Democracy and participation

What do we mean when we say that a government is ‘legitimate’? 

legitimate --> chosen by the people A government is legitimate when its authority is widely accepted by the people often because it has been fairly chosen (e.g through elections) or because it rules according the shared laws and traditions.

  

What is direct democracy?   

when the people vote on laws/polices themselves When citizens themselves vote on laws and policies rather than electing representatives to decide for them

All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representative e.g. through referendums.

  

What is representative (indirect) democracy? 

When citizen elect representatives who make decisions and pass laws on their behalf

What are the advantages of direct democracy? 

•  everyone has a say of specific polices and idea, not just the party 

• The most legitimate representation of democracy 

What are the disadvantages of direct democracy? 

•  takes more time to efficiently pass laws/polices so is bad in a crisis 

• The result may be unclear 

• The representatives may have more info/ education on the reasoning for law so have a better intuition (theoretical) 

• The minority has a say (e.g. extremist groups) 

• Certain groups of people may never get reperesentations 

what are the advantages of representative democracy

Expertise

• Representatives are better informed to make important political decisions as they often have greater expertise and knowledge than most of the population.

• The public can be educated on public policy and current political issues.

Representation

• Representatives can make sure that all in society are accounted for.

  • Representatives can protect the interests of minority groups better than the majority of the population can when voting.

• Representatives can put together the interests and demands of voters and make policy proposals that work best for everyone.

  • Voters in direct democracies may have lots of different demands and difficulty comes when those decisions have to be enacted.

Accountability

• The public and institutions can hold representatives accountable for their decisions.

  • In direct democracies, it is harder to hold the people as a whole accountable.

Practicality

• Citizens cannot be expected to always make decisions and so the election of representatives acting on their behalf is more practical and beneficial.

What are the disadvantages of representative democracy? 

• representive keep their promise that encouraged the people to vote for them 

• Self-interest: Representatives may choose to act in their own best interest, or in the best interest of a select few constituents, rather than all of them.

• The people may feel ignored, and representive may ecome dictator like, producing low participation levels.

  • e.g. Turnout for EU Parliament elections in the UK was 35.6% in 2014 and as a result, more marginal and radical parties have seats.

  • UKIP won 26.6% of the UK popular vote in the European Parliament, but at the 2015 general election only won 12.6% of the vote.

• produce inaccurate representation: A parliament may not have descriptive representation (where the representatives share characteristics with their constituents).

  • 29% of MPs are privately educated, but only 7% of the UK is.

Liberal Democracy

a style of democracy incorporating free & fair election with a belief in the importance of certain key rights and responsibilities.

e.g. right to vote & freedom of speech.

Freedom of expression, belief, equality & speech allows election & debates to function

This therefore justifies leadership to citizens as they can support & argue.

Franchise / suffrage

the right to vote in public elections as established by parliamentary statute.

Totalitarian Democracy

where citizens are gives the right to vote but can only choose those in power.

This justified leadership to citizens & otehr nations as it seems democratic

Parliamentary democracy

where the executive part of government is drawn from the elected legislature and accountable to it

Pluralist Democracy

the governemtn makes decision as a result of various idea & contrasting arguments and organisations.