how healthy is uk democracy

elections

positives

• free fair based on universal franchise suffrage choice and party competition

• FPTP has strengths such as simplicity speed constituency MP link

• the use of proportional representation for devolved elections is an improvement

• turnout is not high but is in line with many other western democracy’s for example 69 percent in 2017

drawbacks

• FPTP is disproportionate and leaves minor parties under represented it also leads to wasted votes in 2015 for example 50 per cent of votes cast were for a losing candidate

• the health of representative democracy has been called into question by general public apathy towards politics

representation

positives

• the UK parliament represents constituents and holds the government to account on behalf of the electorate

• all citizens are represented by an MP and can expect their concerns to be taken up

negatives

• parliament can be ineffective in holding the government to account as it is dominated by a government with an overall majority

• the unelected house of lords has an ability to delay laws

• many MPs can ignore their constituents concerns as they hold safe seats and want to remain loyal to their party

• women, ethnic minority’s and the working class are under-represented in parliament

citezens’ rights

positives

• there are extensive freedoms and rights incorporated in the human rights act 1998

• the freedom of information act 2000 requires the government to reveal information on how and why decisions were taken on behalf of the people

negatives

• the human rights act is not fully entrenched governments can ignore judges rulings

• the freedom of information act has too many exemptions which governments use to further their own interests

pressure groups

positives

• they supplement democracy by giving a voice to minority’s allowing citizens to exert influence between elections

• pressure groups enhance democracy by ensuring political diversity’s

negatives

• wealthy and powerful pressure groups may pursues their own interests which may not benefit the population

• the leaders of pressure groups are not elected and not accountable or under public scrutiny

limited government

positives

• the UK constitution is effective at limiting government and adapting and changing to circumstances

negatives

• there is no codified constitution so power distribution is undefined

• the fusion of executive and legislature creates an over powerful executive

independent judiciary

positives

• the rule of law is protected by judicial independence to protect citizens and limit government

• all governments are subject to law upheld by the judges, judicial review and the human rights act

negatives

• government has a role in appointing judges