DEMOCRACY IN THE UK
- Created by: hermione
- Created on: 13-03-17 18:09
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- DEMOCRACY = Any system of government where the people have access to independent information and are able to influence government decisions. Also implies that government makes itself accountable to the people.
- access to independent information, including free press and other media
- accountable to the people and representative institutions
- peaceful transition of power
- free and fair regular elections
- high degree of freedom all round
- different political ideologies and beliefs are tolerated
- all equal under the law
- government operates in the broad interests of the people
- DIRECT DEMOCRACY
- people make decisions - usually through referendums
- EU REFENDUM 23RD JUNE 2016 - LEAVE - 52%-48%
- people directly consulted on political decisions
- people take political action - protest/ strike
- JUNIOR DOCTORS STRIKE APRIL 2016
- people make decisions - usually through referendums
- REPRESENT-ATIVE DEMOCRACY
- the people elect MPs to represent them
- people delegate their power to their chosen MP
- MP is granted legitimacy through local election
- Theresa May for Maidenhead since 1997
- pressure groups and associations represent different sections of society, interests and causes
- RSPB - over 1m members and biggest in UK
- Fathers for Justice
- ASH
- different political parties representing different political views
- pluralist democracy
- there are representative assemblies that express the will of the people of sections of society
- Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
- LEGITIMACY
- you legit have the right to govern and make laws
- conveyed by election
- can argue that the UK government lacks legitimacy because its election on minority of national vote - winner takes all
- 2015 - the conservative party gained 37% of popular vote with a 66% turnout :- 73% of voters didn't want conservative in power and 44% not voting had the power to change outcome
- can argue that the UK government lacks legitimacy because its election on minority of national vote - winner takes all
- the degree in which a body or person is justified in exercising power
- CONSENT
- the evidence that the people consent to be governed in a particular way by a particular party
- free elections
- good turnouts
- distinct lack of popular dissent
- clear demonstrations of support for the government
- an explicit referendum to adopt a particular constitution
- CITIZENSHIP
- the status of being a citizen grants a person the enjoyment of certain rights
- right to vote
- right to stand for office
- fair trial if accused of a crime
- treated equally by the law
- to be guaranteed justice
- citizenship implies the employment of civil liberties
- freedom of expressionetc
- also carries certain duties and obligations
- pay taxes, obey the law
- the status of being a citizen grants a person the enjoyment of certain rights
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