Democracy and Participation- Key Terms

?
  • Created by: KW
  • Created on: 10-11-13 19:51
Democracy
Rule by the people or ' people power'.
1 of 14
Representative democracy
Where citizens elect representatives to formulate legislation and take other decisions on their behalf.
2 of 14
Direct democracy
Where citizens are given a direct input into the decision -making process.
3 of 14
Referendum
A vote on a single issue put to the public ballot by the government of the day. Referendums offer a degree of direct democracy. They are generally framed in the form of a simple yes/no question
4 of 14
Initiative
A process by which citizens can call a referendum, normally by collecting a predetermined number of signatures on a petition.
5 of 14
Recall
A device that allows citizens to unseat an elected official before the end of their term in office.
6 of 14
Political participation
Collectively refers to the range of ways in which citizens can involve themselves in the political process.
7 of 14
Franchise
The right to vote as established by parliamentary statute. The vast majority of adult UK citizens have the right to vote.
8 of 14
Turnout
The percentage of registered voters who cast a ballot in a given election.
9 of 14
Canvassing
Where local party activists go from door to door in an effort to assess (ie canvass) the strength of support and win over floating voters.
10 of 14
Participation crisis
The view that declining levels of political participation in the UK threaten to undermine its democratic systems.
11 of 14
POWER inquiry
An inquiry into the state of political participation in the UK initiated by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. This resulted in the POWER report: Power to the People: The Report of Power- An Independent inquiry into Britain'd Democracy.
12 of 14
Subsidiarity
The principle that decisions should be taken at the lowest tier of government possible.
13 of 14
e-democracy
The greater use of the internet, mobile phones and other electronic media as a means of enhancing the operation of existing political institutions and processes, and encouraging greater political participation.
14 of 14

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Where citizens elect representatives to formulate legislation and take other decisions on their behalf.

Back

Representative democracy

Card 3

Front

Where citizens are given a direct input into the decision -making process.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A vote on a single issue put to the public ballot by the government of the day. Referendums offer a degree of direct democracy. They are generally framed in the form of a simple yes/no question

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

A process by which citizens can call a referendum, normally by collecting a predetermined number of signatures on a petition.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Government & Politics resources:

See all Government & Politics resources »See all Democracy resources »