Edexcel A Level Government and Politics Paper 1

Direct democracy

all individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf

Representative democracy

an individual selects a person to act on their behalf

Similarities of representative and direct democracy

based on a majority

Differences of direct and representative democracy

direct is not elective,

direct is for individuals,

direct has more citizen involvement

Legitimacy

the right to exercise power

Democratic deficit

a deficiency in the way a democratic body works

Positives of UK's democracy

fair and free elections,

free from intimidation,

wide choice of parties,

press freedom,

independant judiciary

Negatives of UK's democracy

under representation of minorities,

can't vote for lords,

doesn't protect rights

press is owned by millionaires

Examples of declining participation

2024 turnout was low 59% (2001 and WW1 lower)

Labour lost 200,000 members since Corbyn

Examples of rising participation

Reform 268,000 members

35,000 petitions since 2015

Franchise / suffrage

the ability to vote in public elections

Pluralism

lots of people have a say

Elitism

only a select few have a say

To be able to vote you must:

be 16+,

be a registered british/irish citizen

To be able to vote you cannot:

be under 18,

be a member of the house of lords,

be convicted of illegal electoral practise,

detained in a psychiatric hospital

Great reform act 1832

created 67 new constituencies, included small land owners, tenant farmers and shopkeepers in the property qualification and gave the vote to all householders who paid a yearly rent of £10+

Representation of the people act 1918

allowed men 21+ (with/without property) and women 30+ who live in the constituency or owned land worth £5+ to vote

Representation of the people act 1928

gave women electoral equality (21+ with/without property)

Representation of the people act 1948

abolished plural voting (2 separate uni votes) and increased MP's to 613

Representation of the people act 1969

voting age reduced to 18 to reflect change in view on adulthood

For lowering voting age to 16:

already trusted with legal rights (leave school, work, army),

have to learn about politics in school,

voting earlier increases chance of involvement,

affects their future

Against lowering voting age to 16:

some lack maturity,

may be influenced by parents,

scottish referendum isn't fair because it had an unusually high turnout,

only a few countries allow 16 year olds to vote

Electoral Reform Society

longest standing pro democracy organization (1884), formed to provide better democracy where everyone votes and is treated equally, works with activists and politicians

Electoral reform society campaigns

elected house of lords,

votes at 16,

local democracy,

replace FPTP with STV

Pressure group

an organised group that seeks to influence government policy or legislation

Pluralism

the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body which permits the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles

Pressure group features:

want to influence policy,

usually single issue,

more of them,

represent an issue that isn't supported by the wider public

Political parties features:

want to make policy and run the country,

aim to win power,

few parties,

have a wide range of policies to accommodate a wide range of views,

create laws

Sectional pressure groups

a specific group that promotes the interest of an occupation or group in society

Sectional pressure group examples

trade unions, national union of teachers, british medical association

Cause pressure groups

aims to change opinions and attitudes, open to everyone

Cause pressure groups examples

greenpeace, PDSA, RSPCA

Sectional cause pressure groups

the membership are different to the group it represents

Sectional cause pressure groups examples

NSPCC, WWF

Attitude cause pressure groups

aims to change the public's attitude towards an issue

Attitude cause pressure groups examples

greenpeace, campaign for nuclear disarmament

Political cause pressure groups

aim to get legislation created or changed

Political cause pressure groups examples

electoral reform society, 38 degrees

Insider pressure group

relies on contact with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims and can have close links to the government

Insider pressure groups examples

BMA, NEU, RSPCA

Outsider pressure groups

are not consulted by the government because their methods may be unlawful

Outsider pressure groups examples

NFU, amnesty international

Influence the drafting of legislation (pressure group methods)

able to offer specialised knowledge (NFU) but the public aren't aware and it slows government

Influence the public (pressure group methods)

helped by events (1996 snowdrop campaign) but outsider groups have less influence than insider (HS2 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife trust vs CBI)

Direct action (pressure group methods)

stunts raise media profile (f4j batman on m25 in 2008) but aren't always peaceful (2010 student demonstrations)

Lobbyists

members of professional organisations who are paid by clients seeking access to government

Lobbying methods

meeting with ministers/government (the police federation often meets with home office),

emailing/meeting local MP's to ask questions,

sitting on committees or giving evidence to reports about policy,

target lords to create legislation

Lobbying scandal 2023

Scot Benton caught offering to ask questions and timetable for lobbying members on behalf of gambling investors

Transparency of lobbying, non party campaigning and trade union administration act 2014

registration of consultant lobbyists, non party campaigners and trade union members

Factors affecting pressure groups - tactics (strengths)

can join with other groups

needs to known the government access points

Factors affecting pressure groups - tactics (weaknesses)

may not agree with other groups

may slow process

may lose public support

Factors affecting pressure groups - tactics (examples)

RSPCA, league against cruel sports and international fund for animal welfare joined to ban hunting

Factors affecting pressure groups - resources (strengths)

a large membership can afford to run offices, pay staff and have publicity, size persuades government, BMA achieved $889 funding for English doctors and guarantee new contract negotiations

Factors affecting pressure groups - resources (weaknesses)

can't rely on passive support - NFU had 46,000 members but gov inheritance tax

Factors affecting pressure groups - resources (examples)

RSPCA employs 1600 people, has volunteers and can run full page/TV ads

Factors affecting pressure groups . -public's support (strengths)

have favourable media support

Palestine Solidarity Campaign march amassed over 300,000 marchers 2023

Factors affecting pressure groups - public's support (weaknesses)

support can be quickly reduced by one event, JustStopOil viewed as disrespectful spray pained stonehenge

Factors affecting pressure groups - government attitude (strengths)

insider contacts are a key to success

Factors affecting pressure groups - government attitude (weaknesses)

only works if change is accepted (feb 2003, est 3m marched against iraq war with CND)

makes groups loyal to one party

Factors affecting pressure groups - government attitudes (examples)

NEU align with labour so increased wages 5.5% 2024

Consultation

asking advice from key insider groups when drafting new legislation

Think tanks

groups of experts from different backgrounds who are brought together to investigate particular topics and to offer solutions to complicated economic, social or political views

Demos (think tank)

cross party

equal distribution of power

education and welfare reform

started commission on assisted death

'tale of two classrooms' research of education gap between disadvantaged students

Habeas corpus

a court order to produce a person before a court so that it can be determined if they have been lawfully detained

Negative rights

rights that exist in the absence of any laws forbidding individuals from exercising them

Derogated

parts or all can be ignored in certain cases if the government says so (national security outweighs individual rights)

Abrogation

can be repealed/replaced after a majority vote in the commons

Judicial review

a procedure by which a court can review an administrative action by a public body

Acted ultra vires

gone beyond their authority as outlined in statute law

ECHR article 8 vs 10

8: promotes respect for the individual's private and family life

10: enshrines the right to political freedom

judges prefer 8 over 10

2010 equality act

legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace based on gender/race/religion

joined the equal pay act 1970, the sec discrimination act 1976, the race relations act 1976, the disability act 1995 and 3 major statutory instruments

Extraordinary rendition

flying people abroad to allow torture with less punishment (guantanamo bay, cuba)

Individual rights weaknesses

anti terrorism laws are abused to imprison innocent people (brazillian david miranda in heathrow - part 7 of terrorism act)

terrorism act 2000 is too broad (part 7 allows airport police to detain anyone for terrorism without evidence/suspicion)

police compare peaceful protests to terrorism

Responsibilities weaknesses

HRA 1998 has helped 28 terrorists stay in the UK (abu hamza)

extraordinary rendition (2010 gibson comission into british torture - afghanistan)

one person vs multiple civillians

Human rights act 1998

makes ECHR into domestic law so you can seek justice in britain

new laws are compatible

section 4 and 10 allows courts to declare legislation incompatible

section 6 defines courts as public bodies

Positives of the UK's democratic system

devolved governments

wide range of political parties and pressure groups

free media

free and fair elections

independant judiciary

Negatives of UK's democratic system

media controlled by the wealthy (rupert murdoch - the sun)

house of lords lacks democracy

lacks protection of rights

underrepresentation of minority views

Political party

an organised group of people with shared policies and goals who aim to be elected to political office

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy

Old labour policies (1900-1997)

Economic: nationalism - clause IV

welfare: NHS - 1948

law and order: attack social deprivation to prevent crime - 1979

foreign: nuclear disarmament - 1979

New labour policies (1997-2007)

economic: abandoned clause IV

welfare: minimum wage, welfare to work

law and order: ABSOs, HRA

foreign: iraq/afghan war

Corbyn policies (2015-17)

economic: 45% on 80,000, 50% on 123,000

welfare: £10 minimum wage, no tuition fees

law and order: increase police funding

foreign: renew trident but nuclear disarmament

Starmer policies (2017-p)

economic: Invest 2035 to increase investment

welfare: increase min wage £12.71,

law and order: increase illegal working raids 77%

foreign: increase defence spending 2.4% GDP

Traditional conservative policies (1834-1868)

economic: free market capitalism, low taxation

welfare: noblesse oblige

law and order: death penalty

foreign: empire

One nation policies (1868 - 1975)

economic: nationalised industries

welfare: public health act 1975 (sewers, cleaner streets)

Thatcherism policies (1975-1990)

economic: free market capitalism, low tax

welfare: reduced state intervention (selling council houses)

law and order: ring fenced police budget/increased powers

foreign: falklands/gulf war

Badenoch policies (2024-p)

Economic: remove stamp duty and family farm tax

Welfare: building houses, increase apprenticeship funding

Law and order: BORDERS plan, end asylum hotels

Foreign policy: cut overseas aid by £7 bn

Reform vote share 2024

4 million, 12.5%, 5 seats

Reform policies 2026

economic: increase income tax 20,000

welfare: attract doctors and nurses

law and order: secure detention for illegal migrants

foreign: cut foreign aid 50%

Appropriation

stealing a policy from a minor party

Scottish National Party

Formed in 1934

Won first MP in 1945

56/59 seats 2015 (50%)

SNP policies

economic - 45-50% top income tax, £10 minimum wage

welfare - continued house building, triple lock pensions

foreign - scrap trident, oppose syrian bombing, ban saudi arms sales

Scottish independence referendum 2014 (parties)

SNP and SGP - leave

Coalition conservative, lib dem and labour - remain

Scottish independence referendum 2014 (figures)

84.6% turnout

Remain = 55.3%

Leave = 44.7%

West lothian question

Wales, Scotland and Ireland have MPs in Westminster that can vote on UK laws but they can choose not to follow the laws in their regional parliaments where England can't

Devolved regional parliaments rejected in north east referendum 2004

Large cities devolved assemblies would lack legislative powers of others

Only english MPs vote on english laws complicated

English veto allows speaker to judge if a bill affects just england and will require a vote from an english grand committee to pass (used in 2016)

Conservatives are trusted by rich people as their policies are tailored to them

Low income tax

Favouring 'indirect/regressive' taxation

Low corporation tax

Little attempt to stop tax avoidance

Anti trade union laws

Trade union

an organisation made up of workers in a particular sector, campaign for workers rights (NUT)

Effects of trade unions

Not everyone can be in a trade union

Striking can damage economy

Has influence over leadership elections

Softer labour approach to union laws

Vested interest

a personal reason for involvement in an undertaking or situation, for usually financial or other gain

Labour money scandal

January 1997 bernie ecclestone donated £1m

Only made public in the november

Formula one escaped tobacco advertising ban