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democracy
politics/ democracy
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| politics | the activity through which people make, uphold and revise the generL rules under which they l,ive |
| power | the ability to influence the behaviour of others, usually through rewards and ppunishments |
| authority | the right to influence the behaviour of others, based on an acknowledged duty to obey |
| legitimacy | trightfullness- the right to rule |
| how many mps are there | 650 |
| 3 parts of government | -law making- legislation - carrying out laws- execution -interpreting laws- executiion - interpreting laws- ajudication |
| democracy | - rule by the people -- political participation, decisions made by the people - -political equality, each dcitizen haveing free and equal oppurtunity to influence political decisions |
| platos viewss on democracy | - the people would not respect others decisions = democracy tereats everyone as equal, in terms of knowledte and understanding, when they asre not - poeple should be ruked by their superior |
| direct democracy | when people havce direct, unmediated and continuous participation in tasks of government - |
| representative democracy | limited and indirect, representatives speak obn your behalf |
| levels of representation | national government -> devolved government -> local councils -> parish or town councils |
| pros of direct democracy | - everyone has say - equal weight rather thaN by size of constit. - encourages participation -less corruption -no need for trusted rep. -develops sense of community -encourages genuine debate |
| cons of direct democracy | -people not qualified -not enough time -impract -people wont want to decide, activists will lead - manipulative people persuade people to support - will of majority not mediated so minority viewpoints disreguarded |
| pros of rep. democracy | -qualified -save time -only practical system -pol groups= cohesive, pressure groups= rep diff. -reduces chances of minority rights being overridenby 'turanny of majority' -elections hold rep. accountable |
| cons of rep. democracy | -not everyone -might not be a party the reps you -reduced partic. -parties run by elitists w/ other agenda -politicians good at avoiding accountability -politicians can be corrupt, incompetent and put party before responsibili9ty to electorate |
| 4 ways to strengthen democracy | - widening direct participation - cumpolsary voting 3- digital democracy -lowering the voting age |
| focus groups/ opinion polls | : a small cross-section of people who are used to gain an insight into the wider views of the public. Increasingly used by Labour between 1997-2010, often to gauge public opinion on proposed policy changes. |
| referendums | a vote in which the electorate can express an opinion on a particular aspect of public policy. |
| recall elections: | This allows voters to force a by-election if a petition is signed by enough people illustrating a vote of no confidence. |
| e-petitions: | When a proposal receives 100,000 signatures via the Number 10 Downing Street website it will be considered for a debate in the Commons |
| compulsory voting | in Australia, Spain, Italy and France voting is compulsory although it is rarely enforced. In Australia there is a small fine of $20 payable within 21 days. |
| digital democracy | alter to compuls. vote could be achieved in a var. of ways inc. use of post vote, moving poll stat. + switch voting day e-voting Online pet. ICT to publicise, organise, lobby interactive TV + socials to enable citizens to engage in political debate |
| reducing voting age | The reduction of the voting age to 16 in the Scottish Independence Referendum has spurred many individuals and political parties to support votes at 16 including the SNP, Labour and Plaid Cymru. |
| pros of digital democracy | -encourages youth vote - modernises -more frequent use of referenda bc more accessible |
| cons of digital democracy | -ability to be hacked -discouraGes elderly to vote |
| arguments for compulsory voting q | -force voters to be more politically informed -increasing turnout gives elec. result greater legitimacy -more sections of society involved, concerns raised in all parta of society -could be argued that voting is a civic duty |
| arguments against compulsory voting | -may argue its basic right not to take part -ill informed voting -involve large amount of pub. expenditure to admin. andfd enforce system -favours larger parties |
| pros of lowering voting age | -young better informed about pol than before -may encourage more people get involved bc voting age 18-24 turnout low -16 age to serve in army, getting married and pay tax, why not vote -radicalism of young voters balance out extreme cons of old |
| cons of lowering voting age | -16 yr olds too young to make rational decisions -too complex for ~young minds~ -few people in group pay tax, stake low in society -argued young are radical bc not considered issues properly |
| pressure group | an association who aims to influence policy but not to gain power |
| if a pressure groups decides to exercise power.. | they become a party |
| trade unions helped to form | labour |
| when did the ecology party become the green party | 1990 |
| when did ukip start putting uo candidates | 1993 |
| what purpose do pressure groups | -promote unrepresented communities -protect minority group -educate public abt. big ideas -call gov. to account -alloes for different form of participation |
| intrest groups ar aka | sectional |
| examples of sectional groups | -trade union- NUT/BMA |
| what are sectional groups | an association that has an identifiablr membership or supporting group. represent a section of society and often have a specific requirement to be in |
| cause groups aka | promotional |
| examples of promotional groups | Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), Amnesty International, Shelter, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Electoral Reform Society. |
| what is a promotional group | -an association whos main purpose is to promote a cause. no requirements for entry |
| criticisms of cause and interest catagoriesa | -some pressure groups have sectional and promotional characteristics as all have sectional concerns e.g. chruches concerned with employers, buildings etc. -may contain members with sectional issues -some pressure groups mask sectional concerns |
| example of insider group | british medical association |
| example of outsider group | fathers4justice |
| status of pressure groups can change because | trade unions have less power when conservatives aee in power |
| 6 groups that cANT VOTE | -non-british citizens -underage voters -lords -prisoners -guilty of election fraud in the past 5 years -psychiatric patients |
| inconsistencies in voling system before 1932 | -types of constit- counties and boroughs. right to vote for counties depended on home ownership, boroughs= payment of tax -plural voting (e.g. if you lived in 2 diff places) -dis. of seats not kept up with growth -women excluded unless owned houses |
| the great reform act 1832 | -underpop. places lost seats, big cities gained seat COUNTIES: tenant farmers and small property holders can vote BOROUGHS: male house owners worth at least £10/anum -5% pop vote |
| what happened between this and mejor reform | anyone with house coukd vote |
| 1867 | borough householders (e.g. tradesmen, shopkeepers) enfranchised -electorate rises from 1-2million= 13% of adult population |
| 1884 | rural householders e.g. farm workers, miners put on some fooring as borough ones, electorate over 5 million = 25% of adult population |
| 1918 | all women over 30 and men over 21 enfranchised 75% of adult population |
| 1928 | terms for men and women equalised; both sexes can vote at 21 full adult suffrage |
| 1948 | end of plural voting |
| 1969 | voting age 18 |
| the suffragists | -led by millicent fawcet -favoured non violent methods such as peaceful demonstration |
| the suffragettes | -led by emmeline pankhurst, preffered violent methods such as vandilism |
| 6 ways to participate formally | -standing for office -active party membership -pressure group membership -passive party membership - digital activists -voting |
| 2009 parliamentary expenses scandals | -the daily telegraph published evidence of widespread abuse of the systems that allowed mps to claim expenses for living costs. It resulted in 5 former mps and 2 lords sentenced to prison terms |
| the eu referendum is described as | the mst democratic exercise the UK has undertaken- it was made clear that there would be noe 2nd vote |
| turnout | 72.2% |
| majority | 52% |
| divides in voting in the country | - young and old - rich and poor - english and scottishq |
| percentage of 18-24 yr olds that voted leave | 27% |
| % of 25-34 yr olds thaqt voted leave | 38% |
| % of 35-44 yr olds that voted leave | 48% |
| % of 45-54 yrs olds that voted leave | 56% |
| % of 55- 64 yr olds that voted leave | 57% |
| % of 65+ yr olds voted leave | 60% |
| % of english people that voted leave | 53% |
| % of scottish people that voted leave | 38% |
| % of AB wealth group (richest) that voted leave | 43% |
| % og C1 wealth group that voted leave | 51% |
| % of C2 wealth group that voted leave | 64% |
| % of DE wealth group that voted leave | 64% |
| what is the EU refferendum an example of | tyranny of the majority- will of 52% forced 48% to leave |
| SCOTTISH ELECTION turnout | 84.65% |
| SCOTTISH ELECTION majority | 55% |
| SCOTTISH ELECTION voting age | 16 |
| 2010 VOTING SYSTEM REFFERENDUM | - to change the voting system -didnt divixde country- 67.9% result -balanced and rational deba\te -low turnout |
| pros of eu referendum | - high turnout - settled debate of friction - transcended the political community |
| cons of eu referendukm, | - result divided - campaign fought in bad taste - too complex7 - destablished scootland |
| the 5 civic duties of UK citizens | -jury duty -obey the law -pay taxes -voting -protecting the environment |
| habeas corpus | right to trial |
| the 2 race relations acts were in | 1965 +2010 |
| the 2 equality acts were in | 1970 + 2010 |
| what 8 things did the equality act 2010 talk about | -age -race -disability -religion/belief -gender reassignment -sex -marriage/ civil partnership -sexual orientation |
| problems with referenda | -people are tempromental -hard to adopt changes -long winded |
| the innitiative | people decide referenda should take place not gov (used in swithz and us, need 5% of pop in cali, 100k signatures in switz) |
| results of innitiative in us | 2008: ban on same sex marriage passed 2012: make assisted suicide legal failed 2014: legalise recreational cannabis passed |
| results of innitiative in switz | 1971: grant voting rights to women passed 2004: prevent mass immigration passed 2016: export all foreign criminals failed |
| social represtentation | representatives should have characteristics in line with the whole population- should be a microcosm of society as a whole |
| representation of national interest | sometimes have to chose national interest over constituency interest- represent the nation as well |
| constituency representation | -thinking how bills will effect your constituency -redress of grievences -views of constituents on national issues |
| party representation | voting according to party manifesto |
| strengths of mandate | -strengthens legitimacy giving clear authority -holds gov accountable -demonstrates where gov overstep authority |
| weaknesses of mandate | -parties in uk often elected on under 50% of vote -votersd might not support everything in manifesto -not clear whether gov has mandate to pass policy not in manifeso |
| peaceful transition of power | those who lose power by democratic means respect the authority of the next elected |
| peacful transition of power in the uk | uk is conflict free :) |
| free elections | universal sufferage |
| free elections in the uk | - all over 18 can vote -little fraud and strong legal safeguards -Hol and monarch unelected |
| fair elections | -everyone has one equal vote -safeguards to avoid rigging -fair electoral system |
| fair elections in the uk | -proportional systems in scot, wales, ni and eu parl elections -fptp = disproportional results + wasted votes |
| widespread participation | political participation |
| widespread participation in the uk | -extensive members of pressure groups, groeing level of edemocracy -turnout and party membership falling |
| freedom of expression | no censorship |
| freedom of expression in the uk | -press and broadcasting free, broadcast neutral, free access to internet -media owned by big companies |
| freedom of association | allowed to associate w/ whoever |
| freedom of association in the uk | -no restrictions on legal organisations -some groups banned based on terrorism or racial basis |
| protections of rights and liberties | free and havre rights |
| protection of rights and liberties in the uk | -echr, hol and judiciuary protect rioghts -echr not binding on parliament` |
| rule of law | noone is above the law |
| rule of law in uk | -strictly upheld by judiciary |
| limited gov an constitutionalism | limits to gov in constitution |
| constitutionalism in uk | -parl and court ensure gov acts w/in law -constitution is unentrenched |
| part membership of top 3 parties 1980 | 1,693,000 |
| part membership 1989 | 1,137,000 |
| part membership 1998 | 840,000 |
| part membership 2006 | 520,000 |
| part membership 2008 | 476,000 |
| part membership 2010 | 397,00 |
| part membership 2016 | 490,000 |
| surge in labour membership in 2015 when | ed miliband made joining labour £3 |
| snp lmambership raised in 2014 after | scot kndependence ref |
| turnout 1979 | 76% |
| turnout 1983 | 72.2 |
| turnout 1987 | 75.3 |
| turnout 1992 | 77.7 |
| turnout 1997 | 71.4 |
| turnout 2001 | 59.4 |
| turnout 2005 | 61.3 |
| turnout 2010 | 65.2 |
| turnout 2015 | 66.1 |
| turnout 2017 | 68.7 |
| usa runouit 2012 | 54.9 |
| usa turnout 2016 | 55 |
| belgium turnout 2010/14 | 89 |
| 1998 london mayor ref turnout | 34.1 |
| scot dev turnoutq | 60.4 |
| wales dev turnout` | 50 |
| ni dev turnout | 81 |
| av turniout | 42 |
| scto in turnout | 84 |
| eu turnou 2016 | 72 |
| epetition no of signatures for aagainst plan to introduce charges for using roads 2007 | 1.8,m sig |
| outcome of 2007 epetition | gov dropped plan |
| no of sig epetition 2011 release of docs relating to hisborough | 139k |
| outcome of 2011 epetition | papers released inquest launched |
| no of sig epetition second ref 2016 | 3.8 million |
| outcome of 2016 epetit | debate but no second ref allowed |
| succcess factors of pressure group | -size-pressure -finance-affording campaigns -strategic position (sect) ifthey are vital gov will listen -public mood- determines size -gov mood- side of spectrum theyre on etc |
| failure factors of pressure groups | -too small+ limited funds -unsympathetic gov -oppontents to powerful -pub opinion |
| CASE STUDY- ASH | action on smoking and health |
| ASH founded in | 1967 by academics and interested parties |
| ASH objectives | -spread knowledge about harmfull effects of tobacco and press gov to make legislation reducing tobacco use |
| ASH methods | -researvch and publicise research -lobbys lawmakers and gov using scientific data |
| ASH successes | -restricted ads on tobacco -health warnings on cig packs -increasing tax on tobacco -law banning smoking in car w/ children |
| ASH failures | -want further legislation -concern over e-cigs |
| why is ASH successful | -supporters in gov -evidence behind cause |
| pros of press groups | -disperse piower and influence - educate public -more oppertunity to participate in politics -protect intrests of minotiyird -publicise effects of policies |
| cons of press groups | -eletist press groups -distrting info for own interest -undemocratic -wealh |
| neutral think tanks | -respublica- general policy issues -chatham house-international affairs -centre for social justice- welfair issues -demos-current political issues |
| left wing think tanks | -fabian society- social justic and equality -institute for public policy research- various left wing |
| right wing think tanks | -adam smith institute- free market problems to economic issues -centre for policy studies- promotes thatcherite idears |
| liberal think tanks | -liberty- promoting issues concerning the protection of rights and liberty -reform- concerning welfare, pub services and economic menagement |
| disputed citizens responsibility | -serve in army when the country is under attack -vote -respect rights of all other citizens -respect values of society |
| civil society | name for all associations that citizens belong to and may become active in, counterbalance to government |
| clickocracy | taking part in democracy online |
| formal equality | equality established by law |
| group politics | the idea that political decision making happens by mediating views of different groups |
| hyperpluralism | rapid growth in interest in particular issues leading to so many dfferent views that none are satisfied |
| functions of elections | -transfer powe from one government to the next -create a link from politicians to constituents -legitimise government -hold government to account |
| criticisms of doctrine of madate | -people dont vote rationally, could vote in protest -parties never unanymously agree on their policies -no way of forcing gov to carry out policies -impossible for parties to forsee emergency events |
| example of gov not carrying out their policy | new labour war with iraq even though they promised they wouldnt |
| strong mp constituency link example | Oona king hold accountable after voting for war with iraq despite constituents not wanting |
| clear winner example | in germany it took a month to form a calition, the gov lacked effective leadership |
| ways political parties promote democracy | -provied framework for elections -strong stable gov formed -people can participate beyond voting by joining parties -educate people and inform them about issues |
| example of political parties informing | green party influentual in raising environment in gov agenda |
| ways political parties damage democracy | -lack of rep for smaller parties so voters left with no choice -not rep of british electorate -centralisation of decision making to parties-whip -can be seen as corrupt e.g. tony blair and cash for honours |
| example of electorate have no choice | both parties have some degree of austerity to help reduce national debt |
| features of pressure groups | -seek to influence gov policy -attemot to addvance a cause or interest -operating at different levels of political life- putting pressure where it is needed |
| differences between parites and pressure groups | -parties-power -parties have broader aims -parties use different methods -parties accept public accountability -parties have more responsibility |
| example of mp representing interest | ken clarke represents British American Tibaco |
| example of pressure groups influencing EU | NFU keep permanent reps at EU to influence agriculture lAsaw |
| resons why pressure groups enhance democracy | -keep gov in touch with pub opinion between elctions -wider participation -voice to minority groups -educate |
| reasons why pressure groups dont enhance democracy | -dont have equal power and influence -prevent demecratically elected gov from carrying out role -illegal methods -one sided views |
| example of pressure groups not being equal | cash for honours affair made pressure groups wonder if they could bribe mps for interest |
| example of pressure group not allowing gov to carry out its role | tu powerful role on labour economy in the 'winter of discontent' 1978-9 |
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