democracy & participation

• how has the franchise evolved


  1832 great reform act (middle class men could vote), 1918 representation of the people act (all men over 21, 30y/o landowning women), 1928 representation of the people (equal franchise) act all women over 21, 1969 representation of the people act (voting age lowered to 18)
• legislation about rights in the UK 


  magna carta 1215 (limited king's power), common law (stuff judges enforce), statutes (parliamentary laws), HRA 1998, Equalities act 2010
• European convention on human rights 


  UK gov has to protect human rights -> parliamentary sovereignty and theresa may's suggested Bill of Rights
• how can rights be confusing

  if they conflict eg freedom of expression v no hate speech
• what is the difference between sectional and causal pressure groups


  causal = widespread support, goals for particular cause, direct action

  sectional = represent specific section of society, serve their members, insider status
• what do pressure groups do

  lobbying, civil disobediance, campaigning & petitions, legal action, advise government
• how do pressure groups enhance democracy?

  educate public (act for the act 2015 raised awareness for the HRA), give easy way to participate (40mil people signed 30degrees epetition), promote interests of minorities (stonewall)
• how do pressure groups harm democracy


  can spread fake news (stop 5G), doesn't encourage voting, internally undemocratic (unelected leaders), wealthy groups have more influence- promotes elitism
• why is political participation falling


  partisan dealignment, votes unequal value (marginal/safe seats), political apathy
• is participation falling in general election

  1994 87% turnout, 67% 2019
• name the 5 ways people participate in politics

  party membership, trade union membership, pressure group membership, campaining, petitions (& voting in elections!!)
• how could participation be encouraged

  compulsory voting (100% turnout in Australia)

  lowering voting age to 16 (scottish indieref had 80% youth turnout)
• why shouldnt they extend the franchise

  people would spoil the ballots and vote irresponsibly

  young people wouldnt vote 43% 18-24 turnout 2015
• evidence for accountability of representatives 


  libdems lost many seats 2015 after failing to lower tuition fees (and raising them!!)
• 4 advantages of representative democracy

  accountability to public

  reps can be experts

  can handle complex issues better

  minorities heard in government (HRA & equalities act)

  allows experienced reps (bojo in cabinet 2 years before PM)
• 4 disadvantages for representative democracy

  reps do what they want anyway (libdems 2010 tuition fees)

  parties follow own agenda

  corrupt politicians (Chris Huhne)

  minorities still unmet needs (Rwanda plan & immigrants)

  not all voters get the rep they want (FPTP)
• turnout 2016 referendum


  33 mil people

  52% majority
• indieref 2014


  85% turnout, 55% remain
• 2019 general election had 67% turnout, indieref had 87%- what does this show?


  shows importance of salient issues and that they encourage participation (but referendums lack accountability)
• what does good friday referendum 1998 show


  GFA helped resolve cultural conflict and helped sense of community (but EU ref deepend divides)
• what is democracy 


  the people having influence over political decisions
• features of direct democracy 


  people make decisions themselves, uses initiatices and referendums, only ancient athens had a complete direct democracy, uk only uses it to solve constitutional issues
• features of representative democracy 


  people elect reps to make political decisions on their behalf, regular elections to assemblies/parliaments/councils, gov & reps accountable to the people
• what is a major difference between representative and direct dem

  representative democracy- voters consider wide range of issues

  direct democracy- voters consider 1 issue
• what is the franchise 


  everyone who can vote (citezens, over 18, not in prison, sane), but concerns participation is falling
• uk being a democracy

  pluralism (power in different places), free & fair elections, corruption & wrongdoing punished, rights are protected, devolved decision making