all my notes on democracy and participation from year 12 studying a level politics. Large document covering all topics such as pressure groups and human rights.
Democracy & Participation
Component 1
- Mandate- The principle, operating in - Voter turnout - Franchise/ Suffrage
the UK, a party that has been elected - Initiative-referendum - Legitimacy
to government has the authority of by petition- Switz - ‘Tyranny of the majority’
the electorate to carry out its - Pressure Groups - Negative & Positive freedom
manifesto.
- Democratic Deficit - Constituency Representation,
-Manifesto - Parliament Party Representation
-First Past the Post system Sovereignty - Confidence and Supply
-650 Constituencies & MPs - Accountability
- Voter apathy
-Majority seats= PM - Negative & positive
- Redress of grievances
-Devolution- decisions more freedom - Hyperpluralsim- multiple groups
localized - Think Tanks or factions become so politically
- Referendum - Electoral strong that the government is
- Participation Crisis Dictatorship/ unable to function effectively
- Coalition - Lobbyists
executive dominance
- Hapathy
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
DEMOCRACY
Democracy- Basis of the government serving the people
- Direct Democracy- all individuals express their opinions themselves
- Representative Democracy- [Social representation]- Legislative Body
▫ Liberal Democracy
▫ Pluralist Democracy
▫ Parliamentary
Democracy
▫ Presidential Democracy
▫ Consultive Democracy-
limited form of direct
democ
- Does the make-up of the legislature properly reflect the social make-up of the population?
Importance of Democracy
- Establishes and protects freedom
- Controls government power
- Legitimacy
- Accountability
- Protects minorities
Ancient Athens- Athenian Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Gatherings to vote on key issues- with today’s population, not feasible
, Diversity Composition of Parliament
- 65 non-white MPs
- 49% over 50
- No BAME MPs in Scotland, Wales, or NIR
- House of lords average age is 70
Edmund Burke/ Burkean Representation
- Constituents do not have expert knowledge, so their MP makes decisions for them
- Should the ‘delegates’ decide for constituents or put forward their own view, using
their best judgement?
How Democratic is the UK?
(Evaluating Democracy Booklet)
- Negative Freedom- have all rights, unless gov says otherwise
- Positive Freedom- List of rights- limited
VERY NOT MUCH
- Rights & Freedoms (liberal - Little direct democracy
democracy) eg. Speech, protest - Participation Crisis- Legitimacy?
- Options to vote for- multiparty - House of Lords not elected
system - Exclusion- Prisoners, Under 18s,
- Independent Judiciary- Separation of Must have citizenship- immigrants,
Powers asylum seekers
Referendum- A vote where citizens decide the outcome of an important political issue
- Initiative- US name
- Concerned with major constitutional changes
Positives Negatives
1. - 1. Public is too easily swayed by media
2. Useful guide to overall public opinion 2. Only show a snapshot of the public’s
3. Concerned with major constitutional opinion at one point in time
changes 3. individuals tend to vote out of
personal interest rather than
national
4. Parliament decides when one is held
- Yes or no answer- lacks detail
- Not binding in the UK as parliament
is sovereign
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