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Flashcards by Fariha Zaman, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Fariha Zaman
almost 10 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Representative Democracy 'Most modern democracies practice a representative form of democracy' (Lynch&Fairclough, UK, G+P) -Elected governments whereby an electorate are able to participate in free and fair elections after evaluating in a political party's manifesto over alternatives. | What is democracy? -'Rule by the people' or 'people power'. -Democracy comes from the Greek word demokratia- 'demos' meaning 'the people' and 'kratos' meaning 'the power'. -Political system where the government should serve the interests of the people. |
| -Accountability. MP's and governments can be removed every 5 years. -A key function is scrutinize gov decision making in the 2 houses. -RD tend to permit all manner of pressure groups. -They vary degrees of opportunity to advocate on behalf of their members' interests ensuring minority views are heard and considered. -E.G. The Peoples Climate March had 600,000 campaigners protesting in many locations to apply pressure on world leaders including David Cameron. | Pros -RD enables politicians to show leadership and take tough but necessary decisions that are unpopular to carry through. -E.G. Con Lib Dem coalition has put forward to cuts to public spending and serviced that have affected many lives but have helped with issues. -This proves that RD enables politicians to take decisions in the interest of the greater good as opposed to selfish decisions. |
| Cons -FPTP is unrepresentative. -2010 GE, two thirds of sets went to candidates who failed to secure a majority mandate from their constituents.. -Lib Dem Simon Wright won Norwich Seat with just 29.3% of the vote! -Safe seats. This where one candidate secures the seat by comfortable margins. | -MP's are best positioned to counter-balance opposing views with RD allowing for meaningful dialogue. -E.G. interests of cyclists aren't overrun by motorist lobby. Similarly, Theresa Pearce (Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead) was able to counter balance regarding gay marriage as well as listen to voices both for military action in Libya and Syria in 2013 before coming to a reflective conclusion both of these Commons divisions. |
| -MP's don't represent all their constituents' interests. -They vote in commons debates with their parties direction instead of the majority will of their constituents. -Teresa Pearce MP for Erith and Thamesmead has only twice voted against the instruction of the labour party! -Sometimes deliberately ignore the will. Teresa Pearce ignored views in her constituency in voting for gay marriage, | -RD leads to better decision making as MP's have the time,space, access to latest research and superior judgement(Burkean). -How can an ordinary citizen make such decisions? -Does the average man on the street share the same intellect as a politician? |
| -MP's don't represent all their constituents' interests. -They vote in commons debates with their parties direction instead of the majority will of their constituents. -Teresa Pearce MP for Erith and Thamesmead has only twice voted against the instruction of the labour party! -Sometimes deliberately ignore the will. Teresa Pearce ignored views in her constituency in voting for gay marriage, | -Parliament should be more represented to make up the population it aims to serve. -MP's are mainly white males of the age of 50 with high level education. -Women=22%.Ed Milaband wants to bring back all women shortlists. -Ethnic minorities. 9 black MP's -Privately educated elite. 90% of MPs are university graduates compared to the 20% across the adult population. With 1/3 going to private school compared to the 7% population. |
| Liberal Democracy -'LD seeks to combine the authority of democratic governments with limits on the scope of their action' (Rod Hague) -Rule of Law. Everyone is equal under the eye of the law and no one is superior. -Princess Anne committed a crime under the dangerous dog act causing her to be fined £500. | -LD have a variety of beliefs, opinions, cultures and lifestyles which are tolerated. -In Bham, Soho Rd have a number of services for all such as a mosque, temple, Rasta HQ etc. This proves that many people can use these services.-LD extend the franchise extensively. Enabling the right to vote by 'lowering the age to 16&17 will be in the Labor Manifesto' (ED M). -LD have free and fair elections that are accountable to all. In the UK GE's are held every 5 years with 18+ allowed to vote. |
| Is Britain a liberal democracy? -Formalised written constitution(UK doesn't have one) -Codified is key. Role of enshrining the rights, liberties and freedom of citizens to invalidate undue state interference. -Britain are not sufficient to have laws guaranteeing rights because these could be revoked at any time. | -E.G. Cons wanted to take Britain out the EC on HR should they win a GE majority in May. -However, even though UK are uncodified they are a long standing democracy which has encouraged many more classically defined LDs. |
| -Rule of Law. Dictates all are equal under the eye of the law. -E.G. Princess Anne and Cherie Booth | Is Britain a LD? -Do not present free and fair elections. -'One person, one vote' But in GE 2010, 2/3 of MP's didn't win the majority votes in their constituencies. -Simon Wright -In addition, the HOL is 'unelected' with 92 sitting hereditary peers. |
| -Britain celebrate a variety of beliefs, opinions, cultures and lifestyles. -Birmingham, Soho Road. -London 2011 census have shown only 45% of Londoners class themselves as white British. | -Clear access to information through the Freedom of Information Act 2000. -Important for citizens to reach information such as ones held by the NHS or school. -Organisations can give information immediately but if not citizens can make requests to receive data. |
| Direct Democracy -DD is a model of governance which affords citizens direct input into policy making. -The people themselves take the key political decisions. -E.G. US New Eng. State Town Hall meetings in Maine and Massachusetts as small scale UK local parish council meetings determining issues such as street lighting or wind farms. -DD comes from classical Athens 500 BC, where the city-states 40,000 free men had the right to attend assembly meetings at which certain polices were accepted or rejected. -Other forms include E-Petitions. (Rosie Canning, Frien Barnett Library) | Pros -Promotes transparency. The improvement and progress of a certain society lies on the hands of the people thus, at DD people are given greater responsibility dealing with equitable laws which are fairly implemented. -People are given the opportunity to acquire necessary information in order to widely and clearly understand issues of the government and laws implemented. -It brings transparency to their respective government since public can already deal on discussing government issues because of their involvement. |
| -Provides direct responsibility of the government to the people. Since every people has their right to speak out their worries and needs, politicians and other government officials are taking much concern and care to the people. -They are now held accountable for every decision of the people. -Whatever issues and concerns that the public wanted to be recognized by the government must be always given an attention. -E.G. E-petition. LDN rioters should lose all benefits, 1/2 day in W.Min Hall in 2011. | -Promotes a democratic and well-cooperated society. People have the power to speak for their own opinion that needs to be articulated by the government. -It also promotes harmonious participation of the politicians that will lead to a civic involvement and meaningful society where informed decisions were not only made by the government but also by the public as well. -E.G. Scot Ref 2014 |
| -Decision making difficulties Since direct democracy is providing greater involvement of the people, decision difficulties might be always observed. -This is evident when instances occurs that the government have used decisions of the public which came from those least equipped citizens and doesn't even know what the issue is about. -Direct democracy makes way for the people to speak for their own opinion in public in order to be immediately be given an effective answer by the government. -But, government and the people need to be careful before putting into action their decisions in order to make sure that everything they are doing would be for the progress of their society and not to be an additional burden that will let their place decline. | Cons -Involvement of elections and seminars for the people Direct democracy promotes the involvement of the public thus people need to get in touch with all the seminars and activities that the government would be introducing but there are some instances that not all the people are participating especially on elections. -Thus, in order to create a reliable answer the government is continuously rendering seminars and conducting elections until they’ve reached the exact amount of people who are in the area. -This would just serve as an additional expense not only for the money the government would be spending but also with their time and effort. |
| -Final outcomes are more likely to be accepted as all eligible citizens are able to have their say/ -Described as, 'government by consent' -The people expressing explicit majority consent was particularly important in ensuring the successful approval of the Good Friday peace agreement(1998-71.15% yes on an 81% TO) paving the way for a subsequent final 2007 peace settlement. -They serve to halt unpopular government policies or act as 'people's veto' -2004 North East Assembly was rejected with 78% no voters. | Pros -Referendums have become more significant' (Neil McNaughton, Gov&Pol) -Empower citizens, they become the key decision makers. (DD) -Scot 2014 ref -Encourage citizens to take more of an active interest and involvement in political activity more widely as they feel they are participants, being actively consulted. |
| -Supranational and national ref do in effect entrench constitutional changes preventing reversals of decisions by future governments. -Unthinkable e.g. if the coalition were to abolish the Scot Parliament which was approved in 1997. -Only they would be able to abolish after a national referendum. | Cons -Blunt instruments, that only allow for simple questions that mask the mutli-layered complexities, major constitutional changes. -Tabloid newspapers reduce the debate to crude, emotive-based arguments with editors exerting disproportionate impact upon outcomes. -Undermine 'Supremacy of Parliament' as the deliberative and legislative body of the UK. |
| -Expensive and waste of time. -E.G. It cost 9mill to develop Edinburgh congestion charges proposals which was later rejected. -Also, the govs argument is not able to draw upon significant greater financial resources. -E.G. the Gov 'yes' campaign in 1975 EEC Ref spent increasingly more money on getting their message. -Similar, in 2011 con 'no' campaign spent £1,262,465 more than Lib Dems. | -Parliament determines whether ref should be held. -They dictate what the question may be which can be seen as a political expediency. -E.G. 1975 ECC Ref was said to be phrased in such a way to encourage a positive response. -No hard or fast rules when they should be used. -Without a limit there is a potential for 'government by referendum'. -'The government controls the referendum, they use it only when they expect to win' (Arend Lijphart, 1984) |
| Why are referendums held in the UK? -Gain electoral expediency or to fulfill party manifestios. -E.G. Tony Blair who's government would go on to win the 1997 GE by a landslide, pledged in 1996 that if elected Labour would hold more referendums regarding devolution. -E.G. the establishment of a scottish parliament and welsh assembly. -The promise was used to portray Labor as a 'party of the people' and gain the trust of the electorate. | -Gain electoral expediency or to fulfill party manifestios. -E.G. Tony Blair who's government would go on to win the 1997 GE by a landslide, pledged in 1996 that if elected Labour would hold more referendums regarding devolution. -E.G. the establishment of a scottish parliament and welsh assembly. -The promise was used to portray Labor as a 'party of the people' and gain the trust of the electorate. |
| -Gain electoral expediency or to fulfill party manifestios. -E.G. Tony Blair who's government would go on to win the 1997 GE by a landslide, pledged in 1996 that if elected Labour would hold more referendums regarding devolution. -E.G. the establishment of a scottish parliament and welsh assembly. -The promise was used to portray Labor as a 'party of the people' and gain the trust of the electorate. | -Local level ref help deal with problems in the area. -Local Gov Act 2000 requires local authorities in Eng&Wales to hold a referendum on the decision as whether or not to introduce or remove a directly elected mayor if 5% sign a petition. -Hartlepool FC mascot was elected as major of HP in 2002 only for the office to be removed after a further ref in 2012. |
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