Summary study book Pearson Edexcel A Level UK Government and Politics Sixth Edition of Neil Mcnaughton, Toby Cooper (2) - ISBN: 9781398311145 (summary notes)
Democracy and participation
1.1 Current systems of representative democracy and direct democracy.
Direct democracy
All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on
their behalf.
This type of democracy can be seen today in referendums
The size and nature of modern politics would make the regular use of direct democracy
impractical
Advantages Disadvantages
It is the purest form of democracy as the It can lead to the tyranny of the majority
people’s voice is clearly heard whereby the winning majority simply ignores
the interests of the minority and imposes
something detrimental on them
It can avoid delay and deadlock within the The people may be too easily swayed by short-
political system term emotional appeals by charismatic
individuals
The fact that the people are making a decision Some issues may be too complex for the
gives it great legitimacy ordinary citizen to understand
Representative democracy
A more modern form of democracy through which an individual selects a person(and or
political party) to act on their behalf to excercise political choice
Common way of choosing representatives is to elect them through a formal eletion process
as if they aren’t elected then it call democracy into question
Representative democracy ensures that those elected to positions of power and
responsibility have to be held account by the people
Advantages Disadvantage
Can develop expertise to deal with matters the Representatives may not act in the best interests
public doesn’t have time or knowledge to deal of their constituents
with
Representatives can be held to account for their It can be difficult to hold a represenative to
actions at election time account between elections
Representatives have the time to deal with a Allowing voters to delegate responsibility to
variety of complex matters leaving the public representatives can lead to the public disengaging
free to get on with their own lives from social issues and other responsibilities
in a large modern country it is only practical representative bodies can be unrepresentative
way to translate public opinion into political and may ignore the concerns and needs of
action minorities
, 1.2 A wider franchise and debates over suffrage
Timeline of the expansion of suffrage in the uk
1832 Great Reform Act The Act gave the vote to middle class people in the boroughs,
such as small landowners and shopkeepers this led from 4% to
6% franchise
1918 representation of the people act Women who were married, owned property, or graduates, and
aged over 30 were given the vote and men over 21
1928 Equal franchise act extends franchise to all adults over 21- passed under a
conservative government
1969 representation of the people act Extended suffrage to 18 year olds passed under labour
government
The work of the suffragists/suffragettes to extend the franchise
Suffragists Suffragettes
Membership open to all Membership for women only
Internally democratic Run by the pankhursts only
Peaceful methods of protest Violent and illegal methods
Attempted to work with the government Attempted to intimidate the government
A national organisaton of committees London centred after 1906
Suffragists NUWSS tried to achieve the vote WSPU used direct action and militant methods
using peaceful methods, trying to get a bill to show the urgency of women’s suffrage
passed in the Houses of Parliament.
Modern campaigns for suffrage
Groups that are excluded from voting:
Those under 18
Prisoners
Those sectioned under the mental health act
Peers currently serving in the house of lords
Homeless people as they lack a permanent address
Should 16 and 17 year olds be given the right to vote ?
For Against
Young people are taught about citizenship and Too young to be able to make a rational judgement
politics in school, so are educated about
politics.
Voter turnout among the 18-24 year old age Many issues are too complex for younger to understand
group is very low so may encourage more
people to vote and become engage with politics
Social media has allowed young people to be Few peole in this age group pay tax so they have lower
better informed about politics stake in society
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