Comparing types of democracy

Core principles: democracy, participation, representation and accountability. Direct vs representative democracy.

Representative Democracy vs Direct Democracy

-Each and every voter makes decisions directly in direct democracy

-In representative democracy a representative makes decisions on behalf of a large number of people/constituency

-Direct Democracy uses referendums/public votes to make decisions

-In representative democracies, the votes for a representative are taken as a mandate for them to act on behalf of voters

Mandate

• A mandate is the authority given by voters to a party to implement its policies following an election victory.

• In a representative democracy, mandates are inferred from election results rather than direct policy votes.

The case for democratic reform: Democratic deficit

• Democratic Deficit is the belief that democracy is not working as intended and is failing to ensure sufficient accountability and legitimacy.

• In the case of the UK, this refers to problems with first past the post in practice.

Low turnout

• UK election turnout began to fall after 1997 but has started rising again and remained relatively stable since 2010 at around 60–70%.

  • Turnout in the 2024 General Election was around 60%.

• Election turnout is significantly lower in elections other than general elections, such as local and devolved election

The voting System

• FPTP creates a two-party system. Parties with no large, country-wide base find it hard to gain seats.

• The two main parties can win less than 40% of the vote but win a majority of seats.

• FPTP creates ‘safe’ seats, where one party is almost certain to win. Opposition voters may feel their interests are unrepresented.

• In votes with many candidates, the popular vote may split, and a candidate with a low vote may win.

  • In Belfast South in 2015, the winning candidate had 24.5% of the vote

institutions

• The House of Lords has a mostly unelected membership. The House does not reflect the social composition of the UK population and continues to face criticism over its legitimacy and size.

• The Supreme Court is another unelected institution with the power to challenge laws.

The EU

• Previously, EU regulations were binding on member states, limiting national sovereignty.

  • For example, free movement of labour meant governments could not restrict immigration from other EU countries.

• There have been several movements across Europe to leave the European Union as a result.

  • The UK voted to leave the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum, partly due to concerns about democratic accountability.

• Debates about sovereignty and democratic accountability have continued, including issues surrounding the Windsor Framework.

Types of Democratic reform: Electoral Reform

• Some believe it is time to change the voting system, for example away from First Past the Post to the Alternative Vote system.

• Burnham manifestso pledge to change FPTP

First Past the Post use

• FPTP is used for UK general elections because it is simple, easy for voters to use and often produces a strong government.

• FPTP suits larger parties, benefiting the Conservatives and Labour, which explains why it remains the system used.

  • Labour and the Conservatives benefit from FPTP, and changing it would likely harm their election success.

  • The AV referendum in 2011, which voted against changing the system, suggests limited popular support for moving away from FPTP

Single Transferable Vote use

STV is used in Northern Ireland because it is proportional and so will ensure many different parties are represented by the results of the election.

• STV prevents one party dominating in the Northern Ireland Assembly and ensures the government which forms shares power from numerous parties.

• This is important in Northern Ireland where there has traditionally been a conflict between nationalist and unionist communities

Additional Member System use

• AMS is used in Scotland and the London Assembly.

  • AMS is used because it has representative results and is more proportional than FPTP, without as radical a change as STV.

  • Wales used AMS until 2026, when the Senedd adopted a closed list proportional system (D'Hondt) under the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024.

Supplementary Vote use

• The Supplementary Vote (SV) system was previously used to elect Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners.

• SV was replaced by First Past the Post in 2023 following electoral reforms under the Elections Act 2022.

• SV was relatively simple and aimed to produce winners with broader support by allowing second preferences.

  • The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (2025) proposes reinstating SV for mayoral elections.