Systems of democracy

• Peaceful transition of power: those who lose power by democratic means accept the authority of those who have won.
• Secret ballot: voting is private and done away from public view so it is unknown how an individual has casted their vote.
• Fair election: everyone has one vote and all votes are of equal value, safeguards in place to prevent fraud and ballot rigging.
• Political participation: a well-informed and active population can prevent government becoming too dictational.
• Civil liberty: the right of the people to express their opinions and criticise government, free media and no censorship.
• Rule of law: all citizens should be treated equally under the law and the government itself is also subject to the same laws.
• Independent Judiciary: judges of the judiciary ensure all individuals and groups are treated equally under the law and the government does not exceed its authority.
• A constitution: a set of democratic principles and limits to be enforced, constitutionalism.
• Jeremy white: conservative representative who must deal with opposition of HS2 being built through his constituency.
• Tulip Siddiq: labour MP who chose to resign after 75% of her constituency voted to remain in the EU but her party must vote to leave due to 3 line whip.
• Nadine Dorries: conservative representative who resigned after a motion was tabled in parliament requiring MPs to attend when she hadn’t spoke since July 2022.
• General elections are held every 5 years.
• There are 650 constituencies.
• Turnout in the 2001 general election was 59.4% (a historic low).
• Pressure group: a group that tries to influence public policy in the interest of a particular case e.g. trade unions.
• Advantage of replacing house of lords: remove an unelected body.
• Disadvantage of replacing house of lords: they are expertise.
• + of replacing FPTP: removes minority constituencies and safe seats.
• ~ of replacing FPTP: coalitions would become more likely.
• + of codified constitution: higher law that would be entrenched.
• ~ of codified constitution: too rigid and judges would have even more power.
• + of creating a devolved parliament: crest more equal level of representatio.
• ~ of creating a devolved english parliament: england too large.
• + of introducing compulsory voting: increased turnout and more legitimate elections.
• ~ of introducing compulsory voting: suffrage also includes the right not to vote.
• + of introducing state party funding: allows politicians to focus on their main jobs.
• ~ of introducing state party funding: connects politicians to voters and questions would be raised on allocation.
• + of replacing monarch: unelected figure to be replaced with an accountable one.
• ~ of replacing monarch: is popular and, being neutral, can act as a unifying figure.
• The freedom of information act of 2000 allowed the expenses scandal to be uncovered.
• Flipping was when politicians claimed more by swapping their main residence with their other home.
• The IPSA (independent parliamentary standard’s authority) overseas parliament activity.
• 74 MPs we’re not re-elected in the 2010 general election after the expenses scandal.
• 7 MPs received prison sentences from the expenses scandal.