Democracy

Democracy

• Rule by the ‘demos’ - people as a whole - instead of a class or section within it (like politicians, for example)

  • I.e. giving power to the people

• All citizens equally entitled to participate in society’s decisions about its policies

Universal suffrage

• Right for all adults to vote

Political participation

• Involvement of citizens in politics in order to shape policy making

3 means of political participation

1. Voting

2. Politcal party membership

3. Pressure group membership

Consent + consnet in politics

• Assent or permission

• In politics: agreement to be governed/ruled

Robert Dahl’s 5 criteria to measure if something’s a democracy or not

1. Participation

2. Voting equality

3. Understanding

4. Agenda setting

5. Universality

Dahl - participation

• Everyone has an equal and effective opportunity to make opinions known

Dahl - voting equality

• Everyone’s votes are equal

• Everyone has equal opportunities to vote

Dahl - understanding

• Everyone learns about the different choices and their outcomes

Dahl - agenda setting

• Everyone can decide how to set and what is on the agenda

• Past options can be revisited

• Currently done by the govt

Dahl - universality

• Everyone should have the same rights to be able to do the 4 things above

1928 Equal Franchise Act significance

• First time that UK was truly democratic due to the granting of universal suffrage

1215 Magna Carta significance

• Beginning of the UK’s democratic roots

10 components of a liberal democracy

1. Peaceful transition of power

2. Free elections

3. Fair elections

4. Widespread participation in politics

5. Freedom of expression and information

6. Rule of law

7. Protection of rights and liberties

8. Freedom of association

9. A constitution

10. Independent judiciary

Free elections in the UK

We need ID to vote, but everyone can vote over the age of 18 and all votes are equal

Fair elections in the UK

• Lots of parties and therefore choice

• Definite lack of corruption compared to other countries

• Do have a 2 party system

Widespread participation in the UK

• 18-25y/o have lowest turnout and 60+ the highest

• Low overall turnout

Freedom of expression and information in the UK

• XR have been removed in the name of ‘public safety’ along with groups like Palestine Action, who have been named a terrorist group

• FOI Act (2000)

• Other freedoms of religion, sexuality etc.

Rule of law in the UK

• Johnson broke the law by proroguing Plmt

• We do have a broad rule of law across the country.

Protection of rights and liberties in the UK

• Still issues with racism

  • Jess Carter during the Euros (no prosecution for anyone involved)

• Gender pay gap is not rigorously enforced

  • Still better than other countries and than it used to be

Freedom of association in the UK

• XR taken away for public safety

• Palestine Action not safe to associate yourself with for fear of legal repercussions

• Free to be a member of a political party and trade unions.

UK constitution

• Uncodified

Judicial independence in the UK

• Arguable, but yes.