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Essay Plans - Government and politics in the UK
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9 markers & 25 markers essay plans for topics listed in AQA Government and Politics A-level Paper 1
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Elections & ReferendumsExplain and analyze 3 ways the media influences elections. (9)
P – purchasing ads, makes it easier to outlet parties, needed for capturing “float vote.”
Ex – no restrictions posed if spending declared to advertising agencies, national reach, front-page.
Ev – Tory 2017, criticized for front page ads, Cons comparing Lab to Communism 83.’
An – demographic targeted, social media increase BUT buying space favors wealthy party, Tories.
P – newspaper & readership, newspapers influence readership by putting their support in
Ex – papers impact views, drip effect slowly changes minds or people buy a paper reflecting views.
Ev – 1992: Sun claimed that “It’s the sun wot won it” Major’s victory 1997: support Blair. Landslide.
An – traditional method, social media impacts BUT Tories adapted (factcheck twitter account)
P – TV debates, since 2010, iteration of party leader debates. ¼ voters changed mind after it
Ex – Leader debates, interest, high views, and positive results, exposure can help the smaller parties.
Ev – Nick Clegg LD victory debating Brown & Cameron, for over half of 1000 people. viewing figures
7.34 mill to 4.42 mill.
An – creates rare opportunity as incumbents do not like it. BUT not compulsory, May in 2017.
Explain and analyse 3 reasons why referendums undermine/enhance democracy (9)
P – tyranny of the majority.
Ex – majority imposing will on minority rights, when divide between opinions of different groups.
Ev – Brexit referendum 2016, slim majority 52% to 48%, low TO London Mayor 24%.
An – increase popular participation, 2001 Croydon council rent freezes & council tax levels TO high
on Scottish ind, issue > electoral system.
P – easily manipulated.
Ex – vulnerable to politicians and interest groups, wording phrased to encourage positive response.
Ev – 2014 Scottish independence, ‘do you agree Scotland should be an independent country?’
An – provides definite answer to politically sensitive issues, 1973 Northern Ireland border poll.
P – reduce the role of elected representatives.
Ex – used too frequently or on significant issues, undermine elected reps, diminish accountability.
Ev – devolution has furthered refs, devolution on Wales, undermines parliamentary sovereignty.
An – act as a check on gov power by overcoming political disunity, AV reform 2011 referendum.
, Elections & Referendums
Explain and analyse 3 reasons why referendums are called. (9)
P – overcome political disunity.
Ex – resolve divisive or contentious issues, where elected officials unable to make the decisions.
Ev – 2016 Brexit referendum, decision to leave 52 to 48, voters decide as too decisive for gov.
An – divisions afterwards, Cameron resigns, unfair platform, leave fined for breaking spending limits.
P – legitimise constitutional change.
Ex – called to amend/revise UK constitution when sig change, approved by citizens, legitimacy.
Ev – 1997 Wales devolution referendum, 1979 Scotland assembly referendum.
An – low TO, Wales 50.22%, Scotland, rejected as only 32.9% of electorate.
P – settle complex ethical and moral issues.
Ex – provide forcing advocates on both sides to articulate their positions, promote public debate.
Ev – 2000, Souter private ref to prevent repealing Section 28, clarity against homophobic views.
An – private referendum, infrequent use because it’s too costly, wouldn’t happen.
Explain and analyze 3 theories of voting behavior. (9)
P – rational choice theory.
Ex – voters’ rational actors, cost-benefit analysis, vote if benefits outweigh cost, saliency of issues.
Ev – 2010 Lab loss NHS lost saliency: issue of crime salient. 2019 issue of Brexit allowed Tory win.
An – struggles to explain voters do not need to vote, do it out of duty (Blais) no-one should vote.
P – sociological model.
Ex – Butler & Stokes, influenced social identity, class most influential.
Ev – 1945-1979, manual & non-manual workers identify parties representing certain class.
An – no longer single most influential factor, deindustrialization 1980s, WC split, diverse range of
parties, SDP 1983, UKIP & Green 2015.
P – valence model.
Ex – electorate hold similar views on an issue, make judgments, swayed by short-term factors.
Ev – economy, 2008, Lab & financial crisis, lose 2010 & 2015. Weak leaders, Miliband/Clegg 2015.
An – difficult to measure & test empirically, does not fully capture complexity of voting behavior.
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