Democracy and participation

Political equality definition

Each citizen has free and equal opportunity to influence political decisions

Direct democracy definition

All individuals express opinions themselves, not through representatives acting on their behalf.

3 direct democracy advantages

1. Increased turnout

Example: The EU Referendum showed the power - with a 72% turnout. Voters directly influenced the nation’s future by deciding on EU membership. The result indicated the public’s desire for more control over national decisions.

2. Increased legitimacy

Example: In 2003, the UK’s referendum on the proposed Scottish Parliament demonstrated how direct democracy empowers citizens. The overwhelming vote in favour (74%) of establishing the Scottish Parliament showed the public's influence in shaping constitutional reform.

3. Increased political education

Example: The 2016 Brexit referendum generated widespread political debate, leading to greater engagement and awareness among voters. Citizens, particularly younger generations, became more politically active and informed about key issues, contributing to a more politically aware society.

3 direct democracy disadvantages

1. Impractical for Complex Issues

Example: The 2016 EU Referendum - many voters lacked the detailed knowledge necessary to understand the long-term implications of leaving the EU, leading to a decision that has since resulted in significant political and economic uncertainty. (MP's admit not understand single mkt)

2. The Tyranny of the Majority

Example: The 2016 Brexit referendum saw 51.9% of voters opting to leave the EU. But controlled 100% of result - hard brexit

3. Risk of Populism and Misinformation

Example: In the 2016 Brexit referendum, the Vote Leave campaign's misleading claim of "£350m a week for the NHS" was widely criticized. This manipulation of public opinion through emotional, factually inaccurate messaging led to a divisive result

Representative democracy definition

A form of democracy in which voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. These representatives are then held accountable to the public in regular elections

the 5 forms of representation + definitions

- Social representation - Members of representative bodies should be broadly in line with the characteristics of the population as a whole

- Representing national interest - have interest of the whole nation and do what you believe is right, not necessarily what the people want

- Constituency representation - listening to views and representing the constituency as a whole, as well as individuals e.g. Hunt and Godalming train lines linking w Ldn better

- Occupational representation - those who represent a specific occupational or social group e.g. trade union

- Causal representation - Represent community and beliefs to benefit community as a whole. Often representing an issue they care about e.g. LGBTQ

3 advantages of representative democracy

1. Expertise and Informed Decision-Making

Example: Parliament debates on the 2012 Health and Social Care Bill involved detailed discussions about healthcare reform, where MPs, with expert advice, made informed decisions. Representative democracy ensures that complex issues are carefully scrutinized by those with the knowledge and mandate to do so.

2. Stability and Minority Rights

Example: In the 2010 UK coalition government formed a stable government despite neither party having an overall majority. This ensured that the govt reflected a broader range of political views, including those of minority parties.

3. Accountability and Mandate

Example: In the 2019 UK General Election, Boris Johnson's clear mandate from the electorate to "Get Brexit Done" allowed him to implement policies with legitimacy.

3 disadvantages of representative democracy

Disconnect Between Officials and Public Will

Example: In the Brexit referendum, MPs favored remaining, but 51.9% of the public voted to leave, showing a gap between officials and voters.

Elitism and Unrepresentative Decisions

Example: The 2010-2015 Coalition’s austerity measures lacked a clear mandate and caused resentment as they didn’t align with voter expectations.

Disconnection from Voter Preferences

Example: In the 2024 election, Reform UK gained 14% of the vote but only 4 seats, showing how the first-past-the-post system underrepresents certain parties.

5 strengths of UK elections

- Choice of parties

- Everyone over 18 has right to vote - free and fair

- Keeps out extremists e.g BNP 2010

- Clear constituency link e.g. Hunt

- Devolved govts - PR (Scot/Wales - AMS)(NI - STV)

6 weaknesses of UK elections

- 'Wasted votes' - unrepresentative (UKIP 2015 12.6% votes but 1 seat)

- Lack of turnout - 67% in 2019

- Safe seats - Strong areas e.g. Horsham (tory)

- Swing seats - frequent change e.g. Bedford - 150 in country and hold more power than safes

- Small parties discriminated against - e.g. Liberal 1987 23% vote 3% seats

- 'winners bonus' - amount of seats strengthening legitimacy - Labour 2005, 55% seats 35% vote

6 political participation stats

- 34% women in HoC

- 67.3% turnout in 2019..... 84% in 1950

- 47% turnout 18-24 in 2019

- 74% turnout 65+ IN 2019

- 604,000 Labour/Tory members 2022..... 3.8m in 1950

- 5.4m National Trust members

reforms to democracy - 3 positive arguments to votes at 16

- Help boost current and long term participation among young people - 47% in 2019

- With education/social media/internet, young people are now better informed about politics

- Old enough for other responsibilities e.g. marriage, army or tax

reforms to democracy - 3 negative arguments to votes at 16

- Too young to make rational judgements

- Too young to understand many complex issues OR excessively radical so cant consider issues carefully

- Easily influenced

reforms to democracy - 3 positive arguments for compulsory voting

- Make people more informed about political issues

- By increasing turnout, there would be greater democratic legitimacy to winner

- Policies would need to address concerns in all parts of society, not just those who vote in large numbers

reforms to democracy - 3 negative arguments for compulsory voting

- Civil liberties violation - right vote includes right not to vote

- Increase ill-informed participation... many people would not know what they vote for

- Would favor large parties instead of small parties as less-informed citizens will vote for large parties and individuals that they have heard of

reforms to democracy - 3 positive arguments for digital voting

- Increased efficiency - saving time and money

- Increased accuracy - no chance of human error

- Greater turnout/engagement as it is more convenient

reforms to democracy - 2 negative arguments for digital voting

- Election security - system and individual data protection

- Lack of transparency - hard to legitimately verify the results

pressure group definition

A membership based organization whose aim is to influence govt policy without seeking power

the 5 aims of all pressure groups

- Represent + promote interests of members who are otherwise insufficiently represented

- Protect the interests of minority groups

- Promote certain causes that political parties are not

- Inform + educate public

- To call govt to account over policy failings + actions they think are negative

sectional pressure groups definition

Represent a particular section of society: workers, consumers, ethnic groups etc. (e.g. Trade unions or business corporations)

3 features of a sectional pressure group

- Protect or advance the interest of their members

- Membership is limited to people in the position/cause

- Members are motivated by self interest

promotional pressure group definition

Groups based on shared values, rather than common interest of members: range from environment to human rights to international peace (e.g. RSPB or Amnesty)

3 features of promotional pressure groups

- Seek to advance particular ideals or principles

- Membership is open to all

- Members are motivated by moral/altruistic concerns

insider pressure groups definition

PGs that have a close link with govt, at all levels. They have an influence over policy, both at formation and implementation level. (e.g. NFU over agricultural policy or CBI)

3 features of insider pressure groups

- Involved in the early stages of law making and policy

- Tend to employ professional lobbyists who try to influence governmental opinion

- Usually sectional groups as they have a clear membership

outsider pressure groups definition

PGs that do not enjoy a special position within govt circles. This can be govt or PG decision. (e.g. Extinction rebellion or Amnesty)

3 features of outsider pressure groups

- Usually promotional groups... sectional groups have a more clear membership so are more useful to govts

- Focus usually on getting public opinion on their side, rather than directly focused on the govt

- Have alternative methods such as campaigning or use of media. Can develop to less responsible or sometimes illegal actions.

CASE STUDY - what were extinction rebellion carrying out + examples

Carry out:

- Non-violent, disruptive, mass participation civil disobedience

- E.g. ‘shut down London’, blocking waterloo bridge, oxford circus and more

- E.g. Children school strike protest

- E.g. gluing to door of fossil fuel conference

CASE STUDY - what were extinction rebellion hoping to achieve

Hoping to achieve:

- Media attention - arrests

- Mass participation/disruption

- Govt attention

CASE STUDY - what did extinction rebellion want the govt to do

Wanted government to:

- Declare a climate emergency

- Net-zero 2030

- Tell the truth to the population

CASE STUDY - what were the limitations to extinction rebellion's methods

Limitations of their methods:

- Annoy/undermine freedoms of public - alienate people

- Arrests

PG methods - lobbying parl - explain + example

- Seek to gain special opportunities by building relationships with those in power

- E.g. Amnesty international lobbyists

PG methods - public campaigning - explain + example

- Groups without direct access to govt use demonstrations of public support to gain govt attention

- E.g. petitions, civil disobedience, use of public figures (e.g. Marcus Rashford - free school meals - caused 3 govt U-turns) (Emma Thompson - flew in for E.R protest)

PG methods - working with MPs/political parties - explain + example

- Most MP's/parties support an interest/cause, so gaining support of an MP can help to influence legislation

- E.g. labor and trade unions. Us For Them - opposed covid restrictions in schools - supported by 17 tory MP's and got education secretary, Gavin Williamson, to respond

PG methods - media campaigns - explain + example

- Press, TV or radio can help to publicize a PG cause

- E.g. WWF TV adverts

PG methods - use of direct action/illegal methods - explain + example

- Useful means of gaining mass publicity

- E.g. Greenpeace destroyed GM crops. Plane stupid disrupted flights

PG methods - use of courts - explain + example

- PG can request judicial review if they feel that the govt has acted against the RoL/discriminated against a group

- E.g. Plane stupid delayed Heathrow expansion with a judicial review. Liberty (human rights) sued Suella Braveman over anti protest laws and the illegal migration act

the 6 factors to a PG's success and a tiny explanation for each factor

Size:

- The more supporters a PG has, the more pressure that it can place of decision makers as size represents voters in a democracy

Finance:

- Needed to campaign effectively and buy lobbyists. Enables other methods like judicial review. More finance is derived from mass support

Insider status:

- Don't need to waste time and resources to gain public support. Hold govt to account (CBI 2019 - digital connectivity)

Public support/mood:

- Useful to bring an issue to the attention of decision makers as politicians are more likely to want to have public backing (MPs personal interest)

Opposition:

- Disagreeing counter groups can lower the impact that they make. (e.g. Us For Them vs. Parents For Safe Schools) (opposition from govt vs. opposition from media)

Strategic position:

- How important are they to the day to day running of the economy - rail workers vs. librarians

3 ways PGs enhance democracy

- Disperse power/influence more widely through pluralism (e.g. trade unions)

- Give more people the opportunity to participate in politics (e.g. ER mass support) = leads to calling govt to account by publicizing the effects of policy

- educates public (e.g. WWF adverts)

3 ways PGs threaten democracy

- Use of civil disobedience and illegal actions can undermine freedoms and rights of the public - Just stop oil?

- Wealthy groups may yield a disproportionate amount of influence (unelected and unaccountable)(CBI/unions)

- could lead to tyranny of the minority where by the majorities requests are not being considered as much as they should -

Example - In 2017, the RSPB pushed the UK government for stricter land development controls to protect bird habitats, but The National Housing Federation said it could delay housing projects, potentially sidelining the broader population's need for affordable housing.

external influence on govt - Think tanks + 3 explaining points

- They are: policy research organizations that seek to influence govt policy

- Impact govt by: publication of their policy research work, conferences/seminars and newspapers/TV + other media

- Impact limited: untrustworthy (unknown funding), registered as charities for tax breaks = lack of transparency

Think tanks essay argument for and against (influential)

1 - They are influential - IEA and Truss. Truss's 2022 mini budget with £45bn unfunded tax cuts inspired by IEA policy. She spoke at many IEA events before she because a PM. They advocate for low tax and regulation

2 - Are not influential. - Since its introduction in 1999, Adam Smith Institute has been campaigning for the removal of the national minimum wage. Sunak raised it to £11.44 in April 2024

external influence on govt - lobbyists + 3 explaining points

- They are: organizations or individuals that employ people with close relationships to those in power in order to influence them

- Impact on govt: arrange events to meet those in power, private meetings, seek charitable funding. = lobbyists gain their clients access to power to achieve their goals

- Impact limited: lobbying leads to spending large amounts of money on campaigns

Lobbyists essay argument for and against (influential)

1 - they are influential - D. Cameron being a private lobbyist for Greenstill capital hedge fund. He was basically texting Chancellor Sunak asking for PPE bail outs. 1 in 5 tory MPs was a lobbyist in 2022

2 - Not influential - Coca Cola and British Soft Drinks Association lobbiest against the 2016 Sugar tax in Osborne's buget to tackle childhood obeisity, but failed.

external influence on govt - corporations + 3 explaining points

- They are: Large corporations are so big and influential that they count as a sectional PG. e.g. Google, Apple and Amazon

- Impact on govt: they resist legislation that may hinder them and emphasize the positive role that they play in the economy. (insider influence - strategically important role in economy)

- Impact limited: not an official govt branch so they don't have to be listened to

Human rights definition

the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. Apply no matter what (non-contextual)

civil liberties defintion

basic rights and freedoms granted to citizens of a country through the national common or stature law (contextual)

EXAMPLE - Amnesty international's 2 AIMS in the protection of rights

- to protect people whenever they believe justice, freedom, truth and liberty has been denied

- to educate to create a safer society

EXAMPLE - 3 examples of Amnesty international in action

- used satellites to capture images of human rights abuse in Syria, North Korea and Sudan which raised awareness and were used in court

- contributed to India decriminalizing same sex relationships

- contributed to Malaysia and Washington state abolishing the death penalty

EXAMPLE - Liberty's 1 AIMS in the protection of rights

- fight to protect and uphold civil rights and liberties across the UK

EXAMPLE - 3 examples of Liberty in action

- They got Lib-Dem leader to persuade party to go against non-disclosable (secret) evidence bill

- Successfully won SC trial about a loophole in equality at about equal marital reactions for same sex couples

- Won a CA Hearing about police use of facial recognition software

individual rights definition

rights that only impact the individual

collective rights definition

rights that impact the community as a whole

3 strengths of rights protection in the UK + examples

- UK is signed up to European Convention of Human Rights, through the Human Rights Act - it contains a number of fundamental human rights (e.g. right to a fair trial), which helps to push forward progression and upholding of rights in the UK

- The judiciary is independent of parl and politics - judges have protection (e.g. security of tenure) and can't be criticized by politicians. The UK is 10th in the world for RoL rankings - - plus all the unit 2 stuff

- The role of PG - allows govt to be challenged and criticized in a very public way, e.g. amnesty

3 weaknesses of rights protection in the UK + examples

- Parliament is sovereign and can pass laws infringing civil liberties - legislation can undermine human rights, e.g. Public Order Act 2023 which limits rights to protest

- The aftermath of the Brexit vote resulted in judges being attacked and their position politicized - SC limited Therisa May's ability to leave EU without parl vote. Judges faces on front of newspaper with 'enemies of the people' (threaten democracy) - plus all the unit 2 stuff

- PG can and have been ignored by govt - even insider groups don't have to be listened to = no official platform for change

3 arguments the UK has a democratic deficit

1 - PG's may have disproportionate influenec / tyranny of the minority

2 - FPTP distorts representation and leads to wasted votes

3 - low participation - 67% 2019 + look at party membership stats

3 arguments the UK does not have a democratic deficit

1 - PG's enhance democracy by widening participation

2 - FPTP ensures stable govt

3 - alternative forms of participation are thriving - high referendum turnouts (e.g. 84.6% in Scotland 2014), and youth protest movements (e.g. climate strikes, BLM) suggest citizens still care — just in different ways.