Politics Paper 1

• Democracy


  Rule by the people. The UK has adopted two forms of democracy: direct and representative.
• Direct democracy


  Originated in ancient Athens and is used in the UK through referendums (votes on a single issue). Involves directly voting on the issue rather than having representatives decide on the publics behalf.
• Representative democracy


  Used in general, regional and local elections via the electoral system: FPTP. Involves electing someone to make decisions on the behalf of others. E.g. MP's are voted into the HoC by their constituency and therefore have a duty to represent them.
• MP representation models


  Trustee model (making their own judgment). Delegate model (representing their constituencies opinion of interest). Party model (representing their party's interests).
• MP different levels of representation


  Constituency representation.

  Party representation.

  Social representation (e.g. being apart of a particular section of society (like the working class) and representing their interests).

  National representation (considering the opinion of the country as a whole).

  Causal representation (e.g. being apart of a pressure group means representing what they stand for).
• Advantages of direct democracy


  It is the purest form of democracy as it allows everyone to express their opinion.

  Can increase political participation and keeps individuals engaged in politics.

  Avoids delay and deadlock within a political system. If a majority vote for something, it will happen and the decision will be made quick.

  Decisions will be strongly legitimate. E.g. if a majority vote for something, it makes the decision legitimate.
• Disadvantages of direct democracy


  Can lead to tyranny of the majority. E.g. subordinate groups of society won't be able to voice their interests through voting as they would be overpowered by majority's. This means direct democracy ignores the opinions and well being of the minority's in society.

  People are easily swayed by charismatic leaders. E.g. Boris Johnson during Brexit caused people to vote differently than they would have otherwise.

  Some issues are too complex for the general public to understand. E.g. AV referendum. Also the Scottish independence referendum- the impacts were difficult for the people to comprehend.
• Representative democracy advantages


  Representatives can be held to account. E.g. they can be voted out during general elections. E.g. Zac Goldsmith was voted out in 2019 by his constituency. This notion does not apply to constituencies whereby a certain party possesses a safe seat.

  Representatives can combine differing demands into a single coherent decision.

  Representatives can ensure that the interests of specific sections in society are taken into account.

  Most MP's are well educated and are therefore more rational than certain members of the public. E.g. Parliament consists of many individuals who were educated through private schooling.

  In a direct democracy, people wouldn't have time to vote but in a representative democracy that position is delegated to someone who is willing to form choices on the behalf of others.
• Representative democracy disadvantages


  Between elections, representatives can't be held accountable. The only way to remove an MP is through recall elections but it only works when that MP has done something severely illegal.

  Representatives may become corrupt and therefore not take into account the interests of their constituents.

  Conflicting representation makes it difficult for MP's to form a decision. E.g. their party may be in favour of a bill but their constituency may be against it.
• Political participation


  Refers to the rate of engagement in politics by the people. Involves standing for public office, active party membership, active pressure group membership, digital activism and the most common form: voting (e.g. referendums or general elections)
• Political participation crisis


  Refers to the decline in political engagement overtime. E.g. voting rates have decreased for general elections as a whole. However, it could instead be argued that the UK is adapting into a more modern democracy through the growth in digital activism and pressure group support.
• Elective dictatorship


  A government that dominates parliament through having a large majority which gives them few limits to their power. E.g. Tony Blair's new labour government in 1997.
• Evidence for the decline in active party membership


  Active party membership refers to activities like going to local meetings and campaigning for the party.

  In the 1950's, the Conservatives had a mass membership of 3 million. However, now, Tory membership is less than 180,00. Party membership is often unrepresentative as they are predominantly made up of upper class males.
• Evidence for the decline in voting habits


  While this is meant to be the most common form of political participation, it has declined. E.g. in the 1950's, turnout was on average 80%. However, in 2019, the turnout for the general election was only 67%. It could be argued that this is decreasing due to a lack of trust in politicians or due to voter apathy (lack of political interest causing one to not vote).
• Evidence for the rise in digital activism


  Involves politics happening online through movements on social media and E-petitions. This has risen due to the increase in social media use and the fact that we are moving to a more modern society.

  In 2020, over 170,000 signed an E-petition to gain more support for the arts. As a result, the government applied more funding into arts like theatre and music.
• Democratic deficit


  Flaws in the UK's democracy. Includes things like the unelected HoL, FPTP electoral system, uncodified constitution, asymmetrical devolution and low turnouts.
• UK's democratic features


  Free elections which links to universal suffrage which theoretically means that everyone recognised as adults have the right to vote.

  Right to vote without fear or intimidation is avoided via the use of secret ballots.

  Fair elections whereby everyone's vote has equal value. Ballot rigging is avoided through certain safe-guarding rules.

  Freedom of expression and association.

  The rule of law which means the law has to apply to everyone equally.
• Replacing the HoL as a potential reform


  Issue- HoL is unelected.

  Reform- replace it with an elected chamber.

  Benefits- would increase legitimacy, prevent cash for honors and cronyism.

  Cons- could lead to gridlock (clash with the HoC) due to rivalry.
• Changing the FPTP electoral system as a potential reform


  Issue- FPTP lacks proportionality.

  Reform- change the voting system.

  Benefits- would remove negative features of FPTP like safe seats and unfair representation.

  Cons- risk of losing the MP constituency link. The AV referendum gave the people an opportunity to change the voting system but the people chose not to change it.
• Codifying the constitution as a potential reform


  Issue- Uncodified constitution means lack of entrenchment and protection of rights.

  Reform- codify the constitution.

  Benefits- it would make rights better protected.

  Cons- the constitution may become too rigid making it difficult to alter when needed. The location of sovereignty would be questioned and it would be difficult to decide who would write it.
• Creating a devolved English parliament as a potential reform


  Issue- asymmetrical devolution and West Lothian question.

  Reform- create a devolved English body.

  Benefits- solves the West Lothian question while equalising devolution.

  Cons- England is too large to have a separate devolved body and regional devolution has also been rejected by voters.
• Compulsory voting as a potential reform


  Issue- low turnouts.

  Reform- compulsory voting.

  Benefits- would raise turnout and therefore help improve legitimacy of elected officials. Would also increase political participation as more people will start getting involved and becoming informed.

  Cons- it may decrease legitimacy as people may just randomly cross a random box. It is also a civil right to abstain from voting.
• Reducing voting age as a potential reform


  Issue- low turnouts.

  Reform- reducing voting age.

  Benefits- may raise turnout. E.g. in the Scottish independence referendum, 16 year olds were able to vote which increased the turnout to 75%.

  Cons- young people don't really vote. E.g. only 40% of 18-24 year olds vote. 60 year olds have the highest turnout of an average of 75% .
• Evidence for the decrease in turnout for general elections

  In 2019, the turnout was only 67%. This is a big contrast from general elections in the 1950's where turnout was around 80%.
• The franchise/suffrage


  Who possesses the ability to vote/who has the right to vote. Overtime, the franchise has expanded. E.g. in 1928, women over the age of 21 were given the right to vote. By 1969, the age requirement for voting was reduced to 18.
• 1832 the Great Reform Act


  The percentage of the adult population allowed to vote was increased from 4% to 6%. E.g. new social groups like shopkeepers and farmers were given the right to vote. Despite this, women were still not allowed to vote.
• 1884 the Third Reform Act


  Most working class men were included in the franchise/were given the right to vote. This increased the percentage of adults able to vote to 60%.
• 1928 Representation of the People Act

  Women over the age of 21 were given the right to vote.
• 1948 Representation of the People Act


  Established the principle of "one person, one vote". E.g. before this university graduates were given 2 votes. The act essentially disabled this ability.
• 1969 Representation of the People Act


  Voting age reduced to 18.
• Suffragists and their work

  came together in 1887. used peaceful methods of protesting like letter writing and peaceful marches and petitions. These methods however, weren't working so by 1903, the suffragettes were formed.
• Suffragettes and their work


  A group that came together in 1903 whereby only women could join. They used illegal methods of direct action to promote their cause. E.g. attempting to blow up buildings, going on hunger strike and chaining themselves to railings. This meant that internally, they weren't democratic.
• Pressure groups


  Organisations that do not seek power but aim to influence those in power. They can either be interest groups, causal groups or part of the new social movement. They can possess an insider or outsider status which evidently determines their success.
• Interest groups


  Groups that represent the interests of certain groups in society. Closed membership- only those associated with the interests represented by the group are able to join. E.g. the BMA represent doctors and medical students so only they can join. They are also self interested/concerned with their own issues.
• Causal groups


  Groups that aim to promote a cause. Open membership- anyone can join. Tactics used often involve direct action. They are there to serve the community as a whole. E.g. Greenpeace.
• New social movement


  A more modern type of group as their activities are often organised online. They often possess a loose structure and because of this are considered as having an outsider status like UK uncut.
• Insider status


  The group are welcomed into government discussions and meetings.
• Outsider status


  The group isn't welcomed into government discussions. Often as a result of taking direct action which makes the government reluctant to associate with them.
• Methods used by pressure groups


  Lobbying, direct action, illegal methods, public campaigning, judicial review and donating.
• Donating as a method used by pressure groups


  Donating to political parties refer to financial grants to parties. This can be effective as it can potentially sway policy makers into creating or changing policies in the groups favour. E.g. Bernie Ecclestone, F1 owner, alowed to advertise tobacco 1997. made donations to the Labour party to get a policy through. Despite this, donations are considered to be controversial.