Democracy

Democracy

Power
1. Political Power
  1. Ability to persuade
  2. Party whips
  3. PM in UK power
  4. Appointing
2. Coercive Power
  1. Extreme = Terror /
  2. Strongest form
  3. Used when people don't conform
3. Influence
  1. Over what government does
  2. Cannot be enforced
  3. Weaker form
Authority
1. Traditional
  1. Convention
  2. Hereditary monarch
  3. People consent
2. Legal - Rational
  1. Elective authority
  2. Rational way of gaining authorty
  3. Most powerful
3. Charismatic
  1. Gives more authority when combined
  2. Granted by acclaim
  3. Individual ability to inspire etc
Governing
1. Government of the People
  1. Most citizens able to particpate
  2. Being aware
  3. Inactivity means democracy will die
2. Government by the People
  1. The people themselves make the decisions
  2. Referendums
  3. Direct democracy
  4. Consulting the people
3. Government for the People
  1. People govern in the best interests of the people
  2. Representing all the community
  3. Best represented as possible
  4. Representative democracy
Functions of Democracy
1. Encourages political participation
2. Controls government power
3. Establishes / protects freedom
4. Protects minorities
5. Disperses power more widely
Direct Democracy
1. Types
  1. Referendum
    1. Important decisions put to the people
    2. National, regional or local
    3. UK ones are not binding
  2. Initiatives
    1. Rare in the UK
    2. When citizens vote in a petition on a specific issue
    3. Results in a referendum if successful
  3. Public consultations
    1. Public consulted before important decisions
    2. Internet makes this easier
  4. Petitions
    1. Not binding but influential
    2. In Scottish parliament they are considered more
2. Advantages
  1. Purest form of democracy
  2. Disperses power widely
  3. More decisions made acceptable to the population
  4. Can prevent decision making mistakes
  5. Increases participation
  6. Forms of political education
3. Disadvantages
  1. Tyranny of majority
  2. Many decisions too complex for the electorate
  3. Emotional rather than rational responses
  4. Can be distorted by opposition groups
  5. Voter fatigue
Representative Democracy
1. Features
  1. There are free elections to representative assemblies
  2. Elected representatives can be made accountable
  3. Legislature
  4. Parties to represent
  5. Pressure groups operate freely
2. Advantages
  1. Representatives more 'specialised'
  2. Representatives more likely to make rational decisions
  3. Accountability
  4. Delegated power
3. Disadvantages
  1. Representatives may not actually represent views
  2. Party whipping
  3. 'Rule by elites'
  4. Only fair if elections are also fair
Democracy in the UK
1. Positives
  1. Regular and free elections
  2. Many independent sources of political education
  3. Democratic institutions
  4. Freedom to vote and stand for office
  5. Referendums occasionally held
  6. Parliament makes government accountable
  7. Variety of pressure groups and parties allowed to flourish
  8. Human rights act protects
  9. Independent judiciary which safeguards
  10. Rule of law applies
  11. Freedom of info act enables access
2. Negatives
  1. Unelected institutions persist e.g monarchy & HOL
  2. Elections are arguably not fair (FPTP)
  3. Government are elected on a minority of the national vote
  4. No entrenched constitution
  5. Parliamentary sovereignty
  6. The EU has lots of power
  7. Political participation is declining
  8. Growing degree of political disengagement
Enhancing Democracy
1. UK can participate by..
  1. Voting in local, regional & national elections
  2. Voting in referendums
  3. Politcal group membership
  4. Becoming an activist
  5. Standing for public office
2. Evidence for decline in political participation
  1. Turnouts failing
  2. Turnouts for referendums low
  3. Party membership falling since the 80's
  4. Activism fallen
3. Methods for increasing participation
  1. Compulsory voting
    1. +
      1. Increases turnout
      2. Poltical thinking
      3. Legitimate
    2. -
      1. Abuses freedom
      2. Costly
      3. Results may be 'artificial'
  2. Vote at 16
    1. -
      1. 16 itoo young
      2. May not vote
      3. Distortion of parties
    2. +
      1. Young are politically aware
      2. Improves identiffication
      3. Education relevant
  3. Citizenship Education
    1. -
      1. Expensive
      2. No genuine interest
    2. +
      1. Improves political knowledge
      2. Encourages engagement

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