UK POLITICS Q&A ESSAYS

to what extent is uk democracy in need of reform participation levels voter turnout has been decreasing since 1964. 1964 turnout = 77%, 2019 turnout = 67% comparatively - most european elections have 80%+, USA 2017 - 49% to what extent is uk democracy in need of reform party membership party mem...

Great Reform Act - ANS 1832 eliminated rotten boroughs and redistributed seats in Parliament. 1 in 5 adult males 5.6% population Second Reform Act - ANS 1867 Bigger scope Disraeli Working class men to vote if they met property qualifications Doubled size of electorate Third Reform Act - ANS...

Themes: Evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to ignore referendum results and their own political party's manifesto. - ANS HRA Protection of rights- HRA - ANS Protected: Not protected: HRA is uncodified and can be altered by a simple act of Parliament, should be entrenched to prot...

Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected in the UK - ANS Intro;- Human rights, or natural rights, are rights that individuals are naturally entitled to. These rights are absolute, universal and fundamental. They also form the basis of individual protection against government i...

KEY POINTS Evaluate how effectively rights are protected in the UK/ Evaluate the view that human rights are well protected in the United Kingdom (word what writing differently) - ANS Judicial Review, Civil Liberties, Awareness of civil liberties EXAMPLES Evaluate how effectively rights are prot...

Evaluate the view that citizens can no longer feel confident that their rights in the UK are secure and established. (introduction) - ANS ... paragraph 1 - the introduction of the HRA - ANS P - HRA ensured that the protection of human rights came under clear statute law as opposed to common law ...

Evaluate the view pressure groups enhance democracy - ANS For: - Counter balance the tyranny of the majority e.g. Stonewall and the legalisation of gay marriage - Act as a limit to government power e.g. extinction rebellion, committing to zero carbon emissions by 2025 - Bring expert knowledge to...

Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis'. - ANS P1 - there is falling participation in elections in recent years. - Turnout in general elections has been falling since 1979 - it was 76% in 1979 and in 2001 it was just 59% - European, local and other elections have seen ...

Evaluate the extent to which the UK political system is democratic/undemocratic. - ANS free elections fair elections protection of rights and liberties Evaluate the extent to which the UK is a pluralist democracy. - ANS equality and rights based culture electorate can hold MPs to account pressu...

when did blair get involved in the Iraq war? - ANS 2003 When did Blair get involved in the Afghanistan war? - ANS 2001 When was the Scotland act? - ANS 1998 when was the wales act? - ANS 1998 When was the Good Friday Agreement? - ANS 1998 When was the Greater London Authority Act? - ANS 1999 W...

Explain and analyse three different theories of representation - 1. Trustee (2013 vote on gay marriage) 2. Delegate (Tory MP zac goldsmith - 3rd Heathrow runway) 3. Mandate (in 2017 Tory manifesto they only fulfilled 175 out of 257 pledges) Explain and analyse three stages in the legislative pro...

when did blair get involved in the Iraq war? - ANS 2003 When did Blair get involved in the Afghanistan war? - ANS 2001 When was the Scotland act? - ANS 1998 when was the wales act? - ANS 1998 When was the Good Friday Agreement? - ANS 1998 When was the Greater London Authority Act? - ANS 1999 W...

Explain and analyse three different theories of representation - 1. Trustee (2013 vote on gay marriage) 2. Delegate (Tory MP zac goldsmith - 3rd Heathrow runway) 3. Mandate (in 2017 Tory manifesto they only fulfilled 175 out of 257 pledges) Explain and analyse three stages in the legislative pro...

STV is arranged in alphabetical order; it isn't arranged randomly • This is unfair - it prioritises candidates simply due to... Why STV isn't as democratic as other voting systems: However... • STV provides broadly proportional results; it reflects the politics of all political parties, bu...

Direct democracy - Advantages Gives equal weight to all votes Encourages popular participation Purest form of democracy which gives decisions legitimacy Disadvantages Impractical in a large, modern state Open to manipulation by cleverest speakers No mediation by parliamentary institutions mea...

Evaluate the extent to which political parties should be funded by the state agree - 1 =Reduce political corruption Case study to support = 1 in 10 Conservative Party donors who gave £100,000 become Peers in Lords. Big business donates to Conservatives and demand tax breaks 2=Reduce the power o...

Are parties good for democracy Representation People's representatives. Provide candidates for Westminster; elected by people for people. however 'winners bonus' is exacerbated by parties under FPTP. Con 37% votes vs 51% seats in 2015. UKIP in 2015 12.6% of vote but no seats. Johnson original...

1. Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected by the UK constitutional arrangements - ANS - Common law (trad, custom and precedent/judge made) > precedent made by judges protecting rights e.g. murder vs statute law can 'overturn' these or reform - Statute Law > HRA 1998...

Evaluate the extent to which the EU has impacted UK institutions - judiciary- upholding ECHR executive- increased importance of PM legislature- policy standards Evaluate the extent to which the UK judiciary can control executive power - ultra vires implementation of HRA statutory rights evalua...

Evaluate the view that devolution has undermined the unity of the UK constitution - ANS - growth of nationalism VS parliamentary sovereignty - destabilised 2-party-system VS pluralism - weak local government VS innovative policies Evaluate the view that devolution has been a success - ANS - inno...

Evaluate the view that devolution has undermined the unity of the UK constitution - ANS - growth of nationalism VS parliamentary sovereignty - destabilised 2-party-system VS pluralism - weak local government VS innovative policies Evaluate the view that devolution has been a success - ANS - inno...

Evaluate the view that the case for further english devolution is overdue. PARA 1 - P1 - metro mayors. There are 9 metro mayors and a 1 additional combined authorities without mayors and one Cornwall 'unitary authority with devolution'. A metro mayor oversees a combined authority, that is many ...

Evaluation the extent to which devolution been a success? - . Provided more regional autonomy/ Still centralisation of power (Westminster) . Provides representation/ Unrepresented cultures .Maintains union/ Increasing independence requests Evaluate the view that the logical next step after devol...

Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial independence is upheld in the UK - ANS - Security of tenure - Judicial Appointments Commission (2006) - Separation of powers (the Supreme court is separate from the HOL and HOC, used to be Law Lords in the HOL) (2009) JAC and SOP are under the co...

Success of devolution Point 1: Allowed for greater democracy and more effective local representation, with devolved bodies able to respond to the concerns of their electorates - Scotland: the population is more left wing than in the rest of the UK --> led to the election of a left wing SNP go...