UK Democracy and Political Participation Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set for reviewing UK democracy, voter participation, and electoral reform as discussed in the lecture notes.

Representative democracy

A form of democracy where voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf and hold them accountable in regular elections.

Constituents

The people living in the area represented by an elected official, whose interests the official is expected to represent.

MP Surgeries

Public meetings where Members of Parliament listen to the concerns of the people they represent.

Burkean principle

The idea that representatives should act according to their best judgement and conscience rather than simply following the voters’ wishes as delegates.

Number of MPs in Westminster

The UK Parliament contains exactly $650$ Members of Parliament.

Devolved governments

Legislative bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that handle most of their own domestic affairs.

Professional politicians

Elected officials who are expected to be well-informed about political issues and capable of making educated decisions.

Legislative review process

The process where a bill is drawn up by ministers, debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and analyzed in the committee stage.

Committee stage

The point in the legislative process when a bill is analyzed in detail and amendments may be added.

Balancing conflicting interests

The element of representative democracy where parliament weighs the benefits to the majority against the negative impact on the minority.

Principle of accountability

The concept that voters can decide whether to renew the mandate of their representatives during regular elections.

Metropolitan elite

A term used by critics to describe MPs who allegedly represent elite urban values rather than the traditional values of the wider population.

Elite-Public disengagement example

In the $2016$ EU referendum, $52\%$ of the public voted to leave, while $74\%$ of MPs favored remaining.

Westminster ‘bubble’

A term for the perceived disconnection between representatives and their constituents, fueled by pressure groups, lobbyists, and London-based media.

Outside interests of MPs

Second jobs held by MPs, which must be declared but can contribute to potential conflicts of interest.

Owen Paterson (2021)

An MP who resigned after being criticized by the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards for lobbying on behalf of companies that employed him.

Sir Geoffrey Cox MP

A former Attorney General criticized in $2021$ for earning $\text{£}900,000$ for legal work in addition to his MP salary.

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

The electoral system used for Westminster, criticized for making Parliament unrepresentative and favoring the Conservative and Labour parties.

House of Lords accountability

The chamber is described as unelected and unaccountable to the public, undermining Parliament’s representative function.

Social make-up of Parliament

A demographic criticism that the chamber remains primarily white, male, and middle class.

MP private education statistic

In $2019$, $29\%$ of Parliament was privately educated compared to a national average of $7\%$.

Lobbyist

An individual who represents the interests of a group or cause and seeks to influence politicians in its favor.

Direct democracy

A form of democracy where citizens make political decisions themselves rather than through representatives.

Referendum

A modern example of direct democracy where the public expresses views on single issues.

2016 EU Referendum outcome

The most significant modern instance of direct democracy in the UK, where $52\%$ of voters chose to leave the European Union.

Legitimacy of direct votes

Decisions reached by the public through voting are often seen to have greater legitimacy than those reached by representatives.

Referendum complexity issue

A disadvantage where issues are too complex for the public to have a detailed understanding, such as the UK's relationship with the single market.

E-petitions

Online tools that allow the public to engage with issues they feel strongly about and potentially set the parliamentary agenda.

Marcus Rashford’s #EndChildFoodPoverty

A $2020$ e-petition that gained over $1.1$ million signatures and persuaded the government to provide free school meals during holidays.

E-petition limitations

E-petitions can raise false expectations and consume parliamentary time on issues where Parliament cannot or will not legislate.

Sir Tony Blair knighthood petition

An e-petition with over $1$ million signatures that was rejected because knighthoods are bestowed by the monarch.

Article 50 revocation petition

A $2019$ e-petition that reached $6.1$ million signatures but did not result in legislative change.

Standing order 14

The parliamentary rule that can prevent every e-petition that reaches $100,000$ signatures from being debated.

Recall of MPs Act 2015

Legislation that allows constituents to trigger a by-election for an MP in cases of serious misconduct.

Fiona Onasanya

The Peterborough MP who was recalled in $2019$ after being sentenced to jail for lying in court about a speeding ticket.

Recall petition threshold

To trigger a by-election under the $2015$ Act, $10\%$ of registered voters in a constituency must sign a petition.

Direct democracy engagement

Advocates argue it creates a closer connection between the public and political decision-making, encouraging a civically involved citizenry.

Binary questions

A criticism of direct democracy where complex issues are dangerously simplified into a 'yes/no' format.

2016 Referendum question

‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’

Theresa May (post-referendum)

An example of an MP who supported 'Remain' but led a government committed to withdrawing from the EU, challenging the Burkean principle.

Demagogues and dictators

A phrase used by Clement Attlee to describe referendums as a specific political device.

Participation crisis

A situation where lack of public trust and low engagement mean political institutions can no longer claim legitimacy.

2009 Expenses scandal

An event where MPs were held in contempt regarding allegations of overclaiming on their expenses, damaging Westminster's credibility.

Stephen Byers (2010)

A former Labour minister secretly filmed describing himself as a ‘cab for hire’ to a consultancy firm.

Case of paid advocacy (2021)

The phrase used by the Standards Committee to describe the egregious conduct of Owen Paterson, leading to his $30$-day suspension.

2021 YouGov corruption poll

A survey showing $80\%$ of respondents believed there was a significant amount of corruption in UK politics.

2021 YouGov 'no corruption' stat

Only $1\%$ of surveyed individuals in $2021$ believed there was no corruption in UK politics.

Voter turnout 1964 to 1997

The average turnout in general elections during this period was $74.5\%$.

2001 general election turnout

This year saw a dramatic decrease in turnout to a low of $59.4\%$.

William Hague (2001)

The Conservative leader whose uninspiring leadership was cited as a cause for low turnout in the $2001$ election.

2017 general election turnout

The high point of voting participation in the recent period, reaching $68.7\%$.

Average turnout 2005 to 2019

The mean participation rate for general elections was $65.7\%$, which is $8.8\%$ lower than the $1964$-$1997$ average.

A/B voters 2019 turnout

$68\%$ of this higher social demographic voted in the $2019$ general election.

D/E voters 2019 turnout

Only $53\%$ of this lower social demographic voted in the $2019$ general election.

Kingston upon Hull turnout

A city containing three of the five constituencies with the lowest turnout in $2019$, where $45\%$ of neighborhoods are highly deprived.

Highest turnout election (Historical)

The General Election of February $1974$, which saw a record turnout of $78.8\%$.

Senedd Cymru turnout 2021

The participation rate for the Welsh Parliament election was only $46.5\%$.

Scottish Parliament turnout 2021

The participation rate for the Scottish Parliament election was $63.5\%$.

Police and Crime Commissioners 2021 turnout

An election with an average turnout of only $33.2\%$, though higher than the $15.1\%$ in $2012$.

London mayoral turnout 2021

The participation rate for the London mayoral election was $42.2\%$.

Greater Manchester mayoral turnout 2021

The participation rate for the Greater Manchester mayoral election was $34.7\%$.

Partisan dealignment

The process where voters no longer fully identify with one political party, leading to a decline in party membership.

Conservative membership (1953 vs 2021)

The party's membership plummeted from $2,806,000$ in $1953$ to just $200,000$ in $2021$.

Labour membership (1953 vs 2021)

The party's membership fell from $1,005,000$ in $1953$ to $430,000$ in $2021$.

1975 EEC referendum turnout

The participation rate for the first European referendum was $64.6\%$.

2016 EU referendum turnout

The participation rate for the second European referendum was $72.2\%$.

2021 e-petition topics

Issues debated in Parliament included the protection of hedgehogs and revoking the television licence.

COP26 climate protests

In November $2021$, $100,000$ people joined protests in Glasgow, demonstrating high political activism.

Black Lives Matter UK

Social movement that stimulated intense political dialogue about racism, especially among the young.

BBC Breaking News Twitter followers

The account had $10$ million followers in $2021$, representing massive political engagement online.

JEREMY CORBYN Twitter followers

The former Labour leader had $2.4$ million followers on Twitter.

NIGEL FARAGE Twitter followers

The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader had $1.6$ million followers on Twitter.

Slacktivism

The practice of supporting political causes online with minimal effort rather than engaging in deep democratic activity.

Legitimate authority

Power that has been legally acquired and is exercised according to the rule of law.

Democratic deficit

A condition where trust and participation are so low that only a minority engage, and governments lose legitimacy.

Republic of Ireland Constitution (1937)

The legal framework requiring any constitutional change to be endorsed by the public in a referendum.

Ireland Abortion referendum (2018)

A high-profile case where social policy was changed via direct democracy in the Republic of Ireland.

Democratic overload

A potential consequence of excessive referendums; Ireland held $19$ between $2000$ and $2022$ with low average turnout.

Ireland referendum average turnout

From $2000$ to $2022$, the participation rate was only $48.4\%$, below general election levels.

Switzerland initiative rule

If $100,000$ citizens sign a petition, it must lead to a national referendum on a new law.

Switzerland challenge rule

A referendum on an existing law can be held if $50,000$ signatures are secured.

2021 Swiss green tax vote

An instance where voters rejected government carbon commitment proposals, created a conflict between public priority and long-term goals.

Swiss minarets ban (2009)

A majoritarian decision in Switzerland where the rights of a minority were restricted via referendum.

Swiss face coverings ban (2021)

A law resulting from a populist referendum that critics argue undermines liberal democracy.

Redress of grievance

The parliamentary tradition that allows individuals to seek resolution for wrongs done to them.

HS2 petition 2021

An electronic petition that demanded work on the high-speed rail line be stopped immediately.

Tuition fees petition (values)

A $2021$ e-petition demanding that fees be reduced from $\text{£}9,250$ to $\text{£}3,000$.

Recall of MPs Act triggers

A prison sentence, a $10$-day suspension from the HOC, or conviction for false allowance claims.

Policy recall

The proposal to allow voters to recall MPs based on policy decisions, used in $19$ US states.

Gray Davis

The governor of California who was recalled in $2003$ due to a failure to balance the state budget.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who survived a Republican recall attempt in $2021$ regarding his pandemic response.

English regional assembly vote (2004)

In the North East, only $22\%$ of voters supported the creation of a regional layer of government.

House of Lords cronyism

The claim that appointments are misused for political favors, such as Boris Johnson appointing $86$ life peers.

Peter Cruddas

A former Conservative Party treasurer and major donor appointed to the House of Lords by Boris Johnson.

Harry Mount

Author of 'The Wit and Wisdom of Boris Johnson' appointed to the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

HOLAC

The House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets nominations for peers.

Johnson's Conservative peer appointments

During his premiership, $51\%$ of his appointments to the House of Lords were Conservatives.

Constitutional gridlock

A risk where an elected House of Lords might compete for power with the House of Commons, stalling government.

Digital democracy risks

Issues include the threat of voter manipulation, lack of secrecy, and electoral fraud such as cyber-interference.

Russian cyber-interference

Allegations of foreign interference in Western elections that cast doubt on the security of electronic voting.