1.1 UK Democracy

Representative + Direct Democracy

DD Advantages

• equal votes
• responsibility
• community
• participation

DD Disadvantages

• TOTM
• impractical
• uninformed voter
• demagogues

RD Advantages

• practical
• expertise
• pluralism
• minority voice
• accountable

RD Disadvantages

• elitism
• apathy
• influence of the majority
• infrequent elections
• corruption

Democratic Deficit

Strengths of UK System

• devolution
• independent judiciary
• free + fair elections
• free media

Weaknesses

• elite media
• house of lords legitimacy
• MP scandals
• FPTP
• human rights protections (derogation)
• political + legal sovereignty in NI (NI Protocol)

NI Protocol

• still within EU free market
• follows

Participation Crisis

yes

• (h)apathy
• voter turnout
  • 76% unmatched
  • @@2022 local election turnout: 33.6%@@ (second order)
  • West Lancashire By-Election turnout: 31.4%
• distrust of MPs
• party membership
  • 1.5% electorate belongs to three main parties (3.8% 1983)
  • Labour: 432000
  • Conservatives: 172000
  • SNP: 104000
  • Lib Dems: 74000

no

• rise of social media activism + e-petitions (alt methods to trad.)
• turnout spikes on national issues e.g. 72% EU ref
• recent strike action (e.g. RMT, BMA, RCN + NEU + Border Force)
  • junior doctor strikes 13th-16th March 2023
• inc. turnout for PCC: 15% 2012 - 33% 2021

Improving UK System

1. stop media moguls owning multiple outlets
2. compulsory + e-voting
3. reduce voting age
4. proportional Westminster elections
5. elected HoL

Compulsory Voting

for

• participation
• abstain option
• duty/right
• mandate
• broader political campaign

against

• immoral
• rote/donkey voting
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Debates over Suffrage

Development of the Franchise

Suffragettes + Suffragists

Votes at 16

Pressure Groups

Factors, methods + types

BMA + Occupy Movement

Think Tanks

Lobbying + Chumocracy

Corporations

Cash for Qs + Cash for Influence

Modern examples

Rights in Context

developments

controversies + debates

Abu Qatada

Shamima Begum

British Bill of Rights

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