Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Representative Democracy - Coggle Diagram
Representative Democracy
What is it?
A form of democracy in which voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. These representatives are then accountable to the public in regular elections
Accountability
Those who has been elected in a representative democracy must be made responsible for their policies, actions, decisions. Without accountability representation in democracy is meaningless.
At every election, the opposition party will question the decisions of the government. The govt will seek to explain these actions
Social representation
Those who are elected must be a microcosm of society as a whole and be broadly in line with the characteristics of the population (ethnicity/diversity).
National interest
Although MPs are elected by constituency in elections, and need to represent their local area, they must also represent the national interest. These interests may clash (airport expansion) and the MPs must address this.
-
Party representation
The MP will belong to a party. This party will have stated policies in a manifesto. The individual MP must represent and adhere to this manifesto when campaigning and represent the party's values so the voters understand who they are.
-
Advantages - informed, educated decisions. Represents everyone, rather than the public vote that would create a majoritarian society. Disadvantages - Westminster 'bubble', disconnected. FPTP makes it difficult for smaller parties to be represented.