Politics - UK Politics - Democracy and Participation

what are Tony Benn’s five questions about democracy

1. what power have you got?

2. where did you get it from?

3. in whose interests do you use it?

4. to whom are you accountable

5. how do we get rid of you

explain elections in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge they face

should be free, fair and secret. everyone must have an equal say

turnout varies particularly according to age group

explain representation in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

those who are elected must act in the best interests of their citizens, who must be able to represent their opinions

political representatives often represents their party’s views rather than their citizens

explain legitimacy in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

governments and legislatures have legitimacy as they have been chosen in elections

FPTP system distorts party representation at Westminster

explain participation in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

people can freely get involved in politics in a variety of ways

some participation opportunities require far more commitment than others

explain accountability in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

those elected to governments or local councils are held accountable for their actions, which should be transparent, open, and free from corruption

frequent complaints about how governments can easily cover up their mistakesmany argue

explain rule of law in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

laws apply equally to everyone, anyone who breaks the law is punished

many argue that politicians continuously see themselves above the law, shown in scandals like cash for questions

explain smooth transition of power in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

formal process for handing power from one government to another, should occur peacefully without violence

explain civil rights in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge they face

the rights of people are protected and defended by the law and through courts

UK lacks embedded set of civil rights, access to justice can be extremely expensive

explain education and information in terms of UK democracy, and a challenge it faces

the public are well politically educated and have access to accurate information from trustworthy sources

many sources of news are biased and one-sided, growth in fake news on social media

what is representative democracy

a system of democracy in which people vote for elected representatives, who make decisions on the people’s behalf

what is direct democracy

a form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly as opposed to indirectly through elected representatives

3 advantages of representative democracy

• practical for large populations

• encourages political accountability (representatives can be removed at elections)

• provides political stability

3 disadvantages of representative democracy

• representatives may reflect their party’s needs rather than their voter’s

• electoral systems can distort representation eg FPTP

• risk of elite domination

examples of referendums in the UK

• 1973 - Northern Ireland voted on whether to remain part of the UK

• 2014 - Scotland independence referendum

• 2016 - UK EU referendum

examples of e-petitions in the UK

• 2019 - 6 million signatures for Article 50 to be revoked and UK to remain in the EU

• 2017 - 1.86 million signatures to stop Donald Trump from making a state visit to the UK

advantages of direct democracy

• promotes political participation

• enhances legitimacy, as decisions have the direct authority of the people

• considered a purer form of democracy

disadvantages of direct democracy

• public may not fully understand the question they are being asked

• populist outcomes often prevail

• it is impractical, especially for large populations

main features of Great Reform Act 1832

one in five adult males could now vote, abolished rotten boroughs system

main features of Second Reform Act 1867

allowed many working class men to vote, doubling size of electorate

main features of Third Reform Act 1884

all working men with a property qualification could now vote, 40% of men were still excluded

main features of the Representation of the People Act 1918

all men over 21 could now vote, women over 30 who met the property qualification could vote

main features of the Representation of the People Act 1928

women received equal voting terms to men, all men and women over 21 could now vote

what did the Representation of the People Act 1969 do

lowered voting age to 18

what were some of the chartist’s demands in the Peoples Charter

• all men should have the right to vote irrespective of wealth or property ownership

• voting should take place by a secret ballot

• payment for MPs

main tactic of the Chartists

petitions - main ones contained up to 6 million signatures that were presented to Parliament

two main groups in the suffragette movement

suffragists - formed in 1897, focused on peaceful and constitutional methods eg petitions, marches, leaflets

suffragettes - formed in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst, were more militant and prepared to break the law, used methods such as chaining themselves to railings, disrupting public meetings, and going on hunger strike when imprisoned

key arguments used by women in suffrage movement

• women are intellectually equal to men

• women paid the same taxes and obeyed the same laws as men

• the franchise had already been reformed to include two-thirds of men

key arguments used against the suffrage movement

• women were too emotional to cope with politics

• politics would be a distraction from women’s key roles as wives and mothers

• some believed certain areas such as politics and the military were naturally more suited to men

what percentage of MPs were women or of ethnic minority after the 2024 election

women - 40%

minority ethnic background - 14%

arguments in favour of prisoners voting

• voting is a fundamental right that cannot be removed

• removal of the vote further alienates prisoners from society

• the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled against a blanket ban, so the UK gvt must honour its decision

• no evidence the taking away the vote acts as a deterrent

arguments against prisoners having the right to vote

• those who commit serious crimes against society should lose the right to say how that society is run

• losing the vote serves as another deterrent against law breaking

• prisoners are concentrated in constituencies with prisons, meaning people would be voting for MPs in areas in which they are not a permanent member

examples of political participation methods with a low engagement level

• liking or reposting on social media

• signing e-petitions

• voting in elections

examples of political participation methods with a medium engagement level

• emailing MP

• joining political party

examples of political participation methods with a high engagement level

• activist in local party

• standing for elected office

general voting patterns since 1945

turnout was usually around 75-80% between 1945 and 1992

record low of 59.4% in 2001

rose to around 70% until 2024, when it fell to 59.7%