Edexcel AS level and Alevel Politics 498 CORRECTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS LATEST UPDATE
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NURSING 706
Edexcel AS level and A-level Politics 498 CORRECTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS LATEST UPDATE
Direct Democracy
Features of direct democracy
Representative Democracy
Features of representative democracy
Advantages of direct democracy
Disadvantages of direct democracy
Advantages of representative democ...
Edexcel AS level and A-level Politics 498
CORRECTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS LATEST
UPDATE
1). Direct democracy
Ans: Individuals express their opinions themselves. Originated in Ancient Athens
where male citizens had the right to take part as a regular means of decision-making in a
large modern state.
2). Features of direct democracy
Ans: -Individuals express opinions themselves
-Citizens are more active in decision making
-Not elective
3). Representative democracy
Ans: In which people elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf—the
usual form of democracy in the modern world. Representatives do not act as delegates
merely taking instructions from the voters. They are expected to exercise their judgment.
If they do not satisfy the voters, they can be held to account and removed at the next
election.
4). Features of representative democracy
Ans: -Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
-All adult citizens have the right to vote for representatives.
-Citizens pass their authority to their representatives.
-Elections for representatives are free and fair.
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, 5). Advantages of direct democracy
Ans: -Gives equal weight to all votes, unlike a representative system where varying
sizes of constituencies mean that votes do not all have equal value.
-Removes the need for trusted representatives, as people can take responsibility for their
own decisions.
-Develops a sense of community and encourages genuine debate.
6). Disadvantages of direct democracy
Ans: -Impractical in a large,heavily populated modern state where decision-making is
complicated.
-Open to manipulation by the cleverest and most articulate speakers,who will persuade
people to support their viewpoint.
-Will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions,so minority viewpoints
are disregarded.
7). Advantages of representative democracy
Ans: -The only practical system in a large modern state, where issues are complex
and often need rapid response (e.g. deployment of troops).
-Politicians form parties, bringing coherence and giving people a real choice of
representative. Pressure groups form to represent different interests, promoting debate
and encouraging pluralist democracy.
-Reduces chances of minority rights being overridden by 'tyranny of the majority'.
8). Disadvantages of representative democracy
Ans: -May lead to reduced participation as people choose to hand responsibility to
politicians.
-Parties and pressure groups are often run by elites pursuing their own agendas, not truly
representing the people
-Minorities may still find themselves under-represented as politicians are more likely to
follow the views of the majority to secure election.
9). Both systems are based on the concept of
Ans: majority rule, although a representative system may include more safeguards for
minorities.
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, 10). Although both systems are different there are instances where
Ans: direct democracy can be used within a representative democracy
11). Pluralist democracy
Ans: a type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the
interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and
organisations.
12). The 2015 recall of mps act
Ans: This allows a petition to be triggered if an MP is sentenced to be imprisoned or is
suspended from the House of Commons for more than 21 days.If 10% of eligible voters
in the constituency sign the petition,a by-election is called.Direct democracy is used to
hold representatives to account..
13). Legitimacy
Ans: the legal right to exercise power,for example,a government's right to rule
following an election.
14). Democratic deficit
Ans: a perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works,especially
in terms of accountability and control over policy-making.
15). Positive democratic features
Ans: -Free media- challenges government policy and exposes misdeeds of politicians.
-Independent judiciary- separate from other branches of government. Upholds the rule of
law and protects a wide range of personal freedoms.
-Free and fair elections- largely free of corruption and intimidation. Strict campaign and
voting laws- less leeway on political corruption. Supplemented in recent years by
opportunities to vote in referendums.
-Wide range of political parties and pressure groups- option to belong to a variety of
different groups with different opinions.
-Devolved governments- with powers transferred from the UK parliament to Wales,
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, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Also for elected mayors for London and other English
cities, enabling more decisions to be taken closer to local people.
16). Arguments that the uk political system is undemocratic 1
Ans: -Under-representation of minority viewpoints due to the voting system: The
House of Commons is elected by the first-past-the-post system, which produces a
mismatch between the votes cast for UK political parties and the seats that each party
wins in parliament.
-Lack of protection for citizens' rights: The European Convention on Human Rights,
incorporated into the UK law in 1998 (the Human Rights Act), arguably provides
inadequate guarantees for the rights of citizens in their relationship with the state.
Governments can 'derogate from' articles of the Human Rights Acts, officially stating
that parts of the act no longer have legal authority in certain situations.
17). Arguments that uk political system is undemocratic 2
Ans: -House of Lords democratic legitimacy: The UK is unusual in having two
chambers of its parliament, the House of Lords, wholly unelected. Periodic attempts at
reform have failed, leaving the UK with mainly appointed second chamber. The greater
part of its membership has been appointed by successive prime ministers, with smaller
numbers chosen by other party leaders, and non-party 'cross-bench' peers nominated
since 2000 by an independent House of Lords Appointment Commission. This ensures
that a number of different professions and fields of experience are present in the upper
house, but it continues to lack democratic legitimacy.
-Control of sections of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests: For
example, the powerful Murdoch group has owned a number of British newspapers
simultaneously, including the Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun.
18). Participation crisis
Ans: A lack of engagement with the political system, for example where a large
number of people choose not to vote, join a political party or stand for office.
19). How healthy is uk democracy-elections
Ans: - free and fair, based on universal suffrage, choice of parties
- FPTP has simplicity, speed and constituency-MP link
- use of PR for devolved regions is an improvement
- FPTP is disproportionate and leaves minor parties under-represented, also leads to
wasted votes e.g 2015 50% of votes cast were for a losing candidate
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