Politics - UK Democracy

What 2 Greek words does democracy come from?

Demos (the people) and Kratia (rule by)

What was the turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?

84.6%

What is the most common form of democracy in the UK?

Representative democracy

What is representative democracy?

People voting for representatives who then serve in parliament or on councils

How does MP’s belonging to a political party help voters?

Helps voters to have a good idea of how representatives will act once in power

What is direct democracy?

It entails directly involving the people in policy choices as opposed to leaving it purely to elected officials

What example of direct democracy are often used in the UK?

Referendums

When was there a whole of UK referendum on whether ro replace the FPTP electoral system with the alternative vote (AV)

2011

When was the whole UK referendum on the membership of the EU?

2016

What have the Republic of Ireland had referendums on?

Ethical issues that have led to the legislation of abortion and gay marriage

Which country have a process known as an optional referendum where 50,000 people can challenge any piece of legislation within 10 days of its adoption by parliament?

Switzerland

What measures have been voted on by Swiss citizens?

Joining the UN and banning the construction of minarets for mosques

What happens to e-petitions with more than 10,000 signatures?

Receives a response from the government

What happens to e-petitions with more than 100,000 signatures?

Considered for a debate in parliament

In 2019 how many signatures were collected in a petition to have the UK remain in EU?

Around 6 million

In 2017 how many signatures were collected in a petition to stop President Trump from making a state visit to the UK?

Around 1.86 million

Challenges of elected representatives representing their citizens views effectively?

Most elected representatives belong to a political party and usually represent their party’s views

Positives of direct democracy?

Promotes political participation, improved accountability and political education

Negatives of direct democracy?

Referendums are not binding on the gov, lack of political education, turnout is often low

Suffrage definition?

The right to vote

What act created 67 new constituencies and broadened the franchises property qualification to include small landowners, tenant farmers and shopkeepers?

1832 Great reform act

What act meant that 21 million more men could vote?

1867 representation of the people act

What act gave women over 30 who were regulated property owners or married to a regular property owner the vote?

1918 representation of the people act

Which act gave women electoral equality with men?

1928 equal franchise act

What act allowed people to vote from 18?

1969 representation of the people act

What is the 1st suffrage group which formed in 1897 and has 100,000 members?

National union of women’s suffrage societies (NUWSS) also known as suffragists

What group led by Millicent Fausist was informally called the suffragettes?

Women’s social and political union (WSPU)

What were arguments for women getting the vote?

Intellectually equal, equivalent tax, women were able to be mayors and teachers and vote in local elections

What did the ‘cat and mouse act’ enable?

Force feeding to avoid the death of suffragettes

What were arguments against women getting the vote?

Distraction from wife and mother role, didn’t join the military, outnumbered men, too emotional

What act passed by David Lloyd George enabled 8.4 million women to vote?

Representation of the people act 1918

What court case banned prisoners from voting on ECHR act 3?

John Hirst v UK 2005

What does act 25 of international Covent of civil and political rights state?

That all citizens have the right to vote

Argument against banning prisoners from voting?

No evidence taking away the vote acts as an effective deterrent

What are arguments for banning prisoners from voting?

If not willing to follow the law shouldn’t have a say in making the law, undermines parliamentary sovereignty

What act in Scotland allows prisoners with less than a 12 month sentence to vote?

Scot 2020

When was the 1st person of colour to be elected as an MP?

1987

In November 2010 what % of Asian voters hadn’t yet registered to vote?

24%

What can 16 and 17 year olds vote on in Scotland?

Local and assembly elections

Argument for 16 and 17 year olds having the vote?

Responsible as they already have to pay tax and can join the army

What are the 2 main forms of democracy?

Direct and representative

What is representative democracy?

Where an elected representative votes on behalf of the people

What is direct democracy?

Where the people directly vote on and raise their own matters

Examples of direct democracy on a regional level?

1998 London voting for a directly mayor and the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

Examples of direct democracy on a national level?

The 2011 UK vote on replacing the FPTP voting system and the 2016 EU referendum

What is a recent example of e-petitions from September 2024?

To remove Scottish parliaments power to vary tax rates with 12,600

How effective are e-petitions?

Not very as none have changed parliament’s mind

What e-petitions could be said to have an indirect impact as they were done anyway?

Against road pricing in 2007 and the 2019 progation of parliament

In November 2018 how many people-led petitions were made in Taiwan?

10

Since 1970 how many national public votes has Switzerland had?

Over 450

What did Switzerland have a national public vote on in 2002?

Joining the EU

Advantages of direct democracy?

Promotes political participation, purer form of democracy and improves political education

Disadvantages of direct democracy?

Tyranny of majority, lack of political education and low turnout

Evidence of an increase in political apathy?

voter turnout in elections, membership of political parties and growing volatility among voters

What was voter turnout on average from 1945 to 1992?

Usually above 75%

What was voter turnout in 2019?

67.3%

What was the turnout in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?

85%

What was the voter turnout in the 2011 alternative vote (AV) referendum?

42%

In 2019 what was the voter turnout for 18-24 year olds?

47%

In 2019 what was the voter turnout for 65+?

74%

In 2019 what was the constituency with the highest voter turnout?

East Dunbartonshire with 80%

In 2019 what was the constituency with the lowest voter turnout?

Kingston upon Hull East with 49%

Where do higher voter turnout areas tend to be?

In the south of England

Where do lower voter turnout areas tend to be?

Clustered areas e.g urban nothern Engalnd

What is the issue with data on party membership?

Not all political parties publish clear and comparable membership figures on a regular basis, can be skewed by age and social class

What proportion of the membership of the conservative party are over 60?

53%

What proportion of Labour Lib Dem and Conservative are 18-24 year olds?

5%

What is partisan dealignment?

The process where individuals become less partisan and predictable in supporting a particular political party

What factor has become a less reliable factor of voting behaviour?

Social class

How many seats the Green Party gain in the 2019 local elections?

Nearly 200 seats

What was the combined conservative and labour vote share in 2019?

75%

Description of social grade AB?

Higher and intermediate managerial, administrative, professional occupations

Description of social grade C1?

Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, administrative, professional occupations

Description of social grade C2?

Skilled manual occupations

Description of social grade DE?

Semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, unemployed and lowest grade occupations

What proportion of the UK population is in social grade AB?

22%

What proportion of the UK population is in social grade C1?

31%

What proportion of the UK population is in social grade C2?

21%

What proportion of the UK population is in social grade DE?

26%