1/58
Looks like no tags are added yet.
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced |
---|
No study sessions yet.
what is democracy?
demos kracy = rule by the people
all citizens are equally entitled to participate in decisions/policies
universal suffrage
rights for all adults to vote
equal franchise act 1928
political participation
involvement of citizens in politics through voting, strikes, protests, pressure groups, canvassing etc
legitimacy
right to rule/have power
features of uk democracy
regular, free, fair elections
MPs held accountable to electorate
PM accountable to parliament
multi party system
bicameral (HOC/HOL)
rights
representative dem w/element of direct
devolution
passing out/devolving some power to other constituent nations of UK e.g. Scotland, Wales
parliamentary democracy
executive (pm) is accountable to parliament
direct democracy
citizens themselves make political decisions rather than politicians e.g. in referendums
representative democracy
citizens vote for representatives (MPs) to make political decisions on their behalf
representatives held accountable at next election
pros of direct democracy
+ genuine form of democracy, continuous / participation = better informed/more knowledgeable citizens → increased turnout (2014 scottish indy ref 85% / 2016 brexit = 72%)
+ returns power to people, referendums → reforms that would be unlikely under rep dem (75% of mps = remain / only 48% of electorate)
+ legitimacy/political stability achieved
cons of direct democracy
- not good for complex decisions / over-simplify issues (no consensus on brexit terms, not as simple as remain / leave)
- only reflects majority / problematic when results are close (brexit)
- e-petitions etc → illusion of democracy without meaningful influence
pros of representative democracy
+ representatives can be more experienced/think about wider picture + are held accountable
+ consider minority views / referendums = majority views
+ reps have more time to consider decisions
cons of rep dem
- relies on good conduct of MPs = many scandals (2019-2024, 20 mps suspended / resigned over misconduct)
- legitimacy of reps = very low turnout (2024 = 57.9% lowest since 2001)
- FPTP = unrepresentative
- reps need to remain popular, avoid necessary reforms unpopular with influential groups (public accounts committee - increased adult social care, neither party has increased taxes / cuts to fund it)
delegate model
rep votes in parliament how their constituents would - carrier of their views
trustee/burkean model
rep applies their own judgement in light of facts, even if voters would have acted differently
participation crisis
crisis in citizen involvement in politics due to lack of interest - undermines legitimacy of elected institutions
arguments that there is a participation crisis
long term decline in voter turnout in general elections/referendums (2024 under 60% for first time since 2001)
long term decline in party membership since 1950s (cons 1950 = 2.8 mill / 2019 180,000)
decline in membership/power of trade unions
new social movements undermines participation - pressure groups
individual participation (e-petitions / social media) = shallow, low effort, not as good as voting / joining party
arguments that there is not a participation crisis
higher number of chances to vote, (turnout in referendums 85% 2014 scottish indy / 72% brexit)
surge in party membership since 2013, more engaged than historically
many more single issue groups
new forms of political engagement are replacing voting/party membership
individual politics = engagement in innovative ways (e-petitions, political consumerism)
democratic deficit
flaw in democratic process where lack of participation/trust in political system means decisions are made by people who lack legitimacy
eg of referendums in uk
2016 brexit (52% leave / 48% remain on 72% turnout)
1997 scottish parliament (74% yes on 63% turnout)
1998 good friday (71% yes on 81% turnout)
2011 AV ref (68% no on 42% turnout)
2014 scottish indy (45% yes, 55% no on 85% turnout)
pros of referendums
legitimise major constitutional change (devolution / independence, brexit)
power to the people, make decisions directly → increases political awareness / education of voters (high turnout)
clear outcomes = resolve political arguments / disputes
cons of referendums
challenge parliamentary sovereignty, public > elected representatives (brexit = complex issue, public not informed enough)
manipulation → wording / influential political figures / otehr factors not to do with outcome (2011 av → boycott against lib dems)
arguments for reforms to system
more direct involvement of public in politics (more referendums, initiatives) = higher levels of engagement/participation
automatic voter reg = all citizens ready/able to vote = increased participation
voting/electoral reforms to fptp will increase participation
institutional reforms (HOL/devolved bodies) needed to tackle dem def
arguments against reforms to system
more direct democracy could increase political apathy
fraud/accuracy/cost of automatic reg
voting/electoral reform may not increase participation
institutional reforms may increase opposition to elected institutions/weaken parliament
3 reform acts in 19th century
enfranchised all male property owners
enfranchised all settled men in boroughs
enfranchised all male house owners in entire uk
3 representation of the people acts in 20th century
1918 = abolished all property qualifications for men/enfranchising married women over 30 with houses
1928 = all women over 21 can vote
1969 = lowered voting age from 21-18
suffragists / suffragettes extension of franchise
SUFFRAGISTS: non-violent methods, peaceful demonstrations, petitions, lobbying MPs (millicent fawcett)
SUFFRAGETTES: militant tactics, attract publicity, disrupted political meetings / attacked institutions, hunger strikes (emily davidson king’s horse epsom derby)
2014 Scotland Act
lowered voting age from 18-16
arguments for votes at 16
solution to participation crisis (75% of 16-17 voted in 2014 scottish indy ref)
more likely to develop lifelong habit if encouraged to vote at school
have other legal rights (join armed forces, have sex, driver’s license)
give them a say on issues that directly affect them (uni tuition fees)
arguments against votes at 16
influenced by political views of parents / guardians / social media
limited compulsory political education in uk → ill-informed decisions
lack necessary life experience / maturity to vote
what is a pressure group?
organised group of people that aims to influence the policies or actions of government
sectional / interest group
promotes interests of particular group / section of society
TUs, BMA, NFU
causal group
pressure group that is based on shared values, ideas, principles / around particular cause
just stop oil, greenpeace
insider group
pressure group that has access/consults with the government
NFU
outsider group
pressure group that is not consulted by government/doesn’t want to be involved with government
extinction rebellion
methods used by pressure groups
direct action (protest, marches etc)
lobbying (persuading politicians to join their campaign)
media attention (jso 2022, blocking roads / stopping premier league matches)
e-petitions / celebrity endorsements - 2020 marcus rashford FSM campaign / people’s vote - revoke article 50 e-petition
pros of pressure groups
opps for informal political participation (400,000 ppl marched to support people’s vote 2019)
represent underrepresented minorities (2020 BLM / stonewall)
expertise in policy formulation (Stonewall worked with New Labour to equalise age of consent for gay/straight people to 16 (Sexual Offences Act 2000 – opposed by Lords)
cons of pressure groups
disproportionate influence
spread of misinformation (anti-vax pressure group health advisory and recovery team - accused of spreading conspiracies about COVID)
direct action → disruption / police action (extinction rebellion 2022, 8 members arrested after they glued themselves to parts of parliamentary estate)
factors affecting success of pressure groups
resources
leadership
public support
govt attitudes
resources
large membership → more money from subscriptions → have staff / organise publicity = more influence
RSPCA 1600 employees / 1000s of volunteers = ££ for advertising
leadership
experienced / clear leadership
marcus rashford - public figurehead / leader, effective FSM campaign
public support
public opinion, usually better if peaceful / respectful methods used
JSO = alienate supporters / public
govt attitudes
chooses groups it agrees with for advice
NFU / DEFRA links → £45 mill to farmers / importance in 2013 badger cull
think tank
group of experts who provide ideas, advice and policy proposals on economic/social problems
iea (institute of economic affairs) / LW = fabian society / RW = adam smith institute
2022 truss / kwarteng disastrous mini-budget - influenced by neo-liberal IEA → deregulation / tax breaks for rich
lobbyists
person or organisation that seeks to form close relationships / influence politicians
4000 people / £2 billion / year
scott benton former mp - caught in undercover sting operation 2023 → offering to lobby on behalf of fake gambling company (leaking info / asking qus in parliament)
revolving door concerns - 170 former ministers taking up jobs relating to policy areas they used to manage
corporations
disproportionate influence → improper behaviour
financial firm greensill capital hired former pm cameron / used private contacts to set up meetings w/senior govt minsters / persuade them to give greensill a COVID loan
2021 randox health - paid cons mp owen paterson, lobbying on their behalf, £500,000 → won govt contracts worth £777 mill during COVID
uk govt dropped health push after lobbying by ultra-processed food firms (nestlé / coca-cola)
individual rights
rights enjoyed by individuals
eg free speech
collective rights
rights enjoyed by society as a whole
eg right to safety from criminals
magna carta 1215
nobles forced king john I to sign charter - agreed not to impose taxes without their consent
right to a fair trial
bill of rights 1689
established principles of free speech / elections within parliament → parliamentary privilege
HRA 1998
incorporated ECHR into UK law
allowed British citizens to have ECHR-related rights cases heard in UK courts
freedom of information act 2000
allowed citizens right to access info held by public bodies
equality act 2010
protected people from discrimination in workplace / society
same sex marriage act
2013
extended right to marry to same-sex couples
coronavirus act 2020
suspension of individual rights (freedom of movement / assembly) during lockdown
aimed to protect collective rights by limiting spread of covid
police, crime, sentencing and courts act (PCSC) 2022
police can place restrictions on protests they think is public nuisance
starting / finishing times, noise limits / limits on amount of ppl
gives police more power
erodes right to freedom of assembly / right to protest
public order act 2023
allowed police to arrest protesters on suspicion they might cause undue disorder
erodes right to freedom of assembly
used to arrest 6 members of republic (anti-monarchy pressure group) before charles III’s coronation → lack of proof / only suspicion
how are rights protected in uk?
flexible constitution → updated more easily (2013 same-sex marriage act, referendum needed in NI)
civil liberty pressure groups (stonewall / liberty)
media campaigns
court rulings (2023 rwanda act → not a safe country / against human rights)
how are rights not protected in uk?
individual > collective
2023 SC ruled rwanda policy unlawful → rwanda not safe destination for deportations → SC failed to consider collective rights of society / individual rights of asylum seekers
2023 gender recognition bill / 2024 SC defined legal definition of woman as someone biologically born a woman, excludes trans women → allowing self-identification = progress to trans rights