mods democracy🇬🇧

methods of the media

dark adverts, broadcasting leaders debates, interviews & guest writers

dark adverts example

SNPs promoted a policy on facebook to give every schoolchild on scotland a laptop

broadcasting leaders debates example

in 2019, conservatives defended a brexit policy on a leaders debate

interviews and guest writer example

SNP representative mhari black writes in pro independence paper ‘the national’

ways political parties use the media

newspapers, broadcast media, social media

newspapers to reach older people example

the national writes positively about the SNP

broadcast media reaches a wide range of voters example

since 2010, millions have tuned into leaders debates

social media reaches younger voters example

keir starter frequently updates his 1.8 million followers on ‘X’

roles of the media

inform, influence, educate

inform example

the media informed the public of rishi sunak becoming the prime minister in 2022

influence example

daily mail writes positively about the scottish conservative

educate example

political parties often use social media to educate the public on their policies

methods used by pressure groups

protesting, marches & demonstrations, public petitions

public petitions example

in 2019, MPs debated an e petition calling for article 50 to be removed

protesting example

“just stop oil” activists protested on the m25

marches and demonstrations example

in jan 2020, 80,000 people marched in glasgow for “all under one banner”

public rights & responsibilities

voting, peaceful protesting, freedom of speech

right to cite example

public voted for keir starmer in the 2024 GE

right to peaceful protest example

in 2024, there were peaceful protests held in support of palestinians

free speech example

many uk citizens criticised how boris johnson handled covid 19 online

key features of democracy

government elected by people, freedom of speech, citizens have many political rights

government elected by people example

over 60 million voted in the 2019 parliamentary election

political right example

citizens demonstrated the right to protest in 2020 when marching for all under one banner

devolved powers

law & order, transport, health

law & order example

law passed stating all homes must have interlinked alarms by february 2022

transport example

queensferry crossing opened in 2017 after crossing bill passed the year before

health example

in 2018 the scottish gov introduced minimum unit pricing to reduce alcohol related consumption and improve health

roles of the prime minister

lead the uk government, represent the country internationally, appoint cabinet members

appoint cabinet members example

grant schapps was appointed defence secretary in 2023

represent country internationally example

in 2022, sunak met with zelensky in ukraine

lead uk gov example

rishi sunak said efforts to stop channel crossings are working 20% since 2022

work of mps in parliament

attend prime ministers questions, debates

debates example

in nov. 2022, a debate took place regarding an early general election

PM questions example

in 2023, rishi sunak was questioned over concrete plans for schools

MPs work in constituency

surgery’s, social visits, responding to letters & emails

social visits example

in 2022 gavin newlands visited LHS for UK parliament week

responding to letters and emails example

mhairi black brought up constituents concerns about accessing benefits to parliament

holding surgeries example

johanna baxter holds regular surgeries throughout paisley and renfrewshire south

reasons for under representation in parliament

sexism, lack of role models, prejudice

sexism against women in parliament example

only 19% of rishi sunak cabinet were women

lack of role models for ethnic minorities in parliament example

there are currently no black, asian or ethnic minority MPs in scotland, wales or northern ireland

prejudiced opinions against disabled people in parliament example

after the 2019 GE the number of disabled MPs dropped from 7 to 5

purpose and function of the house of lords

propose bills, scrutinise bills and scrutinise work of the UK parliament

propose bills example

a private members bill was introduced to allow women to inherit hereditary peerages from fathers

scrutinise bills example

in 2015 the house of lords voted to delay the governments planned cuts to tax credits

scrutinise work of the UK a parliament example

in 2019 the lords questioned the gov on public spaces protection orders

roles of individuals in elections

stand as candidate, voting, carry out research

carry out research example

6.7 million people tuned into the 2019 leaders debate

voting example (election roles)

67% of the public turned out to vote for the 2019 GE

standing as candidate example

in 2019, gavin newlands stood as a candidate for paisley and renfrewshire north

roles of political parties in elections

campaigning, create policies & manifestos, engage with the media

create policies and manifestos example

a green party policy is to build 100,000 energy efficient homes per year

engaging with the media example

in 2023, the green party posed a PPB on youtube of MPs trying to gain votes

ways people can participate

campaigning, petitions, voting

voting example (participation)

in 2019, the conservatives won 365 seats

campaigning example (participation)

labour party gave out mini manifestos explaining policies ahead of the 2019 GE

petitions example

mr rashfords free school meals petition got 1million signatures

reasons why people participate

it’s important, to make a difference, to protect their rights

reasons why people don’t participate

they don’t know how, they feel excluded, they don’t think their vote will count

people don’t know how to vote example

modern studies is only mandatory for 2 years in scotland

people feel excluded and don’t vote example

only 10% of MPs are from an ethnic background

people dont think their vote will count example

in 2019 the scottish conservative only one 6 out of 59 constituents despite winning majority

advantages of first past the post

simple & easy to use, creates strong single party government, establishes clear link between MO and constituency

simple and easy to understand FPTP example

67% of the public voted in the 2019 GE

creates strong single party government example

in 2019 conservatives won a majority vote and didn’t need to form a coalition

establishes clear link between MP and constituency example

amy callahan was elected as east dumbartonshire MP in 2019

FPTP disadvantages

small parties lose out, leads to wasted votes, produces unfair results

small parties lose out example

green party only won 1 seats despite receiving over 800,000 votes in 2019

wasted voted example

votes of paisley and renfrewshire south not cast for johanna baxter didn’t count

unfair results example

johanna baxter was elected in paisley and renfrewshire south in 2024 despite not winning majority vote