democracy and participation key concepts

Participation

One of the five measures of democracy, focusing on the involvement of citizens in the democratic process.

Voting equality

A measure of democracy ensuring that each vote carries the same weight.

Informed understanding

A measure of democracy that emphasizes the importance of citizens being well-informed about political issues.

Agenda setting

A measure of democracy that involves determining which issues are prioritized in political discourse.

Universal inclusion

A measure of democracy that ensures all individuals have the right to participate in the political process.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy where citizens make decisions themselves, such as through referendums.

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Political consumerism

A form of participation beyond voting where individuals use their purchasing power to influence political outcomes.

Citizens' assemblies

Randomly selected groups reflecting society's diversity that deliberate on political issues and provide recommendations.

Recall Elections (UK)

Introduced by the Recall of MPs Act 2015, allowing constituents to remove MPs for misconduct if 10% of voters sign a recall petition.

Initiatives (Not UK)

Public-driven policy proposals based on petitions, used in countries like Switzerland and US states like California.

Great Reform Act (1832)

Legislation that extended the vote to middle-class male property owners, reducing aristocratic control.

Representation of the People Act (1918)

Legislation that granted voting rights to men over 21 and women over 30 who met property qualifications.

Equal Franchise Act (1928)

Legislation that achieved full suffrage, giving all men and women equal voting rights at 21.

Voting Age Change (1969)

Legislation that reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 in the Representation of the People Act.

Pressure Group

Organizations that seek to influence government policy without seeking election themselves, focused on specific interests or causes.

Interest Groups

Groups that represent specific interests, such as trade unions.

Cause Groups

Groups that promote wider issues, such as Greenpeace or the Child Poverty Action Group.

Insider Groups

Groups that have close ties to government and influence policy from within.

Outsider Groups

Groups that influence policy through media and protest actions.

Think Tanks

Organizations that use research to influence government policy, with examples including the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Fabian Society.

Lobbying Industry in the UK

An industry worth approximately £2 billion, employing over 4,000 people to influence government decisions.

Human Rights

Universal, fundamental, and absolute rights that protect individuals against state abuse.

Civil Liberties

Specific legal protections of individual freedom within a country, such as free speech and fair trial.

Human Rights Act (1998)

Legislation that incorporated the ECHR into UK law, allowing rights cases to be heard in UK courts.

Freedom of Information Act (2001)

Legislation that gives the public access to data held by public authorities, promoting government transparency.

Equality Act (2010)

Legislation that combines and strengthens anti-discrimination laws, requiring public bodies to eliminate discrimination.

Ashers v Lee (2018)

A court case ruling that freedom of expression includes the right not to express views, such as a Christian bakery not being forced to support gay marriage.

Vinter v UK (2013)

A court case ruling that life sentences without possibility of review were incompatible with Article 3 of the ECHR.

Belmarsh Case (2004)

A ruling that indefinite detention of foreign terror suspects violated the Human Rights Act.

Hirst v UK (2005)

A ruling that a blanket ban on prisoner voting violated human rights under Article 3 of Protocol 1.

S and Marper v UK (2008)

A ruling that holding DNA profiles of innocent people violated the right to privacy under Article 8.