key terms

• legitimacy is the rightful use of power in accordance with widely held agreements
• direct democracy is when individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives like in referendums
• pluralist democracy - democracy in which a government makes decisions by considering the interplay of contrasting arguments from competing groups in society
• participation crisis - a lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens in the political process
• franchise/suffrage - ability/right to vote in public elections
• think tanks - body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic, offering solutions to complicated economic, social and political issues
• lobbyist - someone paid to influence the government and/or MPs and Lords to act in their clients' interests
• representative democracy is when an individual elects a person/party to act on their behalf to exercise political choice
• simple majority is highest but not over 50%
• absolute majority is over 50%
• a super majority is way over 50%
• democratic deficit - flaw in democratic process where decisions are made by people who lack legitimacy
• civil liberties - rights individuals possess in relation to the state which are legally enforceable
• pressure group - an association whose aim is to influence policy but do not seek political power
• lobbying - an activity used to promote causes and interests to decision-makers, e.g. occupying Parliament or seeking direct meetings
• human rights - broad rights that are not always guaranteed by the state, including most civil liberties but can go further