| What are the Criteria for 'Democracy' | -People have the Influence over Political Decisions
-Gov and Elected Bodies are held Accountable
-Government operate within the Law. The Government under the same Laws as the People
-Elections held, Freely and Fairly, and Universal Adult Suffrage
-People to be free to make Political Parties and Stand in Elections
-Transition of Power from One Gov to the Next is Peaceful
-Rights and Freedom is Respected by the Government
-Power rests in Many Places, not just One |
| What is Legitimacy? | -When the Outcome of the Election is Accepted, and the Government Authority is Recognised by the People |
| What are the Characteristics of Direct Democracy? Where has it been Seen? | -People make the Key Decisions themselves
-Modern Form: Referendums and Initiatives used, as well as Public Meetings and Consultations. E-Petitions and Recall of MPs furthermore.
-Ancient Greece [Athens] describes as Direct Democracy
-The UK uses Direct Democracy to solve Constitutional Issues |
| What is Direct Democracy? | -Where the People make the Political Decisions themselves.
-In the Modern Day, it is about the Use of Referendums and Initiatives |
| What is a Representative Democracy | -Citizens elect Representatives to make the Decisions on their Behalf and are Accountable |
| What are the Characteristics of Representative Democracy? | -People Elect Representatives to make the Decisions
-Regular Elections along with Representative Assemblies, like Parliament and Councils
-Government Elected to make the Key Proposals and arrange the Implementation
-Gov and Representatives are Accountable
-Parties to Campaign to Represent the People in Gov
-PGs represent Society and Causes Outside the Political System |
| What is Similar between Direct and Representative Democracy? | -Both Include the usage of Voting and Participation [Nature is Different]
-Some Forms of Direct, ie Public Meeting, needs Consultation, linking with Representative
-Most Representative Democracy's include the usage of Direct Democracy [Referendums] and Opposite is true |
| What is Different between Direct and Representative Democracy? | -Voters do not elect Individual in Direct, they are Involved in Referendums. But Representative is Different: Vote on Someone
-Voters takes a Number of Issues in Representative, but under Direct, Voters focus on a Single, Prominent Issue
-Voters under Direct more Actively Politically in Decision Making while Representative Voters are more Passive [Switzerland vs UK] |
| What are the Advantages of using Direct Democracy.
-Include Examples (EX) | -Everyone gets a Say in Decision Making [The EU Ref was a Huge Democratic Exercise: 72% 33 Million People. Very High in UK]
-Organisations much easier due to Modern Technology [Use of E-Petitions as Skyrocketed: Easier to know What People are Thinking]
-Gives Equal Weight to Votes [In a Ref, All Votes are Counted and the Side with the Most Wins. EU has Leave 52%]
-Encourages Genuine Debate [Electoral Reform Society had found the Scottish Independence Ref was done with Honest and Reasonable Arguments |
| What are the Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
-Include Examples (EX) | -Decisions made by People in Ref can be Different to Representatives [UK suffered a Bad Political Hit due to Brexit]
-Impractical for Large Pops [Emergency Calls have to be made Quickly and by a Few Select People]
-Leads to the Tyranny of the Majority [Majority of England voted for Leave; Scotland for Remain. Since Leave won, Scotland had to bite the Bullet]
-Can allow an Ill Educated Population to make poor Decisions [Many voters in the EU Ref felt Confused about Information they received- 55% did not have Sufficient Info] |
| What are the Advantages of Representative Democracy
-Include Examples (EX) | -Accountability [
-Practical for Complex Issues [During Covid, MPs had to weigh the Issues from Small Firms & to Minimise Social Contact]
-Gives a Voice to Minority [Parliament has Extended the Rights of Citizens, ie HRA and FoInfo Act]
-Trains Future Leaders [Johnson held Prominent Roles in Cabinet under Cameroon and May. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs & Chair of Cabinet Office Briefing Room] |
| What are the Disadvantages of Representative Democracy
-Include Examples (EX) | -Reps don't always do what People want; instead do what They Want [Lib Dem MPs pledged on not Raising Tuition Fees, but Still did it after 2010 Election]
-Politicians can be Corrupt [Chris Huhne Resigned over Perverting the Course of Justice; wife took Driving Points on his Behalf. 2012]
-Minorities may find Unmet Concerns [MPs voted Down on Amendments to the Bill allowing UK to leave that would have protected Child Refugees]
-Not All Voters get the Rep they Want [FPTP has meant Small Parties are Under Represented. Is that Bad or Good?] |
| What is a Pluralist Democracy? | -Widespread Acceptance of Different Groups and Lifestyles; Freedom of Expression is Accepted and where many Parties and PGs can Operate.
-Where there is also Independent Media
-Power is Dispersed and not Concentrated |
| What is a Democratic Deficit? | -When the Standards of a Function Democracy has fallen Short |
| Name some Pluralistic Features that are Found in the UK System
(EX) | -Power Lies in may Different Places - Britain Leaving the EU had used a Number of Institutions - Parliament, Judges and the People.]
-Free and Fair Elections - All Adults can Vote, and the Results are Accepted
-Corruption & Wrong Doing is Punished- 2 MPs in 2019, Fiona Onasanya and Chris Davies, were Recalled Successfully
-Rights are Protected - HRA allows Citizens to use UK Courts to protect their Rights under the ECHR
-Devolved Decision Making - Scottish and Welsh Parliaments have received Power from Central Government |
| Name some Democratic Deficits found in the UK System
(EX) | -Power is Concentrated - IEA [Institute of Economic Affairs] accused over using Cash to Influence Ministers]
-Not Perfect Elections - 16 & 17 yr olds cannot Vote in GE as well as Prisoners can not vote too
-Corruption is not Punished - Johnson in 2020 failed to Explain his 15K Holiday he got from David Ross.
-Rights are Not Protected - HRA is not Entrenched meaning Parliament can Scrap it via an Act
-Limited Devolved Decision Making - 85% of Local Council Budgets in England come from Central Government |
