Representative democracy

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