Summary
Summary UK Politics (notes/essay plans)
- Course
- Institution
Notes on all topics in UK Politics for Edexcel A-Level Politics, including essay plans
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
sashapetrova
Content preview
Unit 1UK Politics
,Current systems of democracy
Direct democracy: a form of democracy in which individuals express their views themselves
rather than through a representative acting on their behalf
Advantages Disadvantages
It is the purest form of democracy meaning It can lead to the tyranny of the majority
that all voices are heard
It can avoid delay and deadlock within the It is impractical in a large, heavily populated
political system modern state where decision-making is
complicated
Decisions made have greater legitimacy Some issues may be too complex for ordinary
individuals to understand (Protests after the
EU referendum, calls for a second
referendum)
Higher voter turnout (2016 EU referendum
72.2%, Scottish independence 84.6%)
Representative democracy. A form of democracy in which individuals express their views
through a representative acting on their behalf
Advantages Disadvantages
Representatives have the expertise to deal Representatives may not act in the interests
with more complicated matters of their constituents (Recall of MPs Act 2015)
Representatives can be held to account It can be difficult to hold a representative to
through elections account in between elections
It is a more efficient and practical system as Concerns and views of minorities may not be
the decision-making process is simplified upheld (banning the ritual slaughter of
animals in Switzerland affecting the minority
Jewish population)
Lower voter turnout (2001 general election
59.4%, London 2021 mayoral election 42.2%)
, Pluralist democracy: A pluralist democracy describes a political system where there is more than
one centre of power
Features of a liberal democracy
- Peaceful transition of power
- Free/fair elections (universal suffrage)
- Widespread participation in politics
- Freedom of expression and information
- The rule of law
- Protection of rights and liberties
- Freedom of association
- A constitution
- An independent judiciary
Political participation
Is there a democratic deficit?
Yes No
- Voter turnout has been in decline - Voter turnout is on the gradual rise
(general elections) with increasing opportunities to vote
- The Elections Act 2022 (voter ID) (2016: EU membership 72%)
- Substantial declining party - Recent increasing party membership
- membership - Rise of new groups (single issue,
- Decline of the trade union pressure groups and charities)
- Movement (1979: 13.2 million - Many recent mass protests
members/2016: 6.23 million (Approximately 1 million attended
members) - the Stop the War protest in 2003)
- New social movements are - E-Petitions (E-petition to stop Brexit: 6
- loosely organised and their impact on million)
policy has been minimal
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sashapetrova. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.69. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67474 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now