Democracy and participation: combined set

Is all of parliament elected in the Uk general election?

No only the commons is elected, peers in the lords are appointed.

What number of seats is needed for a majority?

326 or more.

What happens if a single party wins a majority?

The leader of that party becomes the PM, and selects MPs and lords within their party to form government.

Difference between government and parliament

Parliament - legislative, debates and approves new laws while scrutinising government.

Government - executive, proposes and implements new laws once they’re passed in parliament.

Parliamentary democracy - definition

Public elects individuals to represent them in parliament, the government is drawn from this group.

Executive is held accountable to the legislative, parliament

Presidential democracy - how it works

Public elects individuals to represent them in congress, but also separately elects the executive (president)

Executive is separate from the legislature, president cannot be voted out by congress, as a PM can be by parliament in the UK.

From 1265-1832, how much of the UK population could vote?

5%

1918 Representation of the people act -

All men over 21 could vote, women over 30 who met property qualifications could vote.

1928 equal franchise act

All men and women over 21 could vote, with no property requirments.

1969 representation of the people act

Everyone over 18 could vote.

3 theories for how MPs should represent their constituents

Burkean representation

Parliamentary representation

Party delegation

What is the Burkean version

MPs should use their judgement in the best interests of his constituents.

End of 18th century

What is parliamentary representation?

MPs should strike a balance between their own judgement, policies of their party and interests of their constituents

Mid 19th century - golden age as MPs still had independence within the party

What is party delegation?

MPs elected on the basis of their party’s manifesto, so should vote in line with their party.

People vote for the party rather than the individual

Ways to participate in representative democracy other than voting

1. Expressing views with local MPs

2. Volunteering or donating to political campaigns.

3. Being part of pressure groups, which lobby the gov to take certain action.

4. E-petitions - if gets more than 100k signatures, then must be debated in parliament

5. Boycotts, marches, strikes and media campaigns

6. Gov carry out consultations, to get public opinions on a new law/proposal.

Representative democracy definition

a system where most decisions are made by elected representatives rather than the people themselves

Party whips definition

Enforcers of a political party, who ensure party discipline by pressuring their MPs to vote in line with party policies

direct democracy - Definition

A political system where the people themselves make key political decisions.

2 local ways direct democracy exists in the U.k.

1. Local authorities consults members of their community

2. Parishes hold public meetings in village halls

Issues with these small scale systems

Not true direct democracy, as that would involve people making critical decisions

National direct democracy example in Uk

Referendums

Referendum definition

An occasion when citizens are asked to determine a question of public importance

Are referendums legally binding

No, as parliament is ultimately sovereign, so don’t need to follow the outcome

But would look bad, and would lose support from the electorate.

Feature of a referendum question

Always a yes/no answer

Not good for nuanced situations

What issues are Uk national referendums related to

Major constitutional changes

Why are constitutional changes decided in a referendum?

To entrench the decision, meaning future govs cannot easily reverse it without public consultation again

Who decides when or whether to hold a referendum

Uk vs US

UK: Government

US: in some states people themselves can call a referendum - called an initiative

Advantages of referendums

1. Direct democracy, truly representing the voice of the people

2. By widening debate across the public, they create a better educated electorate

3. Protects citizens from an overbearing government by limiting their power

Disadvantages of referendums

1. Tyranny of the majority - marginalised groups’ voices are often disregarded in a majority vote

2. General public are less informed than the politicians, so they should make decisions on our behalf

3. Extreme voices are often louder, so they will be heard which could sway public opinion

4. Yes/No question removes nuance in complex situations

5. Low turnout means that they may not truly represent society’s overall opinions

6. is it fair that a decision passes in a 51/49 vote?

7 ways you can participate in politics

Pressure groups

Voting in elections and referendums

Joining or donating to a political party

Being informed

E petitions

Standing for political office

Marches/strikes/boycotts

2 participation issues in uk politics

Party membership has been in decline

Voter turnout is very low

Why may voter turnout be so low?

1. Flawed electoral system (FPTP) means many votes are wasted - links to democratic deficit

2. Voter apathy

Democratic deficit - definition

When the government falls short of fulfilling the principles of democracy and so are discredited by the public

Voter apathy - definition

Lack of interest by the public in politics and participating in the political system.

What is the issue with voter turnout (stats)?

1997 election: 71.4%

2024 election: 59.7%

Now much lower than pre-2000 levels.

Why is low turnout an issue?

• Lessens the legitimacy of the government, as not all of the people have voted.

• Hard to claim that government have a mandate and are doing what people endorse, as many havent voted at all.

Key features of the First Past The Post system

• Each constituency returns one MP

• Each party may nominate only one candidate in each constituency

• Voters have just one vote for their preferred candidate.

What’s an example of the issues of FPTP?

Hampstead and Kilburn constituency - 2010 election:

Labour = 32.8%

Conservative = 32.7%

Lib dem = 31.2%

Labour (Glenda Jackson) won by just 42 votes while gaining less than 1/3 of the overall vote.

Can a party be the majority in the Commons without the most votes?

Yes, in 1951 election conservatives won 26 more seats even though they got less total votes than labour.

Party membership stats

1983: 3.8% of electorate were members

2013: 0.8%

2022: 3.8%

Reasons for this decline in party membership

1. Class allegiances declining

2. Main parties becoming too similar

3. Party members have little say over decisions

How does class allegiances declining link to declining party memberships

There’s a less rigid class system now, with parties attempting to represent everybody rather than factions of society.

Partisan dealignment - definition

People identify much less closely with political parties than they used to

Now people are more likely to make decisions based upon manifestos and don’t have political allegiances

How are the main parties becoming too similar?

Linking to the decline of class structure, most major parties attempt to appeal to the entirety of society and in doing so destroy any political ideology that they may have in order to gain votes

How do party members have little say?

1. Party leaders dominate the process through which candidates are selected to campaign, outsiders have little chance of nomination

2. Party leaders dominate the policy making process, with ordinary members having little say in conventions

3. In party leadership contests, members can only vote for candidates who have already been narrowed down by MPs

How isn’t the UK suffering from a participation crisis?

Despite moving away from traditional party politics, modern methods of activity are growing:

1. Digital democracy

2. Pressure groups

Pressure groups - why are they growing

People want to take direct action themselves at demonstrations rather than relying on parties who don’t accurately represent them

Democracy - etymology

‘demos’ - the people

‘kratos’ - power

“Power of the people”

Democracy - definition

Political systems that are organised on the idea that government should serve the interests of the people.

Liberal democracies - what else is expected? (2)

1. Citizens should influence decisions, or make decisions themselves.

2. Government should be held accountable to the people.

What are features of a liberal democracy?

1. Entrenched and enshrined rights and liberties

2. Regular free and fair elections

3. Free press to scrutinise government

4. Constitution establishing a limited government with checks and balances

5. Pluralism

6. Tolerance towards different groups and views

Liberal democracy - definition

Combination of both liberalism (freedom + equality) with democracy (power of the people)

Militocracy

Run by armed forces

Bureaucracy - definition

Run by civil servants

Aristocracy - definition

Run by nobles

Timocracy - definition

Run by landowners

Plutocracy - definition

Run by the wealthy.

What are the two key features of democracy?

1. Participation

2. Equality

Participation - definition

Key decisions made by the people, or their representatives.

Equality - definition

Everyone has an equal opportunity to influence key political decisions.

Abe Lincoln’s 3 pillars of a democracy

1. Government of the people (freedom to vote and protest)

2. Government by the people (should be consulted and make decisions)

3. Government for the people (Should have citizen’s best interests at heart)

What is separation of powers with checks and balances?

keeping the three branches of government separate, with checks to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful and unresponsive to the will of the people.

Pluralism vs elitism

Pluralism - power is dispersed across a large number of pressure groups which can encourage the gov to make certain decisions

Elitism - power is concentrated in a wealthy influential group of people who have a lot of influence over the government.

Franchise/ suffrage - definition

The ability/right to vote in public elections

From 1265-1832, how much of the UK population could vote?

5%

What were the 2 types of constituency in the 19th Century?

1. Counties

2. Boroughs

What was the differences in the right to vote in these two constituencies?

Counties - suffrage was restricted to men who owned property worth 40 shillings or more.

Boroughs - suffrage varied, in some all freemen could vote, others required a tax or property thresholds.

Issues with the early 19th century voting situation

1. Only 1 in 12 men had the right to vote, women couldn’t.

2. Rotten boroughs

3. Plural voting

Rotten borough definition

Rural areas had a historic right to an MP, despite having small populations with mainly wealthy people. Meanwhile, new industrial towns had little representation for a large population

What was plural voting

Wealthy men who owned property in multiple constituencies could vote more than once.

What were the two main political parties at the time?

Tories - landed gentry who wanted to keep the system as it was, as benefited them

Whigs - businessmen/ middle class/ new money. Pushed for voting reform, as they weren’t really represented under the current system

1832 great reform act (by whigs) - what changed?

Abolished the separate representation of the underpopulated rotten boroughs and creating seats for urban areas

Granting the vote to new categories of people in the counties like tenant farmers and smaller property holders

Created a standard qualification for franchise in the boroughs so it now applied to all male householders living in properties worth at least £10/year - middle classes.

Benefits of the Great Reform Act 1832

Electorate increased from 400,000 to 650,000 people

From 1 in 12 to 1 in 6 men could vote, but still very few women

Women’s suffrage: Views in the 19th Century

Their exclusion was largely unchallenged as it was assumed that married women were represented by their husband’s vote.

What were the two groups advocating for female suffrage

National Union of Women’s Suffrage Society (established 1897): Suffragists

Women’s Social and Political Union (est 1903): Suffragettes

How did the suffragettes and suffragists differ

Suffragettes:

Working women

Used violent means

Aim was to disrupt men’s lives to force their attention on this issue

Radical

Suffragists

Middle Class women

Weren’t violent

Aim was to force change through peaceful demonstrations, lobbying and petitions

Moderate

Examples of suffragettes violence

Vandalised/smashed up buildings

Emily davison threw herself in front of a horse at Ascot

Attempted to assassinate PM Asquith

Many bombing threats/attempts

Went on hunger strike when arrested so had to be force fed

How were the Suffragists and -gettes similar?

Both had the same goal: female suffrage

Many were members of both, not polarised, they often worked together

What other major event led to women’s suffrage

WW1: Showed how women were rational and could do the same as men, they were given right to vote after it ended.

Also wanted to stablise the country after the war, scared of more suffragette demonstrations

1918 Representation of the people act -

All men over 21 could vote, women over 30 who met property qualifications could vote.

1928 equal franchise act

All men and women over 21 could vote, with no property requirments.

1969 representation of the people act

Nearly everyone over 18 could vote.

Who is still excluded from voting in UK parliamentary (general) elections?

• Under 18s

• Royal family

• Members of the House of Lords

• Prisoners

• Non-British citizens

• People that have committed election fraud are banned for 5 years

• Those in psychiatric institutions

Arguments against prisoners gaining the vote

Deterrent - stops people committing crimes as vote will be taken away

They broke the law, so shouldn’t be able to make any political contributions

Arguements for prisoners gaining the vote

Not really a deterrent - not being able to vote wouldnt prevent people doing crime

Damages rehabilitation as it further alienates prisoners from society, meaning more likely to reoffend

ECHR ruled that it is a violation of human rights

Provides responsibility and civic duty

Voting is a fundamental human right

Arguements for EU citizens being allowed to vote

Should be allowed if they have lived here for a long time and contributed to the country through taxes

Not always possible to get a British citizenship, as is expensive, lengthy and may involve giving up current citizenship

Arguements against EU citizens being allowed to vote in UK

May only be here temporarily, so they don’t have skin in the game, won’t affect them long term

Can still vote just must become a citizen first

What is the votes at 16 coalition?

Set up in 2003, it's a campaign group for giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote.

They had early success by securing a study of the issue by the electoral comission, however resulted in no change

Run by several groups like the National Union of Students and British Youth Council.

What has the political campaign been like for voting at 16?

Issue was brought to parliament in a private members bill in 2008 by Julie Morgan, however it ran out of time

There’s been success in Scotland, as 16-18 year olds could vote in the independence referendum, with a 75% turnout

All major UK parties bar conservatives (and reform) support votes at 16.

Arguements for votes at 16

They can pay income tax and join the army, so should be reperesented in parliament, as issues affect them and their future

They are taught about citizenship and politics in school, so are educated in this area

May improve voter turnout of young people by engaging earlier

Arguements against votes at 16

Under 18s aren’t mature enough to make political decisions

Few countries allow this, so we’d be in the minority

Youth turnout is low already at 18, could be even lower at 16

More vulnerable to influence from parents, media or education than adults

What is women’s emancipation?

The process of liberating women from traditional constraints and empowering them with rights, freedoms and the opportunity of social progress.

For the arguement that women are emancipated completely in British society

Given the same career/educational opportunities

Their rights are enshrined into law

Gender pay gap is only a natural result of things like maternity leave

Liberating to show the body in the media

Against the idea that women are completely emancipated today

they are under-represented in positions of power in government and in large companies

2 women killed a week by a current/former partner

Gender pay gap of 9-14%

Women are objectified in the media

Society socialises boys and girls to accept different hierarchal roles

What are rights?

Legally protected freedoms or civil liberties

What are social rights?

Rights which the citizen can claim and vary greatly depending on the government in power

Examples of social rights

Right to healthcare, pensions, sick pay, work etc.

Policies change often

Social contract - definition

A theory made by Thomas Hobbes which outlines how the government is expected to protect citizens’ rights in return for them abiding by the law

What is the context behind Hobbes’ theory of social contract

• Was written during the enlightenment

• Topic of debate called state of nature where scholars disagreed on how people would act naturally without society.

What was Hobbes’ view of the state of nature debate

He believed humans are rational agents who selfishly seek to maximise power in order to push their self interests and in the name of self preservation.