Democracy and Participation

What did the Great Reform Act 1832 do?

Abolished Rotten Boroughs

Enfranchised almost all male middle-class property owners

Increased the electorate by about two thirds (increased by 300,000)

However, still less than 6% of the population could vote

What did the Second Reform Act 1867 do?

Gave all settled tenants (men only) in the boroughs the right to vote

This created the first ever working-class franchise

What did the Third Reform Act 1884 do?

Extended the franchise to include rural and mining areas

It enfranchised virtually all male householders and tenants

What did the Representation of the People Act 1918 do?

Widened suffrage by abolishing almost all property qualifications for men - universal manhood suffrage

Women over 30 who met a minimum property requirement were enfranchised

The electorate tripled in size, reaching over 21 million

What did the Equal Franchise Act 1928 do?

Universal adult suffrage was established in the UK

Equal voting rights for men and women (women’s voting age was lowered to 21)

Property requirements were abolished

What did the Representation of the People Act 1969 do?

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

What does Suffrage mean?

Wanting the right to vote

What does Franchise mean?

The people who have the right to vote

Who currently cannot vote?

• Anyone under 18

• Prisioners

• Peers (Members of the House of Lords)

What are some aspects that make the UK’s democracy strong?

• Virtually anyone over 18 can vote

• Each constituency has the same amount of power

• General Elections take place regularly (every 5 years at most)

• Virtually anyone over 18 can create a political party

• Votes are anonymous

• Plethora of choice when voting for a party

• The right to abstain from voting

• Existence of pressure groups

What are some aspects that holds the UK’s democracy back?

• Flaws of the two-party system

• Lack of political awareness in the public / propaganda

• Safe Seats

• Tactical voting

• Online Safety Bill [2023]

• The Police, Sentencing and Crime Bill [2022]

• Minimum Service Levels Bill [2023]

• The Investigatory Powers Act [2016]

What are the flaws of the FPTP system?

Minority rule

Tactical Voting

A two-party system develops

Gerrymandering

The Spoiler Effect

What percentage of votes were ‘wasted’ in the 2024 General Election?

74%

What percentage of votes were ‘tactical votes’ in the 2024 General Election?

Roughly 40%

What percentage of voters did not get the MP they voted for in the 2024 General Election?

58%

When was the Magna Carta agreed?

June 15th 1215

When was the UN Declaration of Human Rights signed?

December 10th 1948

When did the the Equality Act become legislation?

October 1st 2010