✅Direct democracy

direct democracy =

a model of govt which affords citizens a direct input into policy making- the people themselves taking the key political decisions

What form of democracy is DD + what does it trace back to

the purest, traces back to ancient greece

what is DD based on?

• the direct, immediate + continuous participation of citizens in the tasks of govt, there is no distinction between govt + people

Key features of DD

• It’s direct because the people make policy decisions

• It’s immediate as people ‘are’ the govt

• It is continuous as people are engaged on a regular + ongoing basis

Are most decisions in the UK made by DD?

no, most aren’t

Examples of direct democracy in UK politics

• Referendums

• Public consultations

• Polling

• Petitions

Referendums=?

• It is when citizens directly vote on issues + the govt creates policy based on the response

Are referendums binding in the UK?

• aren’t binding on govt or parliament as parl. Is sovereign. However, it’s unthinkable that parliament would overturn one

E.g.s of referendums

• E.g. 2011 AV referendum- 67% voted no, but turnout was only 42%

• 2014 Scottish independence ref- turnout was 85% + vote was 55% no

• 2016 EU ref- 72% turnout, 52% leave

Public consultations:

• Govts often carry out a public consultation before making important decisions, this gives local people a voice + an opportunity to influence important decisions

• Central govt is increasingly using public consultations + internet makes it easier

E.g. of public consultations

• local authorities often ask community how funds should be allocated, e.g. Sutton Coldfield public consultation regarding draft strategic plan for 2024-7

Polling:

• Determining the public mood of an issue, is used to seek out likely responses of diff societal groups to different policy ideas

Petitions:

• UK parl set up a platform for citizens to make + sign online petitions, if a petitions gains over 100k signatures then parl may debate the topic, but it must be sponsored by the ‘backbench business committee’ so is not an entirely direct democracy as representatives decide whether to discuss it

E.g. of petition

• in 2018, 1.6 mil people signed a petition to stop Trump from making a state visit to the UK, so parl changes it from a ‘state visit’ to a ‘working visit’