Politics Democracy and Participation

Y10/11

What are the other names for Legislature and what do they do?

Parliament / Westminster

They LEGISLATE - make, amend and repeal laws (they change stuff)

What is Parliament made up of?

House of Lords (HOL) and House of Commons (HOC)

What does the House of Lords do and how do you become one?

The HOL scrutinises laws and holds the government to account by debating. You become one either by inheriting the title from a family member or being appointed by the PM.

What does the House of Commons do and how do you become an MP?

The HOC is where the MPs debate, pass and amend laws, as well as hold the government accountable. You become an MP when your constituency votes you in.

What is the Government/Executive

The Government (or Executive) is made of the PM and their cabinet. Usually the majority in the HOC. They run the country.

How are laws passed?

They have to be approved as a bill by the HOC and HOL then get royal assent to become law.

What is the cabinet?

30 key ministers the PM selects to head things such as healthcare, the economy and education.

What is the Judiciary?

The Supreme Court (SC). They can suggest things to the government if the government is being bad but can’t do anything as Parliament has legal sovereignty.

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

Nobody but parliament can make laws. Parliament can make/amend/repeal any laws they like. Anything Parliament does is sovereign (Parliament can do anything). New Parliaments are not bound by previous Parliaments.

What is legal sovereignty?

Parliament can do whatever it likes (de jure) - eg. it doesn’t need to listen to a result of a referendum. This is technically sovereign.

What is political sovereignty?

de facto - the fact that Parliament won’t abuse legal sovereignty because they want to get voted back in and that is just not the ways it’s done.

What is direct democracy?

When all citizens are encouraged to take part and sovereignty is in the hands of the people - where the views of the people are directly translated into policy and no intermediaries such as MPs. Participants are actively decision making.

What is representative democracy?

When citizens elect people to take political positions on their behalf - such as MPs. Involves indirect participation however leans heavily on the idea that MPs will take their constituents’ views to heart. Winning party gains legitimacy from the people to claim mandate to enact their manifesto.

What is liberal democracy?

A system of representative democracy which is governed by publicised laws and conventions. Depends on free press, free speech and secret ballot.

What is pluralism?

When any candidate can stand and democracy is meaningless without competition.

What is the delegate model?

Where elected representatives act on behalf of their constituents’ views regardless of their personal opinions

What is the trustee model?

Where reps make their own decisions that can go against their constituents’ beliefs. Sometimes this happens because the rep believes that they are more educated on complex matters and are doing the right things but sometimes this can backfire like the same-sex marriage Sarah Teather thing.

How many signatures does an E-petition need to have for the government to acknoledge it?

10,000

How many signatures does an E-petition need to have for the government to consider it for debate in HOC?

100,000

What are E-petitions good for?

The government can see the mindset of the population, eg. the 6,000,000 who petitioned against Brexit.

What are the 3 reasons an MP can be held to account under the Recall of MPs Act?

1. If they are convicted of any offence

2. If they are suspended for more than 10 sitting days

3. If they are convicted of making false or misleading Parliamentary allowance claims

What happens when the Recall of MPs act is used?

Constituents have a six-week time to vote in the petition. If 10% or more constituents vote to kick them out then the petition officer informs the Speaker of the HOC and the seat becomes vacant. A bi-election then occurs.

Name 3 advantages of Direct Democracy

1. Purest form of democracy - people’s voices are seen clearly

2. The fact that people are making decisions (popular sovereignty) gives the decision greater legitimacy

3. Parties and PGs are elitist and may even be corrupt. They may go back on a manifesto, hence why the people should be in charge

List 3 advantages of Representative Democracy

1. Practical for a large, modern state, especially when issues are complex and need rapid response

2. Some issues are too complex for a normal citizen to understand

3. Elected representatives can mediate between tyranny of the majority where they ignore the interests of the minority.

What is the Representation of the People Act (Equal Franchise Act) 1928

When the franchise was extended to all adults over 21, including women. Previously only certain men and an indiscriminate amount of women could vote.

Define Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2016

In 2014 16 and 17 year old in Scotland were given the right to vote in the referendum of Scottish independence. Under the 2016 Act, this extended to all Scottish elections, but not UK general elections or referendums.

What was the 2021 Act of Assembly?

From May 2021 16 and 17 year olds can vote in Welsh Parliament Elections

Who can vote in the UK?

Anyone who isn’t in prison over 18 years old

Who can’t vote in the UK?

• People without British passports

• Anyone under the age of 18

• Members of the HOL

• EU citizens

• Anyone without valid ID (2022 Elections Act)

• Prisoners (ECHR said it was illegal, we ignored → Parliamentary sovereignty)

• People convicted of electoral malpractice (banned for 5 yrs)

• Those detained in a psychiatric hospital

What if suffrage?

The ability to vote in public elections

What is franchise?

Who can vote (widening franchise = widening how many people can vote. Disenfranchisement is the act of taking away the right to vote).

What is turnout?

% of how many people actually vote out of how many can vote

What was the 2022 Elections Act?

When BJ made it so that you have to bring ID to polling stations. Over 60s can use Oyster cards.

Give 3 reasons why 16 year olds SHOULD be able to vote

1. New policies aimed at younger people would be brought in to help attract them to vote

2. They can already pay taxes and have jobs

3. Decisions affect them too

Give 3 reasons why 16 year olds SHOULDN’T be able to vote

1. They can easily be swayed by peers/family/media

2. Politics is a minor part of the education curriculum; many people are uneducated on complex matters

3. Haven’t experienced much of world yet - don’t have many opinions