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

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