Democracy and Participation

what is a direct democracy?

• where voters make their own political decisions

• - voters are directly involved in political decision making

what is the significance of voting in a direct democracy?

• citizens get to vote themselves on policies and laws made

• decisions are reached by a majority vote

direct democracy in the uk?

• most decisions aren’t made via direct democracy

• some important decisions are made via referendums

what are the methods of direct democracy?

1. referendums

2. online petitions

3. rallies and protests

what are referendums?

• citizens vote directly on an issue

• yes or no answer

what are examples of referendums in the uk?

• 2016 united kingdom european membership referendum

  • 33 million turnout

  • 51.89% voted leave

• the alternative vote referendum 2011

  • 19 million+ turnout

what is an online petition?

• where citizens voluntarily sign petitions online

• set up by the government in recent years

• passed through parliament if it gains 100,000+ signatures

example of an online petition