Direct democracy - Advantages
Gives equal weight to all votes
Encourages popular participation
Purest form of democracy which gives decisions legitimacy
Disadvantages
Impractical in a large, modern state
Open to manipulation by cleverest speakers
No mediation by parliamentary institutions me...
UK POL essay plans
Direct democracy - ✔✔✔Advantages
Gives equal weight to all votes
Encourages popular participation
Purest form of democracy which gives decisions legitimacy
Disadvantages
Impractical in a large, modern state
Open to manipulation by cleverest speakers
No mediation by parliamentary institutions meaning minority viewpoints disregarded
Representative Democracy - ✔✔✔Advantages
Practical in a large, modern state
Parties and pressure groups provide pluralism and choice
Representatives protect minority rights and reduce tyranny of the majority
Disadvantages
Reduced participation
Representatives may not adequately represent the viewpoints of the electorate
Politicians are skillful at avoiding accountability
Assessment of UK democracy - ✔✔✔Free and fair elections
Widespread participation
Independent judiciary
Free media
Devolved governments
, Democratic institutions
Compulsory voting - ✔✔✔Yes
Voting is a social duty
Would produce a more representative parliament
Politicians frame policies with whole of the electorate in mind
Can still spoil ballot if conscientiously cannot vote
Legitimises government
No
Undemocratic
Politicians still focus campaigns on marginal seats
Abstention is also a form of political expression
Does not address deeper reasons why people do not vote
Votes at 16 - ✔✔✔Yes
Already take part in political debate
Have other legal rights
High turnout in Scottish referendum
Should have a say in important issues that affect their futures
No
Young people lack the necessary life experience to vote
Legal rights limited in practice
Scottish referendum had unusually high turnout
Voting at 16 rare
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessyqueen. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £11.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
