UK P1
Democracy and Participation
A Democracy is a system where power is held by the people.
Origins of Democracy
Suffrage changed with the Great Reform Act of 1832
Chartists - Ballot Act 1872
Suffragists -
Suffragettes -
Representation of the Peoples Act 1928
Forms of Democracy
Direct
People themselves make the decisions, normally in a simple majority vote. Associated with
Ancient Greece, is mostly seen in the UK through referendums.
Advantages:
- A pure form of democracy {direct say on an issue}
- Increased legitimacy {support of the majority of the people}
- Improves participation and engagement {more opportunities to be involved in issues that
directly affect them, debates lead to more public engagement/education}
- Political education {campaigns providing the people with the information they need to
made their decision}
- It works {Switzerland, Referendums in the UK}
Disadvantages:
- Not practical {size of populations in modern states}
- Tyranny of the majority {minority interests overlooked, populist outcomes could
discriminate against smaller groups}
- Undermines elected representatives
- Low turnouts {small groups, less legitimate decision that affects everyone}
- Emotional responses {might not consider practical major issues}
Representative
People elect or choose representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. Implies that
representatives are accountable for what they do. (Parliament section)
Types of representation:
Descriptive, party, constituency, mandate, delegate and trustee.
Liberal
Possesses key features:
Encourages political, social and economic competition between political parties and pressure
groups.
,Governmental legitimacy through the people via regular elections, most adults can vote.
Rights such as free press, free speech and in most countries a written Bill of rights that
prioritises the rights of the individual.
A system is that it tries to limit the power of the main branches of government over the
individual.
In an essay, points on free and fair elections, accountable government, limited government,
choice of party, protected civil liberties.
Thinkers such as Adam Smith and John Locke.
Functions of Democracy
Key information:
Authority vs Power
Influenced based on perceived legitimacy vs Ability to control/direct others.
Education - The political process should be open to all and there should be an informed
citizenry who are able to understand the issues and make informed decisions.
Direct Dem:
More educated citizenry as there are more votes frequently and
hopefully people would feel the need to educate themselves on
each vote. BUT Information can be biased and sway the public,
also information fatigue may decrease turnout.
Power dispersal - There should be a system that ensures power is spread across different
bodies.
Direct Dem:
Greater dispersion of power among the people as all their votes
weigh the same (if you’re in a constituency that’s a different party
you don’t get to choose a representative who agrees with you).
BUT If you’re in a minority group then you don’t really get a say
and its unlikely you’ll be heard.
Legitimacy - The process for selecting the different elements of government should have legal
authority and fairly represent the will of the people.
Direct Dem:
The will of the people is clearer and better shown, making them
have more legal authority BUT Minority groups are again ignored
and have their interests brushed aside.
,Participation - There must be a way for people to take part in the political process.
Direct Dem:
More of an incentive, feels as though your vote matters more as it
directly affects what happens BUT Lots of referendums might lead
to voter fatigue and low turnout
Representation - The people must be able to put their views to the government.
Direct Dem:
The public’s views are represented directly, instead of being
filtered by a representative BUT Direct democracy leads to a large
minority who might feel unrepresented
Accountability - There must be a process by which the government can be made to explain and
take responsibility for its actions.
Direct Dem:
More frequent opportunities to vote politicians out and hold leaders
to account BUT Harder to hold the government accountable as
there’s less responsibility on them and its more general and due to
the peoples votes
UK Democracy
Assess:
Free and fair elections
All adults over 18 can vote
No poll tax anymore
But - Imprisoned people cannot vote. Blanket ban on prisoners voting was
ruled as a breach of Article 3 of the HRA by ECtHR in 2005.
But - 16-17yr olds?
Accountable government
CMR and IMR
Can be voted out
Elections, despite Fixed Term Act 2011, are unpredictable
Vote of confidence
By-election
PMQs
Limited government
Devolution - quasi-federal state
But - Not a proper SOP
But - Parliament sovereignty
, Choice of party
Many parties exist and are being made
But - 2 party system
FPTP, geography, wasted votes
Bribery illegal
Protected civil liberties
ECHR and HRA 1998
Not infringed through elections and representatives
But - No entrenched civil liberties
Democratic Deficit
Occurs when democratic organisations or institutions such as governments don’t fulfil the
principles of democracy in how they operate.
Falling political participation
Formal participation decline, 2001 lowest ever turnout at 59.4%
Since 2005 been stabilising, around the high 60% now
Informal participation increased, more petitions, direct action,
campaigning etc.
Depends on governments, eg. 2001 turnout, perhaps
due to FPTP as people knew that Labour was going to win/New
Labor was so central that less people may have felt inclined to
vote.
Declining Turnout
Not currently, though generally has since the 70s. (2010 65%,
2019 67.3%).
Has plateaued at high 60% in recent years.
Youth turnout has actually recently increased - 47% for 2017 GE, 14 point
percentage increase from 2014 . Many contribute this to Labour’s £0.5mill
more spent on social media campaigning.
Reduced party membership
Partisan dealignment, less party members, strong general decline
in the 90s. Now under 1,000 members per thousand people.
Labour 2021, 430,000 members. largest membership.
Conservatives declined to 200,000 in 2021, had almost 3 mill in the ‘50s.
More interested in single issue politics -
UK citizenship memberships for at least 1 Pressure Group is at approx 50%
while Party membership is at 1.4%
Unelected elements
