Democracy and Participation 1.1

what is a direct democracy?

A direct democracy allows citizens too make ‘direct’ decisions on policy without representatives.

how are direct democracies fulfilled?

referendums

recall elections

consultative exercises

e-petitions

what an example of referendums?

Scottish Independence: 55% voted to stay in the UK and 44% voted for independence.

EU referendum: 52% Leave the EU and 48% to remain.

what are the advantages and disadvantages of referendums?

ADVANTAGES

direct expression of public opinion gives it greater legitimacy and government mandates, and it increases political engagement

DISADVANTAGES can lead to simplistic choices on complex issues, public misinformed due to misleading campaigns, and potential for political manipulation.

And debates over scot indepdence and Brexit highlight that referendums don’t resolve contentious issues.

what are E-Petitions

If a petition reaches over 100,000 signatures then its considered for debate in parliament

Petitions committee considers whether it should be debated in parliament by backbenchers.

what are some examples of E-petitions?

2020: Rashford #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign gained 1 million signatures and was successful.

Hillsborough disaster, eventually after police inquiries was accepted that fans were at fault in 2011(fatal crowd crush 1998)

why are e-petitions not effective?

-Consume parliamentary time

-Not Meaningful engagement, its known as ‘slacktivism’

A lot of them are on issues that Parliament can’t legislate on, (EG, Engaging Article 50 in 2019 to remain in EU which gained 6.1 million signatures.

what are some examples of consultative exercises?

-communities consulted over HS2 and Heathrow expansion

-town hall meetings

how Is the recall of MPs act a form of direct democracy?

Because if constituent members feels there MP has behaved with misconduct then if a minimum of 10% of constituent members can trigger a re-election.

2019 petersborough MP who perveted the court of justice, was voted by 25% of constituent for a recall vote.

ADVANTAGES OF A DIRECT DEMOCRACY

-Public engagement

-encourages political education

-representatives informed of developing public attitudes

DISADVTANATGES OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• referrendums simplify complicated issues too a binary answer.

• challenge Burkean principle that representatives should act accordingly too there conscious, and not the wishes of constituents.

• public can not make a well-informed decision.

advantages of a representative democracy

• "government by experts”

• representatives can look past emotional motivations and holistically asses the ‘national interest’

• accountability because constituents can hold there MP to account with lots of regular opportunity

• elected representatives provide ‘social representation’ and protect interests of minority groups and prevent ‘tyranny of the majority’

• represents regions of the UK through regional parliaments from devolution.

• Only practically form of democracy In a large modern society, public should not be expected to make decisions all the time (impractical)

disadvantages of a representative democracy

• lack of diversity: representatives normally from affluent and privileged backgrounds. Leaves minority groups feeling marginalised and excluded (younger and ethnic)

• loyalty to a party overrides loyalty to a constituency

  This is worsened with ‘party whip’ system, not voting in-line with constituent wants.

• FPTP system grossly over represents big parties

• low participation due to perception of elitism creating disproportionate results

examples of declining turnout

• 83% in 1950

• 64% in 2015

• 59% in 2024

In the 2019 election 44% of constituent votes turnouts was less then 2/3 of the electorate