Democracy and Participation

• What are the Features of Democracy

  1.Accountability

  2.Election

  3.Participation

  4. Rule of law

  5. Education and information

  6.Representation
• What are the advantages of direct democracy

  1. People can participate directly in the decision making process
  2. the wishes of the people cannot be ignored by their elected representatives or the government
  3. people can be motivated to become well informed about political issues
  4. Decisions have the direct authority of the people. This gives them greater legitimacy
• What are the disadvantages of Direct Democracy

  1.The public may not fully understand the question they are voting on. Elected representatives might be better

  2. The majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a minority group

  3. People may vote for emotional or populist short term reasons

  4. holding so many votes is slow and expensive.
• What is the Great reform act 1832


  Extended the right to vote to male property owners. One in five male adults could vote. 5.6% of the population
• Representation of the people act 1969


  Voting age lowered to 18
• What is the Representation of the people act 1918

  Women over 30 who met the property qualification could vote
• what is the representation of the people Act 1928

  All men and women over 21 could vote, property qualifications removed
• What did the chartists ( 1838-48) do

  Campaigned for votes for all men over 21. The movement presented three petitions signed by millions to parliament. (All three petitions rejected by parliament)
• Who were the suffragists (1860-1918)


  Campaigned for vote using peaceful constitutional methods.
• Who were the suffragettes (1903-14)

  Used militant methods including window breaking, chaining themselves to railings and arson. Attracted a lot of news
• What was Hirst v Uk (2005) 


  Involved a prisoner, John Hirst who was serving a sentence for manslaughter. Argue that the uk gov was in breach of the human right act 1998 for not allowing prisoners to vote. 2017 conservatives gov allowed small numbers of prisoners to vote (100)
• Arguments for a participation crisis

  1. Turnout in general election has fallen in recent decades. 1950- 80% voted. 2001- 59%
• What is Plutocratic Revenue

  Politics catering to the super rich
• What is a catch all party

  A political party that is trying to cater to every voter , ideology
• what is apathy 


  Lack of interest in politics
• What is Hapathy


  People are satisfied with the politics and therefore don’t feel the need to vote.
• What is First past the Post

  A plurality voting system where voters cast a single vote and the candidate with the most votes wins the election
• What is a recall election

  Voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum