1.1 pol

What is legitimacy? The rightful and lawful use of political power, usually recognised because it has been gained through an accepted process such as free and fair elections

What is direct democracy? A form of democracy in which citizens participate directly in political decision-making rather than through elected representatives

What is representative democracy? A form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives who make political decisions on their behalf

What is pluralist democracy? A system of democracy in which many organised groups and interests compete for political influence, preventing any single group from dominating power

What is a democratic deficit? A perceived lack of democratic accountability, participation or legitimacy within a political system or institution

What is a participation crisis? A decline in the extent to which citizens engage in political activities such as voting, party membership or campaigning

Name one feature of direct democracy. Citizens vote directly on political issues themselves, for example through a referendum

Name one feature of representative democracy. Citizens elect representatives who then make political decisions on their behalf between elections

Give one similarity between direct and representative democracy. Both are based on the principle of popular consent and aim to give citizens influence over government decisions

Give one difference between direct and representative democracy. In direct democracy citizens make decisions themselves, whereas in representative democracy elected representatives make decisions for citizens

State one advantage of direct democracy. It increases legitimacy by giving citizens a direct say in decisions and can boost political participation

State one disadvantage of direct democracy. It risks a "tyranny of the majority" and voters may lack the time, expertise or information to make complex decisions

State one advantage of representative democracy. It is more practical in large, complex societies and places decisions in the hands of accountable, informed representatives

State one disadvantage of representative democracy. It can create a democratic deficit if representatives become out of touch or unaccountable to the people they represent

What is one argument for reforming the UK's system of democracy? To tackle declining participation, such as falling turnout and party membership, and to address the democratic deficit

What is one argument against reforming the UK's system of democracy? The current system provides stable, decisive and accountable government through clear electoral outcomes