politics paper one

• how does voting/ non suggest a participation crisis

  1945-92 average turnout 75%, High of 84% in 1950s. 2001 was the lowest since 1918 + despite 2019 67% poor compared to 20th cent. local election turnout lower than general election turnout= limited power. devolved election turnouts lower than ge- voter fatigue from too many ops + regions lack power= less inclined to vote. dev turnouts incl 50% on Wales + creation of mayor assemblies = 33%
• what is evidence against a participation crisis- voting

  2001 turnout increased from 59% to 67 in 2017 to 69 in 2019 = participation increasing. voting ops increased through European elections 1979 + elections to the devolved N.I, scot and Wales 1998. increased use of referendums since 1997, historic matters= high turnout e.g 1998 ref on Good Friday 81%, and scot independence 85% in 2014.
• party membership suggesting a participation crisis

  since 1950s declining part membership e.g cons in 1953- almost 3 mill vs 2019 180,000 + lab 1953, 1.5 mill vs 2019 485,000. clear decline in party loyalty also maybe due to the parties not reflecting society ( lab working class vs cons middle class ) including age, ethnicity + education, more important modern factors than tradition
• no participation crisis - party membership

  since 2015 resurge of party membership - support for SNP + green + lab increasing in 2015 for Corbyns new labour style. Decrease in quantity but increase in participation quality compared to post war subscriptions but no active members. 21st century structure change - ability to participate more widely e.g Johnson 2019 66% votes based on 87.4% of party membership
• participation crisis- individual politics 


  slacktivism rather than activism- low level of engagement due to lack of effort. meaning no replacement for higher levels of political participation e.g voting or joining party membership.
• no participation crisis- individual politics

  increase in individual vs collective: petitions e.g change.org claim globally secures campaign victory every hour. e.petitions- allows public to petition the hoc + press govt action w.g revoke article 50 had 6 mill signatures = debated in parliament. allows individuals to express individual preferences without being moderated by mass politics seeking appeal. and engages people in new initiative participation
• outline the human rights act

  1998- incorporated European convention human rights= citizens challenging laws in uk courts = govt back down
• outline freedom of information act and equality act

  2000- access files from any govt body = more open governing system equality- 2010- illegal to discriminate e.g race gender religion etc
• rights protected- judicial review 


  review of ministers and officials to ensure they're lawful. can be declared with ultra vires= minister acting beyond their powers, authority has been exceeded, procedural impropriety or irrational decisions
• rights protected- common law


  rules that have been established by customs, judges may decide some rules are so deeply rooted in tradition that they interpret them, but statute law takes importance over common law
• rights protection 


  complicated due to debate of individual vs collective rights e.g right to privacy vs freedom of the press, right to protest vs right to peaceful existence
• functions of political parties

  representation, participation , elections, govt organisation and education
• key features of political parties

  1. to become govt
  2. organised bodies with a formal membership
  3. broad focused issues
  4. united by political preferences and ideological identity
• key features of left wing policies

  introduce change, more equal society and prioritise the needs of the group over the individual = belief in intervention, collectivism, welfare and wealth redistribution
• key features of right wing policies

  stability in society, individual over the group, organic society, seek freedom therefore favour free market and individualism = support for lower tax, limited welfare
• can democracy be improved through introducing compulsory voting

  yes- Australia 90% turnout= increases legitimacy, help govt resolve weak mandate, forces politicians to be more responsive and represent youth least likely to vote

  no - compulsory= rights infringed, contradicts historical achievements e.g suffragettes, minor expectation for the rights and freedoms of a liberal democracy
• can democracy be improved by lowering the vote to 16/217

  yes- may encourage life long habit of engagement, enhances representation e.g scot 2014 referendum 16 turnout= 75% showing potential, 16/17 have responsibilities such as work taxes, medical consent, criminal responsibility = legible to vote

  no - overall turnout would drop = weakened legitimacy, shown by regional evidence as 16/17 being the west turnouts, better to understand low youth turnout rather than lower the age before solving the problem
• what are possible threats to civil liberties in the uk

  1. stop and search without record why
  2. freedom of expression - equality act threat to free speech
  3. anti-terroism - police abuse power of search and interrogation
• direct democracy

  public expressing opinions themselves e.g refs

  positive - purest form of democracy, and people make the decisions = legitimacy

  negative - can lead to tyranny of majority - minority ignored, and some issues may be too complex for public understanding
• representative democracy

  modern form - person selected to act on behalf of public e.g elections

  positive - provides accountability, and government have specialised knowledge in these areas

  negatives - participation levels low = lacks legitimacy, and representatives not true reflection of people they claim to represent
• how can size determine pressure group success

  govt listens to big groups due to electoral impact e.g NSPCC ensures levels remain high = 'flaw in law' 2014 resulted in sexual messages sent to under age becoming part of 2015 serious crime act, and size = more donations = able to run campaigns and employ e.g NSPCC £117.9 mill 90% from supporters BUT not always most powerful e.g trade unions largest + huge economic donations but no insider status under cons govt since 2010
• how can wealth determine pressure group success

  • govt listen due to economic power - source of employment and investment in economy
  • but wealth less important, technology cheaper + easier for opinions
• govt compatibility and pressure group success

  • positive - 2011 march for the alternative = limited policy impact due to Cameron spending cuts commitment but govt couldn't ignore due to debt promise
• pressure groups enhance uk democracy

  accountability - justice4grenfell 2017 silent walks to obtain justice for families etc + ensure never repeated = may pledged 5mill fund to help survivors and women 150 million settlement 2023

  Hillsborough justice campaign - justice and reopening of inquest were 96 killed. used e-petitions and years of lobbying = 30 years later police accountable

  alternative accountability as govt dominate parliament with majority
• PG enhance democracy

  accountability limitations - escape accountability for illegal + criminal activity - leaderships refuse liability for anti-social behaviour + destructive protests = undermines democracy e.g challenges right to peaceful existence
• PG enhance democracy 


  representation - represent society that cannot/ don't vote e.g shelter- homeless people disenfranchised + Howard league - prisoners and campaign for reform of conditions and voting rights

  disperse power - pluralism, giving power to workers in minority groups e.g public sector strikes = increased public sectors

  young least likely to vote - national student union = interests of students full-time education + campaign for fee abolition
• PG enhance democracy

  representation limitations - wealthy insider groups = influence govt e.g of elitism

  hyperpluralism - saturation of 700+ pressure groups so drown each other out as all fighting for govt attention

  donations to political parties suggest power concentration
• pg enhance democracy

  participation - larger membership compared to parties e.g national trust 4 mill, more than all parties combined

  • more continuous + active
  • single issue attract youth and less politically educated e.g extinction rebellion - organise protest, online training + advice + NUS - automatic registration at uni enrolling = increase youth participation + solve youth crisis
• pg enhance democracy

  participation limitations- passive/ check book members = shallow participation

  illegal protests + civil disobedience can discourage support
• uk democracy improved through e-democracy

  • cost effective + modern way with 90% smartphone users + popular - 4 mill for 2nd EU ref, + youth quake - increased social media = encourage young voters
  • but undermines secret voting - 'digital footprint' = weakens legitimacy + tactical votes, + threat of cyber attack = distrust, + celeb influence encourages elitism
• uk democracy improvements through election improvement

  • make it more accessible e.g bank holidays
  • but public hols may decrease turnout
• process of Stv

  used in Northern Ireland, proportional system, produces a multi-party system

  • rank candidates in order of preference on ballot
  • if fav candidate reaches above quote then vote will be transferred to second preference and so on until only two parties remain
  • if party doesn't reach the quota it will be eliminated
• STV

  advantages - less wasted votes, proportional= better representation

  disadvantages - complicated counting process, complex and time-consuming
• SV process

  single-member constituencies

  • rank 1st and second preference
  • winner = min of 50% of votes
  • if no majority in 1st round then only top 2 remain and the other parties votes get redistributed on basis of the electorates 2nd preference
• SV

  advantages - more proportional than FPTF, limits chance of extremist parties emerging, candidates on basis of majority not pluralities disadvantages - succeed = first choice in a large number, so if minor parties are 2nd preference then still underrepresented, fewer wasted votes but doesn't ensure winner has 50% as large sum of those votes likely to have been redistributed.
• when is SV used

  in uk to elect mayor of London, metro police and police and crime commissioners
• AMS process

  scot and Wales:

  • proportional representation
  • 2 ballot papers - one for constituency representative and one for region
• AMS advantages and disadvantages

  advantages - voters have directly accountable constituency representative

  disadvantages - complicated and cause confusion, less effective than FPTP as a proportion of representatives have no constituency duties = avoid accountability
• FPTP

  single member constituency plurality system, 650 members, party that achieves a majority = govt
• FPTP

  advantages - strong single party with clear electoral mandate= carry out manifesto promises, single party = united so stable, easy and produces quick results

  disadvantages - unfair - favours two main parties = winners bonus - discriminates against small parties e.g 2015 UKIP 3.8 mill votes but 1 seat, disproportionate