UK Democracy and participation

what is a direct democracy?

it was first conceived in ancient Greece, every tax paying citizen have one vote equal to all. All individuals express their opinions themselves.

what are the advantages to a direct democracy?

- purest form of democracy, peoples voices are clearly heard.

- avoid delay and deadlock within the system

- people are making a decision, giving legitimacy.

what are the disadvantages of a direct democracy

- can lead to 'tyranny of the majority', ignores the minorities interests.

- people can be too easily swayed by short - term appeals

- some issues may seem too complex for an ordinary citizen to understand.

what is a representative democracy?

people do not make political decisions directly, instead they choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

these representatives are elected through a formal competitive election.

what are the different types of representation

- social representation

- representing the national interests

- constituency interests

- party representation

- casual representation

- occupational/social representation

what is social representation

implies that the characteristics if members of representative bodies should be broadly in line with the characteristics of the population as a whole. ' look like' that society.

e.g. half of representatives should be women, ethnic groups or religious groups, age ranges, class background.

representing the national interests

something may not be popular but will be best for the nation as a whole.

represents the interest of the nation as a whole, and do what they believe as right.

constituency representation

representing their constituency as a whole. such as funding for local services, or wherever railway or airports should be built in that area.

it can also mean representing the interest of individual constituents , often described as redress of grievances, constituent who might feel treated unfairly by the tax.

listens to the views of their constituency when deciding on national issue.

party representation

vast majority of those seeking and winning election are member of a political party.

party promises called a manifesto, campaign based on the manifesto.

occupational or social representation

would represent a particular occupational or social group - trade unions, workers, professions, teachers, older people, disabilities, LGBTQIA+, low income groups.

casual representation

representing ideas, principles and causes.

representing the whole community in that the benefits and demands involved are claimed to benefit everyone.

environmental protection, individual rights and freedoms, greater equality and animal rights, most casual representation is carried out by pressure groups.

advantages of representative democracy

- can develop expertise to deal with matters the public does not have the time of knowledge to deal with.

- representatives can be held to account for their actions at election time

- have the time to deal with a variety of complex matters, leaving public free to get on with their own lives.

- only practical way to translate public opinion into political action.

• epresentatives 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

disadvantages of representative democracy

- may not act in the best interest of their constituents

- difficult to hold a representative to account between elections

- can lead to public disengaging from social issues and other responsibilities.

can be unrepresentative and may ignore the concerns and needs of minority groups.

pluralist democracy

government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations.

democratic deficit

a flaw in democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy due to not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or not being subject to accountability.

participation crisis

lack of engagement with the political process by which a significant number of citizens, by choosing not to vote or not to join or become member of political parties or not to offer themselves for public office.

legitimacy

rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held agreements. such as a governments right to rule following an election or a monarch's succession based on agreed rules.

Great Reform Act

1832

- the franchise extended to new classes of people (such as shopkeepers and small farmers) anyone who's property attracts a rent of at least £10 per annum. a rise from 4% to 6%. women were not allowed to vote

Representation of the people act

1918

- most adult men were given the right to vote, and women over 30 who either married or a property owner in their own right or a graduate.

representation of the people act (equal franchise act)

1928

- extends the franchise to all adults over 21 including women

representation of the people act 1969

- voting age on the UK is reduce from 21 to 18

suffragettes

campaign, advocates votes for women, who use both parliamentary lobbying and civil disobedience as their methods.

CASE STUDY: modern campaign to extend the franchise: votes at 16 - background

- founded in 2001 under direction and coordination of the british youth council. august 2023 had 3015 registered supporters and worked with orginisations such as british youth parliment, electoral refrom society and national union of students

CASE STUDY: modern campaign to extend the franchise: votes at 16 - methods

- producing and publishing information through its website, including a manifesto outlining their aims and reasons

- providing templetes and advice how to email local MPs to raise issue in paprliment

- providing information and advice how to raise awarness and campagin localy

- providing advice on how to lobby MPs

- organising an initiative called adopt a peer, encourage memberes to contact and lobby specific members of house of lords

CASE STUDY: modern campaign to extend the franchise: votes at 16 - successes

- it became official part policy in the 2019 labour manifesto, liberal democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the green party

- 2019 Westminster hall debate was hold but no vote

- before 2019 election 7 conservative MPs publicly endorsed lowering age to vote

- voting elections in Scotland and Wales has been lowered to 16

- 2018 all part parliamentary group founded to support age lowering

what is a pressure group ?

membership based association whose aim is to influence policy-making without seeking power.

function of a pressure group

- represent and promote the interests of certain sections of the community who feel not fully represented by partied and parliament

- protect the interests of minority groups

- promote certain causes that have not been adequately taken up by political parties

- inform and educate the public about key political issues

- call government to account over its performance in particular areas of policy

- on occasions to pass key information to government to inform and influence policy

- give opportunities to citizens to participate in olitics

what are pressure groups types

- sectional groups

- casual groups

- insiders

- outsiders

what is a casual group?

seek to promote a particular case, to convert the ideas behind the cause into government action of parliamentary legislation. Can be environmental, local, human rights etc.

- Greenpeace

- friends of the earth

- liberty

- unlock democracy

- people for the ethical treatment of animals (PETA)

- campaign for nuclear disarmament

sectional groups

represent a particular section of the community in the UK. self-interested in that they hope to peruse the interests specifically their own membership or those they represent.

- Age UK

- British medical association (BMA)

- taxpayers alliance

- the national education union (NEU)

- the MS (multiple sclerosis) society.

insiders

- they seek to become involved in the early stages of policy and law making. - often consulted by decision makers

- employ professional lobbyists whose job to gain access to decision makers ajd kakw high quality presentation to their case

-special committees to make decsions - national farmers union adn institute of directors

called to testify before parliamentary committees.

outsiders

do not enjoy a special position within governing circles. e.g. animal liberty front

- identifiable membership and support groups are a useful ally in policy making, less certain legitimacy

- public campaigning using media to reach parts of the population very quickly. seek to influence by demonstrating to government that public opinion is on their side.

- civil disobediance, mass strikes, and publicity stunts

what are pressure groups methods?

- access points and lobbying

- public campaigning

- financial grants to parties

- personal support from parliment

- media

- direct action - demonstrations, strikes

- judicial review

what are the successes sof a pressure group?

- the more supporters, the more pressure can be placed on decision makers

- wealthy groups can afford expensive campghains, emply lobbyists, sponsor political parties.

- a group thats seen importatnt to the economy put greater pressure on the government - inudstrial groups, NHS

- public sentiment and strong campaigning can be successful in bringing an issue to the attention to the decision makers as politicians support a popular cause

- more likely to achive success if the government of that day is sympathetic to theor cause and position.

what are failures of a pressure group?

- smaller groups can be over locked or drowned out by campaigns of larger groups, haarder to achive funds and goals with few participants

- struggle to organise effective campgains, hire lobbyists and fund the production of leaflets wesite and ither reseach, making harder for their voices to be heard

- not seen as important can easily be ignored especially if againts a large important group.

- public mood can turn politicians againts certain groups, because their methods allienate public opinion

- unlikely to change governments opinion

CASE STUDY: ASH - founding and objectives

1967 by academics and interested parties

spreading the knowlage abut harm of tobacoo use and press government to adopt policies and laws to reduce tobacoo use.

CASE STUDY: ASH - methods

- conducts research and shares existing research into the effects of tobacco with governments and the public.

- insider group

- concentrating on lobbying law makers and governmetns. mainly usues scientific data to underpin its case.

CASE STUDY: ASH - successes

- restrifctions on advertising tobacco producrs and sponsership

- health warning on cigarretee packs

- persuading governmentto incease tax on tobacco

- restricting point-of-sale advertising and promotion

- law of banning of smoking in public places

- law banning to smoke in cars carrying children

- consider adding to quit smoking messages inside packs

CASE STUDY: ASH - failures

- increase bans on e-cigarettes (vapes) but has not been able to reach that yet.

CASE STUDY: ASH - why was it so successful?

helps government to make policy based on evidence and information. it acts responsibly and built up network of supporters wuthing govt and parliment.

CASE STUDY: RMT - founding and objectives

1990 national union of railway men (NUR) and national union of seamen (NUS) to create single transport industry trade union

promotion of better pay and coditionas for its members, shorter hous and safer working enviroments

CASE STUDY: RMT - methods

- negotiates contracts with major transport companeis on behalf of its members

- lobbies government

- organises and conducts strikes to pressure employers

- runs its own credit union to support its member financially

CASE STUDY: RMT - successes

- 2016 secured a £500 consolidation payment to all operational staff

- helped members bring legal cases following injury and wrongful termination including £55,000 to a member who lost a tip of their index finger

- securing bonus payments during 2016 olympics

- improving safety standards

CASE STUDY: RMT - failures

- strikes to see improved payment rewards but did not receive offers

- removing guards of trains - opposed

Evaluate the view that it is the media not pressure groups that has the greater influence on governments

AO1: agreement: Governments can be severely limited by the media – especially in open debate

disagreement: Pressure groups have expertise and skills which many governments require.

AO2+AO3: agreement: Governments PMs and Ministers all have to put their case forward in the media – if there is a strong case against their actions they often perform a U turn Pressure groups to an extent rely on the media and not vice versa. Hence as a tool of achieving action and change the media is far more influential than pressure groups

disagreement: A considerable amount of new legislation is viewed and often approved by pressure groups before it comes to parliament. New legislation on highways is often viewed by motorists groups before it becomes law for their consideration. The media cannot claim to have as high a degree of influence on any government as pressure groups do as they facilitate new legislation.

think tanks

• originated during the second world war as military term

• public policy research organisations

• main goal to carry out research and develop policy ideas that can then be adopted by political parties and governments

• founded to research and develop ideas in specific areas - education, healthcare, social justice - by wealthy partners or businesses and public donations

influence of think tanks

• replaced traditional roles carried out by political parties - policy research 

• considered and developed away from public scrutiny

• tested before a party might adopt them as official policy 

• saves time for the party and resources 

examples of think tanks 

• institute of economic affairs (IEA) - free-market think tank - close link with the conservatives - reduce or restrict harmful activities  -main donor British American tobacco - interest of public or the donors?

• neutral think tanks: ResPublica - general policy issues, Chatham house - international affairs, centre for social justice, demos. 

• ‘left wing’ think tanks: Fabian society - issues concerning social justice and equality, institute for public policy research - various left-wing policy ideas

• ‘right wing’ think tanks: Adam Smith Institute - promotion of free market

• liberal think tanks: centre for reform - values of lib dems

• reform - policies on welfare, public services and economic management.

lobbyists

act of trying to persuade those in power to follow a particular course of action.

sell expert knowledge of the political process to those who can afford to hire them 

• giving advice to follow in order to achieve their goals 

• arrange events for their clients to have an opportunity to meet with those in power 

• attend private meeting on the behalf of their clients to try persuade directly those in power

influence of lobbyists 

• consider many factors before making decisions

• improve legislation by offering advice and perspective that could have been missed 

Corporations and their influence

google, Starbucks, meta, amazon

• income larger than many countries - use financial power together with their importance to consumer demand, employment and taxation to resist government demand and put pressure on governments to achieve their goals.

Facebook lobbied government to change their minds on allowing police access user information - defend individual freedoms (2021)

Online petitions

• UK Parliament has set up a platform for citizens to make and sign online petitions.

• If a petition gains over 100,000 signatures then parliament may debate the topic.

• But, a topic must be sponsored by the ‘Backbench Business Committee’ so it is not an entirely direct democracy.

• 1.6 million people signed a petition to stop US President Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the UK. MPs then debated Trump’s visit to Parliament and changed it from a ‘state visit’ to a ‘working visit’ in 2018.

Evaluate the view that think tanks, lobbyists and corporations have greater influence than pressure groups.

AO1: agreement: Labour Party enjoys a similar close relationships with left or centrist think tanks. New Labour was influenced by Demos and The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and it remains influential, prior to the general election Keir Starmer was influenced by the Centrist think tank Labour Together.

disagreement: Pressure groups if they are well organised and have insider status can have more impact than the other collective organisations

AO2+AO3: agreement: In a similar mode the Labour Party in office and in opposition shows that it has been significantly influenced by think tanks in the policies which it has adopted, Senior officials in Demos and the IPPR were given roles in the New Labour government (AO2). We can conclude that thinks tanks have considerable influence. (AO3)

disagreement: Insider groups have great leverage with governments. They include groups such as the NFU and the British Bankers Association and Stonewall. At some point they have carried influence with governments and gained access to decision makers resulting in policy adoption. If a pressure group is trusted and valued by the government this makes their influence all the stronger. (AO2) Therefore we can conclude that pressure groups are more influential (AO3)

distinctions between civil liberties and civil rights

• civil liberties refer to protections citizens have against the government and state e.g. freedom of speech, assembly, press, trial by jury, religious worship.

• civil rights refer those to those rights are guaranteed by the state e.g. right to life, vote, equal treatment, education and free from discrimination.

what were the early rights in the UK

• magna carta 1215 - first attempt to limit the power of the monarch

this included right to trial by a jury and that the monarch can only impose taxes with the consent of the people.

• bill of rights - 1689 - protect people in England from potential military dictatorship.

common law rights

traditional conceptions of how disputes should be settled and what rights individuals have. it is established by judges through judicial precedents when they declare what traditional, common law should be.

Human rights act

• 1998

Brought the rights enshrined under the European convention on human rights into statute law that could be addressed by UK courts, establishes many essential rights that are intended to restrict the actions of the government in relation to the people.

The freedom of information act

• 2000 - act made under labour govt

helped to improve such services as the health service, police , civil service and education establishments by shedding light on their activities and helping to promote reform

daily telegraph was able to reveal and publicise the MP’s expenses scandal of 2009

The Equality Act

• 2010

management of Harriet Harman - labour minister

all legislation and all decision making by governments must take into account formal equality for different sections of society.

such as: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion, biological sex, sexual orientation

but only applies in these circumstances:

employment and pay, govt services, healthcare, housing, education, finance services and policing and law enforcement.

strengths of rights in the UK

• strong common law tradition

• UK is subject to the European Convention on human rights

• judiciary has a reputation for being independent and upholding the rule of law, even against the expressed wishes of government and parliment

• principle of equal rights is clearly established

weakness of rights in the UK

• common law can be vague and disputed + set aside by parliamentary statutes

• parliment remains sovereign so it can ignore ECHR or repeal human rights act

• increasing political pressure on govt to suspend laws or ignore rulings relating to a variety of political issues, such as terrorist behaviour or rights of asylum seekers

• subject to interpretation and see some groups coming inro conflict over enforcement of their rights.

Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK are adequately protected and guaranteed

AO1: agreement: Governments can and do regularly remove or restrict individual rights

disagreement: The Human Rights Act 1998 has made a huge difference to individual and collective rights in the UK

AO2+AO3: agreement: This has occurred over several areas. The rights of prisoners to vote, the length an individual is detained following an arrest, restrictions on individuals who are suspected of terrorism and the list can go on. It is clear that governments with a secure majority can pass (or prevent) legislation which relates to individual rights

disagreement: This introduced directly into UK law the core individual and group rights enshrined in the European Convention. It has made the securing of those rights more accessible as courts in the UK can directly apply them. This brings the UK into line with almost every other country in Europe and we can conclude that the UK has attained parity for citizens of the UK alongside all other citizens across the entire continent of Europe.