Politics (Placeholder name)

What is democracy?

Rule by the people

What is autocracy and what are the two types to know?

• Power in one individual or group

Oligarchy - A small group

Monarchy - By one individual

What is representation?

The means by which people put views towards government

What is accountability?

Forcing the government to explain and take responsibility for their actions

What is participation?

The ways by which people engage in politics

What is power dispersal?

Power being divided across bodies to avoid dominance of one body

What is education (in a political sense)?

Informing citizens towards how they vote

What are the six types of democracy and how are they each defined?

1. Parliamentary - Parliament is on top, executives come from Parliament to be accountable

2. Presidential - The executive and legislative branches are separate

3. Majoritarian - A system where the government considers the majority will first

4. Liberal - People give the power to representatives to make decisions on their behalf

5. Representative - Voting is widespread and representatives act in everyone’s interests

6. Direct - Citizens themselves vote instead of through representatives

What are the pros of direct democracy?

• Increases public engagement

• More education for decisions

• It works in countries like Switerland

• Higher participation

• Increased legitimacy

• More purely democratic

What are the cons of direct democracy?

• Emotional responses instead of pragmatic ones

• People think more about short than long term

• If low turnout occurs, it means a forced change on the majority by the minority

• Tyranny of the majority

• Impracticality

• Undermining of elected representatives

What are the pros of representative democracy?

• Pressure groups as alternatives to parties

• Turnout increased from 2001-17

• Free and fair elections

• Universal suffrage

• Party system gives a range of opinions

• Government requires the consent of the Commons and the people

• Devolution gives local areas better representation

What are the cons of representative democracy?

• Pressure groups have disproportionate power

• Unelected House of Lords and monarchy

• Turnout lowering in recent years

• Different levels of power for representatives on devolution

• FPTP means wasted votes if you don’t vote for the winner

• Only some parties can gain power

• Electoral Commission is weak

• Rights can be overturned fairly easily