Democracy, participation and suffrage

what are the two kinds of democracy

Direct and representative

What is direct democracy

directly influencing politics

What is representative democracy

Trustee model

Problems with the UK having both a representative and direct model of representation

Popular sovereignty vs parliament

4 advantages of direct democracy

gives weight to all votes, encourages participation, reduces corruption, develops sense of community + debate

4 disadvantages of direct democracy

Impractical in high populations, people are unqualified, open to manipulation and populism, tyranny of majority

3 Advantages of representative democracy

rapid response, elections hold representatives to account, politicians are better informed

7 Disadvantages of representative democracy

participation, short terminism, politicians interersts, minorities, underrepresented, fptp, politicians can avoid responsibility

2 different ways look at democracy

protective and developmental

what is developmental democracy

citizens must engage to make an open political system and increase equality

what is a protective democracy

just enough participation to grant legitimacy, protection of individual freedoms, low turnout is not a problem

what kind of democracy is the uk

protective

examples of politicians acting in self interest due to representative democracy

2010 lib dems promise no tuition fees[

Ways to assess the uf the UK has a participation crisis

elections, party membership, other methods of political participation

How to use elections to argue that UK democracy has participation crisis

voter turnout was 59.7% which is less than average between 45-97 at 76, turnout lower for devolved bodies

examples of voter turnout being low

2024 59.7, 45-97 76

example of turnout lower for devolved bodies

2021 local elections 35.9

how to use party membership to argue participation crisis

huge drop of party membership, less traditional political participation could indicate apathy or distrust

statistic for huge drop of party membership

1.6 percent of electorate v 3.8 in 83

example of political scandal causing drop in party membership

partygate correlation with falling membership, 470000 drop

two examples of alternative political participation

protests, pressure groups

examples of political protest decreasing participation crisis

13 september unite the kingdom rally, over 100000

examples of successful pressure group

december 25 u turn on farms inheritance tax, farmers parked tractors around parliament square

example of unsuccessful pressure group

decenmber 2025 bma failed to increase wages after 58% pf public did not support raises

example of elections having high turnout

brexit with 72.2

2 reasons why elections prove uk doesnt have a participation crisis

people vote when they care, hapathy

hapathy example

voter turnout 59.4 in 2001 with good economy

examples of party membership being positive and improving

2015 ukip increase with 50000 members, snp surge ahead of 2014 indiref with 125000 member in 2018

example of unsuccessful e petition

trigger by election almost 130000

1 proposed way to increase voter participation

changing election day from thursday to weekend

what was the 1832 great reform act

rotten boroughs and gave the vote to middle class men

what act abolished rotten boroughs and gave the vote to middle class men

what did the 1867 second reform act do

gave working men the vote

what act gave working men the vote

1867 second reform act

what act introduced the secret ballot

1872 Ballot reform act

what did the 1872 Ballot reform act do

introduced secret ballot

what did the 1884 third reform act do

gave most working men the vote

what act gave most working men the vote

1884 third reform act

by what year could everyone over 18 vote

1969

what act gave women the right to vote

1918 representation of the people act do

what did the 1918 representation of the people act do

gave women vote