This is a complete summary of all 4 topics that could come up on paper 1, ranging from should prisoners have the vote all the way to the media's impact on elections.
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1. Democracy and Representation
2. Political Parties
3. Electoral Systems
, 4. Voting Behaviour and the Media
Unit 1.1- Democracy and Representation
1.1 Current systems of democracy in the UK
Democracy: Greek word meaning people rule. Defined by Lincoln in 1863 ‘Government by the people, of the people
and for the people’
Liberal Democracy: When a democracy has pluralism, and good rights protection.
Features and examples of Direct Democracy and Advantages/Disadvantages
• When there is no distinction between the Government and the Governed, expressing opinions themselves.
• Seen in its purest form in Ancient Athens and the Swiss Cantons.
• In the UK it can be seen through referendums (EU in 2016, Scottish Independence 2014, AV voting system
2011), the 2015 Recall of MPs Act and petitions. Normal people expressing opinions outside of elections.
Advantages Disadvantages
Gives equal weight to all votes, unlike a representative Impractical in large, heavily populated modern states
system where varying sizes of constituencies mean that where decision making needs to be quick and is
votes do not have equal value complicated
Encourages participation as citizens will feel they make Many people will not want to or will be qualified
an impact enough to take part in decision making- with some
issues being too complex
Removes the need for representatives who can Open to manipulation as some voters will be easily led
sometimes fail in their duty and too emotional
Purest form of democracy meaning an increase in Leads to tyranny of the majority, minorities will always
legitimacy be ignored
It can work in a modern context- referendums and Can undermine elected representatives who are usually
Swiss cantons. more professional and educated in political issues.
Features and examples of Representative Democracy and Advantages/Disadvantages
• Where people are not involved in every decision but rather pick a representative who will make decisions
on their behalf.
• Examples in the UK: Represented by MP, MEP, Councilor, Mayor and Assembly Members.
• Can also be represented by Pressure Groups and Political Parties.
• Representative Democracy relies on constituencies where citizens pick their representative. Constituents
therefore expect their representative to represent them. Because they are elected, they can be legitimate,
and if they don’t represent well they can be held accountable at the next election
Advantages Disadvantages
, Only practical system in a modern state May lead to reduced participation as citizens let
representatives make decisions
Politicians form parties and ensure there is a clear Parties and Pressure Groups are often run by elite
choice, aided by Pressure Groups, there is a pluralist members of society- pursuing their own agendas not
democracy of many choices.` actually representing the people
Reduces chance of the tyranny of the majority as Minorities still in danger as politicians who want to be
representatives can look our for under-represented elected will side with the majority
groups
Elections allow representatives to be held to count for Politicians have teams of media campaigners to avoid
decisions accountability and our elections in the UK are every 5
years
Politicians are in theory better informed to make Politicians can become corrupt and incompetent and
momentous decisions betray their electorate
What is a good democracy?- use these to analyse UK democracy
• A peaceful transition of power
• Free and fair elections
• Widespread Participation
• Freedom of expression and information
• Freedom of association
• Protection of rights and liberties Rule of law and an independent judiciary Accountable
Government.
• All citizens well represented
How democratic is the UK?
Good Features Negative Features
Peaceful transition of power- election losses are never Our voting system FPTP is not proportional so minority
contested and do not result in violence views are ignored (UKIP 2015)
Representation is improved by our devolved institutions Parliaments sovereignty means that citizens rights can
with Scotland, Wales and N Ireland always be overruled
Elections are largely free and fair and in secret- universal House of Lords are unelected
suffrage
We have an independent judiciary which uphold the rule Much of the media is owned by wealthy unaccountable
of law and check the Government business and can sway elections
Turnout and participation is increasing Participation crisis of recent decades
We have a free media that can challenge politicians Money is still very important in our system helping
political parties and pressure groups succeed
We have a pluralist democracy- there are numerous Suffrage can still be reformed- votes at 16
options of Parties and Pressure Groups to support
Is there a participation crisis?
Yes No
Turnout at elections has greatly reduced: averaging Election Turnouts are improving since lowpoint of 59% in
nearly 75% between 1979 and 1997, now closer to 65%. 2001, up to 69% in 2017 (has gone down in 2019)
2019 saw a reduction again to 67%
Party membership has also greatly reduced with 4% of Recent referendums have shown that on important
the electorate being members in 1980 compared to 1% issues where voting can be seen to make a difference
today turnout increases- 84% for Scottish independence and
, 72% for EU Referendum
Turnout is especially poor at a younger level: 58% in 2017 Political Party membership is increasing. In wake of
for 18-24, and 47% in 2019! Corbynism Labour is now over 500,000 and SNP more
than quadrupled beyween 2013 and 2016
The new elections may not be helping- 27% turnout for E-Democracy is increasing in popularity with 38 Degrees
Police and Crime Commissioners in 2016 and less than petitions beginning to get more and more signatures- 3.8
30% for Metropolitan Mayors million for a second EU Referendum- 6 million signatures
for revoking Article 50
What reforms are there?
• Votes at 16- the belief that but allowing 16/17 year olds to vote it will increase level of political awareness
and ensure that young people are more informed and passionate for voting. Some argue that it will not
work, and low youth turnout would continue.
• More E-Democracy- belief voting could be made easier with polling day being too much hassle for many
people in the 21st century
• Compulsory Voting- belief that voting should be compulsory, fining those who don’t. This is used in Belgium
where turnout is always above 80%. Some argue this would not increase passion and is also undemocratic
• More referendums- belief that the high turnouts of Scotland Brexit referendums show that they are popular
and will ensure participation doesn’t reduce. However, these two were very important the AV referendum
of 2011 had a turnout of 42%.
These ones will come up later
• Change Voting system
• Get rid of House of Lords
• More devolution
• Recall elections
1.2 A wider franchise and debates over suffrage
How has suffrage changed?
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