Unit 1: people and politics: Democracy

All citizens vote on every issue 

People are directly consulted on political decisions 

People may take initiative in creating political change

In many representative democracies (UK) elements of direct democracy are used in the form of referendums 

Examples

Referendums: UK 

Initiatives: USA and Switzerland

Public Consultations

Popular vote on an issue 

For:

• encourages political participation 
• allows gov to consult the people, other than just at election time]
• can overcome divistions within gov 
• give decisions legitimacy 
• educate the public 

Against:

• undermines representative democracy 
• gives additional power to pressure groups
• increases loss of confidence in parliament 
• may be an ill informed decison as issues may be too complex for public to understand 
• possibly unreliable views
• a very close referendum vote may leave an unsatisfactory conclusions (Scotland and EU) 

People elect others to make decisions on thier behalf

political parties represent different political views 

• free, fair elections
• universal suffrage 
• party and candidate competition 

UK: MPs are elected to H of C 

Positives 

• establishes and protects freedom
  
• protects minorities
• controls gov power
• encourages popular participation 

Negatives 

• in some countries, economic development takes presendence over democracy 
• slow decision making process
• in some societies, cultural traditions are more important than democracy 
• one-party states deal with problems more effectively than democracies 

• referendums
• votes for MPs 
• everyone is equal under the law (rule of law)
• free, regular elections
• free media
• freedom to vote, stand for office and form a party 
• parliament makes gov accountable 
• variety of parties and pressure groups 
• independent judiciary safeguards the rule of law 
• Freedom of Information Act 

• have to be 18 to  vote 
• some parties have little representation
• H of L and Monarchy are not elected
• party leaders are not elected 
• head of state is unelected
• elections may be unfair with the first-past-the-post system 
• gov are elected on a minority vote
• no entrenched constitution 
• parliamentary soverignty means indivudual rights are inadequately protected 
• political participation is declining and growing political disengagement. 

Declining because:

• belief that their vote doesn't matter
• lack of knowledge
• uninterested
• lack of trust 
• forget
• don't directly elect the MP
• parties are too similar 

Evidence for participation crisis:

• 2001- 59% and 20015 -66%

Evidence against:

• 2005- rose to 61% and 2010 was 65%

Reasons to lower voting age:

• improves democracy 
• younger political education encourages people to vote
• can vote on matters that effect them 

Compulsory voting 

• might as well pay attention and vote properly 
• everyones opinion is counted
• more representative

Participatory

Additional participation beyond representative democracy 

extensive lobbying by pressure groups and indiviuals

Liberal

Additional safeguards for individuals and minorities

• gov accountable to people
• free & fair elections
• orderly transfer of power
• info freely available
• citizens have right and liberrties
• power of gov is limited
• differences tolerated