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Summary UK Politics (notes/essay plans)
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Notes on all topics in UK Politics for Edexcel A-Level Politics, including essay plans
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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
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