democratic features

• peaceful transition of power - losing parties in elections accept the authority of the winning party
• free elections - all adults free to vote in a secret ballot
• fair elections - everyone has one vote and all votes are equal
• widespread participation - majority of UK electorate participate in general elections
• freedom of expression - a free press and freedom of speech as a cornerstone of a pluralistic civil society
• freedom of association - freedom to form political parties and pressure groups
• transparency (FoI) - access to information has legal safeguards
• protection of rights and liberties - legal safeguards through an enforceable bill of rights beyond the control of the state
• the rule of law - all citizens and agents of the state are subject to the same laws
• independent judiciary - judicial system formally separate from the Executive
• limited gov/constitutionalism - government powers are limited and prescribed by an entrenched and codified constitution, adjudicated by an independent judiciary
• politians are not truly representative of the people - 1/3 went to private schools but only 7% of the population has
• burkean model of trustees meant that in 2016, even though 2/3 of Wakefield voted to leave the EU, MP Creagh voted against enacting Article 50
• there has been a a lack of peaceful transition to power in some cases - female MPs attacked and Jo Cox murdered
• all 12 Justices went to elite universities, not representative of society
• in June 2022, Dominic Raab tried to overpower the HRA
• Freedom of press is not fair - four companies make up 71% of newspaper markets (Rupert Murdoch)
• Some people are exempt from the rule of freedom of expression e.g. Prince Andrew heckled and heckler arrested