Participation

• What is participation

  Participation is the act of affecting the political system, and it happens in our everyday lives more than most people appreciate
• Examples of participation

  • Voting in elections and referendums
  • Being a member of a political party
  • Engaging on social media
• Define apathy 


  Apathy: people feel disenfranchised from the system and don’t vote
• What does voter turnout refer to?

  The proportion of the eligible population that actually votes
• Why is falling voter turnout in general elections significant?

  It means governments are elected with fewer votes, questioning their legitimacy
• What was the voter turnout in the Middlesbrough by-election in 2012?

  26%
• What are the implications of low voter turnout in elections?

  • Governments may lack legitimacy
  • Decisions may not reflect the will of the majority
  • Potential for increased political apathy
• Party membership

  Party membership is another helpful measure of participation. 1.6% of the electorate belongs to one of three main parties, compared to 3.8% in 1983. Membership, however, differs between the parties:

  • Conservative Party: 400,000 in the mid-1990s, 172,000 in 2022.
  • Labour Party: 190,000 in early 2000s, 360,000 in 2024.
• What is the current trend in pressure group membership?

  Pressure group membership has been increasing in recent years.
• What does the increase in petitions on the government’s website indicate?

  It shows that people engage in the issues they care about.
• How have social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter influenced political engagement?

  They have become hubs for political conversation and debate.
• What has been the trend in voter turnout since 1997?

  Turnout has been lower since 1997 but has recovered with a steady increase between 2001 and 2019.
• What was the voter turnout for the Scottish Independence referendum in 2014?

  85%
• What was the voter turnout for the European Union referendum in 2016?

  72%
• What are the key statistics regarding voter turnout in recent referendums?

  • Scottish Independence referendum (2014): 85% turnout
  • European Union referendum (2016): 72% turnout
• Is there a participation crisis table