Democracy and participation

• Direct democracy 


  A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly as opposed to indirectly through their elected representatives. Votes take place on specific questions - EU + Brexit referendums
• Representative democracy 


  A system of democracy in which people vote for

  elected representatives, for example in local and general elections. Elected representatives then make decisions on the people’s behalf.
• Suffrage 


  The right to vote. Universal suffrage effectively equates to democracy.
• Forms of Participation

  • Voting
  • Membership
  • Standing as a candidate
  • Joining a pressure group
  • Writing letters to mp’s and councils
  • Attending marches and strikes
  • Signing e-petitions
  • Interacting with political posts
  • Boycotts
• Partisan de-alignment 


  The process where individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis by being associated with a certain political party.
• What’s wrong with representative democracy 


  • Gedling - Randall won with 45% although 55% voted against him 
  • Swiss yearly referendums - hijab ban
• What’s wrong with direct democracy


  • Tyranny of the majority - Brexit
  • Election fatigue - America + Primaries
• What should democracy look like

  • Free and fair elections - low turnout + id laws
  • Represent people‘s views - whipped mp’s
  • Legitimate - supported by people - FPTP distorts party rep + no gov won over 50% votes
  • Participation - Poll station hours ignore workers - id laws discriminate
  • Educated populace - politicians and sources of news biased - Brexit
  • Accountable
  • Lawful - rule of law
  • Civil rights
  • Smooth transfer of power
• Issues with UK Democracy 


  • FPTP System - majority vote against winning party in every election since 1945
  • Do we need PR? Issues with FPTP
  • Mps represent constituency or party?
  • Do we need more independant scrutiny - Boris judged priti conduct
  • Does the press need greater regulation - Brexit
• Direct democracy :


  Voters vote on referendum

  • 1975 + 2016 - European
  • FPTP replaced with AV
  • Devolution
• Representative Democracy 


  Voters vote for a person/political party to represent them

  • Westminster system = Person
  • Case Study - mayoral elections
• Direct democracy : 


  Much more democratic

  • Representatevs may not be who peope voted for and can do what they want once elected ( even change parties )