [5]
- protects the individual
- divided sovereignty
- proportional elections
- coalitions
- fragmented government
Between 1945 and 1992, what was the average turnout in UK elections?
-above 75%
What year and what percentage was the lowest UK general election turnout?
- 2001
- 59%
What was the 2005 UK general election turnout and what are the probable reasons for the rise [2]?
- 61%
- postal voting
- Iraq war controversy
What was the 2010 UK general election turnout and what are the probable reasons for the rise [2]?
- 65%
- narrow margins in polls
- first televised leaders’ debates
What percentage of the UK population was a party member in the 50s, in 1983 and in 2010?
- 7%
- 3.8%
- 1%
What is meant by the decline of ‘social capital’, and what factors may have caused this?
- the decline in trust and social connectedness which promote stability, cohesion and prosperity (‘I’ into ‘we’)
- the growth of individualism (e.g. Thatcherism ‘rugged individualism’), materialism and consumerism
Which three key factors have contributed to the decline in participation?
- the public (decline in social capital)
- the media (hype culture, tabloid press, culture of contempt)
- politicians
For what possible reasons are modern politicians held in such low regard? [4]
- lack of vision - catch all parties, career politics (whereby politics is an end in itself)
- age of spin - growth of media –> greater importance of presentation (how things appear, not as they are) –> creates untrustworthy image of politicians –> leads back to negative press
- lack of choice - consensus politics, unimportant outcome, Lab/Con chase of middle class votes and abandonment of traditional ideologies
- electoral strategies - targeting of key seats/voters - voters in majority seats are ignored
What is a citizen’s jury?
-a panel of randomly chosen non-specialists used to deliberate on and express views about issues of public policy
