AQA Government and Politics Chapter 6: Democracy and Participation (Revision Notes)
Updated 2023/2024
This Resource includes my detailed revision summary notes for the 'Democracy and Participation' topic - also including a list of key definitions alongside a specification checklist (+ topics ...
Direct Democracy – System of Democracy where people decide on policy initiatives
directly
Representative Democracy – System of Democracy where people vote for elected
representatives to make decisions on the people’s behalf
Suffrage – The Right to Vote
Participation – Various ways that people can get involved in the political process
Partisan Dealignment – Process whereby individuals become less partisan/predictable in
supporting a particular political party
The Nature of Democracy
A system of government in which the people have the ultimate rule
(Explain and analyse three features of a Democracy)
1. Free and fair elections
The UK operates under a system of universal suffrage (everyone 18+ is entitled to vote
due to the 1969 Representation of the People Act), elections are held regularly and there are
strict rules and regulations to ensure they are conducted fairly
TISB they ensure all citizens have an equal say in how their country is run – by allowing
everyone to vote regardless of their background/beliefs, democracy ensures that power is
distributed fairly and that the government is accountable to all citizens
2. Rule of Law
The law applies equally to all citizens, and everyone is subject to the same legal system
The judiciary is independent / impartial (as of 2010 Constitutional Reform Act), and there
is a system of checks and balances in place to ensure the government does not overstep its
authority
TISB it ensures that everyone is equal under the law, preventing the abuse of power by the
government and ensures that citizens can hold their leaders accountable
, Without the Rule of Law, democracy cannot function effectively because there is no way
to ensure that the government is acting in the best interests of its citizens
3. Freedom of Speech and Press
Citizens have the right to express their opinions and ideas freely, without fear of
censorship or retribution
The media is independent and free to report on issues of public interest without
government interference
TISB it allows citizens to participate fully in the democratic process – without the ability
to express their opinions and ideas freely citizens cannot hold their leaders accountable for
their actions
Different types of Democracy
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
- Regular elections held to elect representatives (accountability – voters can endorse/reject
candidates at the ballot box)
- Government elected – either directly (USA presidential democracy) or indirectly (UK
Parliamentary democracy)
- Some representatives follow Delegate Model, others follow Trustee Model
Advantages:
- Elected Representatives = knowledge/skill to make complex/difficult decisions
- Able to take broader view of issues + balance effectively competing claims (significant when
it comes to priorities for allocating spending / balancing budgets / setting taxes)
- Representative government = more efficient than every single law being passed via direct
democracy
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
- Referendums / Petitions are commonly associated with this
- Direct Democracy = rarely used in the UK, exclusively reserved for constitutional issues
E-Petitions:
- 2019 = 6 million signatures collected in a petition to revoke Article 50 and have the UK
remain in the EU
- 2017 = 1.86 million signatures collected in a petition to stop Trump making a state visit to the
UK
Advantages of Direct Democracy Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
It works – it’s popular with voters and engages Populist outcomes can prevail instead of people
them taking a considered and long-term approach
2014 Scottish Independence Referendum = Many sources of information = one-sided
85% turnout Elected Reps better suited for this
Promotes political participation, people can Turnout is often low for referendums
participate directly in the decision-making 2011 AV = 42%
process reduces any notion of democratic legitimacy
Enhances legitimacy = decisions have direct Impractical in a large and diverse country –
authority and mandate of the people greater use of referendums = costly and time
When people vote for a party in elections, consuming
they may not necessarily agree with all the if public = choose legislation, some
policies in its manifesto legislation may clash or become ineffective
(e.g., voting to both lower taxes and increase
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