AS UK Government and Politics- Democracy Flashcards

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What is direct democracy?
A political system where decisions are made by people rather than by representatives on their behalf
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What problems are associated with direct democracy?
Not possible with large numbers of voters; people do not want continuous partcipation; most people lack the knowledge and expertise to make informed decisions
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Define representative democracy
A political system in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions of government on their behalf
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Distinguish between direct and representative democracy
The key distinction is between direct and indirect participation
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What is liberal democracy?
Limited government is the essence of Liberal democracy.There is minimal government regulation but the state encourages partcipation and protects the rights of citizens
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Is the UK a pluralist democracy? Explain your answer
Yes. A pluralist system of government allows public participation particularly through the activities of pressure groups that are free to express differing and conflicting points of view
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Is the UK a parliamentary democracy? Explain your answer
Yes. The House of Commons is democratically elected and therefore governs by the will of the people
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Why are totalitarian regimes not 'real' democracies?
In a totallitarian regime, people are often represented by a single individual or an elite. Elections may be held, but candidates who oppose the leader or the elite are not permitted.
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What is a referendum?
A vote on a single issue put before the electorate by the government, usually in the form of a question requiring a 'yes' or 'no' answer
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Distinguish between a referendum and an initiative
A referendum is government initiated whereas an initiative is when the electorate demand the right to be asked a question on an issue
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Outline three arguments for the use of referendums.
They provide mandate for constitutional changes; they are a form of direct democracy and encourage popular participation
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Outline three arguments against the use of referendums.
They are inconsistent with the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty; they may result in voter apathy and low turnouts and effective alternatives to test public opinion already exist e.g. opinion polls
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Referendums are 'devices alien to our tradition'. True or False? Explain your answer
True- In a representative democracy, representatives are traditionally elected to govern on behalf of the electorate and are not expected to ask about other issues between elections.
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List three issues on which referendums have been held:
Continued membership of the EEC (1975); Devolution for Scotland and Wale (1997) and the introduction of AV for Westminster elections (2011)
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Explain why these issues were put to a referendum:
Labour Party was divided over Europe and this was seen as a way of uniting it. Devolution was a major constitutional change. A referendum on AV was part of the agreement to from the Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition government after the 2010 election
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Do referendums widen democratic participation? Explain your answer:
Yes. Voters get an additional opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
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Why have there been referendums in the UK for US-style mayors?
It is one of the ideas that the new Labour government of 1997 had for reinvigorating local democracy and countering voter apathy. The coalition also favoured increasing the number of elected city mayors
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Suggest why there have been low turnout in these referendums:
Electorate could feel apathy to a mayoral election in addition to local, Europeam and general. Turnout is especially low in local. The cost of paying a mayor could raise council tax. It's unclear how they would fit in the political structure
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Should mayoral elections go ahead on the basis of 'yes' vote on a low turnout?
Yes. A democracy is more concerned with a majority verdict than with actual number of voters.
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Do low turnouts place a question mark over the legitimacy of the actions of these new mayors?
In theory yes, but in practise they are unlikely to do so
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Local referendums on issues such as council tax increases and congestion charges have been held. Why?
Issues such as taxation are contraversial and referendums shoq local councils what the electorate think about such proposals
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Will initiatives be introduced in the UK? Explain your answer:
Possibly- referendums are top-down (initiated by central or local government) and initiatives are bottom-up (initiated by citizens) and citiznes are increasingly making their voices heard on issues that concern them.
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Will the wider use of referendums invigorate democracy?
They have the potential to do so, but low turnour suggests they are not doing so at present
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Present the case for the wider use of referndums:
There will be important constitutional changes requiring consent e.g. AV for Westminster elections. Future governments may be divided on issues e.g. Labour in 1975
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Outline 3 ways the UK can be considered democratic:
Free and fair elections; parties and pressure groups operate freely; rule of law exists
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Outline 3 ways the UK isn't considered democratic:
Unfair electoral system; unelected House of Lords; no entrenched Bill of Rights
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Dies the coalition government of the 2010 election make the UK more or less democratic?
More-it represents 59% of the popular vote. Less- The voters did not agree to the compromises to the manifesto policies in the Coalition Agreement
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What problems are associated with direct democracy?

Back

Not possible with large numbers of voters; people do not want continuous partcipation; most people lack the knowledge and expertise to make informed decisions

Card 3

Front

Define representative democracy

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Distinguish between direct and representative democracy

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is liberal democracy?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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