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Democracy and Participation - Coggle Diagram
Democracy and Participation
Representative Democracy
People vote for elected representatives such as in local and general elections.
Elected officials make decisions on the people’s behalf.
Most common form of democracy in the UK.
Certainly in Westminster,most MPs belong to a political party, making decisions on behalf of voters once in office.
Elected representatives:
have the knowledge and skill to make complex decision on behalf of voters
take a broader view of issues as they are responsible for nearly all areas of policy. Essential to prioritisation.
political alliance means that voters have an idea about how they will vote in parliament.
more efficient than laying numerous decisions and laws directly before the people for approval or rejection .
Direct Democracy
People decide on the policy initiatives directly as oppose to indirectly through elected representatives (referendums)
Direct democracy is rarely practiced in the UK, almost exclusively reserved for constitutional issues.
Advantages
Promotes political participation
Improves accountability as elected representatives cannot ignore the wishes of the people.
Improves political education, motivation to become we informed before arriving at a rational decision.
Enhances legitimacy as decisions have the direct authority and mandate of the people.
Turnout for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was 84.6%
Disadvantages
There is a lack of political education, elected representatives are better place to analyse and evaluate the issue.
Referendums are not binding on the government, in the UK under parliamentary sovereignty prevails under the terms of the constitution.
Populist outcomes may prevail, for emotional short-term reasons.
Turnout is often low for referendums
Introduction of an AV in 2011 turnout was 42%, reducing any notion of democratic legitimacy.
The majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a minority group (tyranny of the majority)
It is impractical in a large diverse country, would be costly and time consuming.
Voters choosing lower taxes and increased public spending.
1973: NI remaining part of the UK
1975/2016: whole of UK voted of continued membership of the EU
2011: Whole of UK to switch to the AV system opposed to the continuation of FPTP.
As well as referendums,
e-petitions
are an example of direct democracy.
Enable members of the pubic to identify and raise issues with the government.
Any e-petition with more than 10,000 signatures receives a response from the government, more than 100,000 are considered for debate in parliament.
In 2019 around 6 million signatures were collected in a petition to revoke Article 50 and have the UK remain in the EU.
Petitioners rarely change the mind of the government, but the Supreme Court did rule against parliamentary prorogation
2019- around 1.7 million signatures in opposition.
The UK’s use of direct democracy contrasts sharply with other democracies who use direct democracy
Switzerland directly embeds it into political culture
For example, 50,000 people can challenge any piece of legislation within 100 days of its adoption by parliament (
optional referendum
) a clear check on representative government.
Participation Crisis
Yes
Turnout has been low in recent years
Turnout in general elections is currently lower than it has been historically. Undermines the legitimacy of results.
Away from general elections:
2019 European elections 37% (-3 from 2014)
2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections 27% (+12 from 2012)
Away from general elections issues such as Scottish Independence and Brexit excite passions on both sides of the political divide.
2014 Scottish Independence Referendum 85%
2016 EU Referendum 72%
2011 AV Referendum 42%
Further referendums have been called for especially on the topic of Scottish Independence
Turnout reached 84% in 1950, but by 2019 it fell to 67.3%
Decreased by 1.5% from 2017, which was the second highest since 1997
Significant variation according to age, the older are more likely to vote.
2019 Ipsos MORI
18-24s = 47%
Over 65s = 74%
Treated with caution as unlike raw turnout figures, these only cover a selection of voters.
Variation according to constituency.
Highly marginal seat of East Dunbartonshire in 2019 = 80%
Kingston- Upon-Hull East = 49%
HIgh turnout constituencies in 2019 tended to be in the SW and SE, often in affluent areas with corresponding higher average levels of education and a high proportion of graduates.
Turnout in 2017/2019 not linked to marginality.
Safe seats (70% of) constituencies only had 0.8% higher turnout than in 197 seats that had changed their hands within the last 4 general elections.
Partisan dealignment
Voters are far more likely than in the past to switch between parties
One reason for this is the supposed disillusionment with politicians, following the 2009 Expenses Scandal. Abuse of power exposed by the Telegraph, leading to the resignation, sackings and deselection of MPs and Lords, some imprisoned.
MIchael Gove said that Brexit would be quick and easy
The dealignment can be seen as evidence of wider disenchantment with parties and politics, specifically with the two main parties.
Social class becomes less reliable as an indicator, so voters 'shop around'.
Vote according to policies and personalities as opposed to traditional tribal loyalties.
Political Promiscuity
Conservative/Labour vote share
2010 65%
2017 82%
2019 75%
Green Party gained almost 200 seats in local elections in 2019.
People are still politically engaged, and willing to participate whenc ertain parties and groups reflect their own views.
Protests although participation are not necessarily positive.
Could be the reason behind
falling party membership
The 1950s saw Conservatives boasting around 2.8m members, compared with around 180,000 in 2019.
In 2015, only 1.0% of the electorate was a member of the Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties (compared with 3.8% in 1983).
leaving the parties with fewer volunteers, a limited talent pool to draw candidates from, and an increasing reliance upon wealthy donors and pressure groups.
No
Shift in traditional participation methods
Membership of pressure groups, particularly with single issues.
British Deaf Association- supporting the recognition of BSL as an official language.
Emergence of social media, has exposed more people to political participation, especially the youth, who may not necessarily have high turnout, but engage in other ways such as retweeting to share support for the causes they believe in.
Internet based movements such as #MeToo can be powerful and effective, against sexual harassment led to much public debate if not recognition.
Direct democracy allows for the electorate to engage with politics.
Opportunities for people to have a direct say on issues that affect them significantly and feel strongly about.
E-petitions and referendums
E- petitions allows for issues of public concern to be raised, so elected officials can decide whether change is needed.
Important in instigating the introduction of new or changed laws.
2015- 'accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants' gathered 400k signatures.
**Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation, allowed for the settlement of 20,000 Syrian refugees, with £100m spent on humanitarian aid.
Features of a Democracy
Elections- Should be free, fair and secret
Irrespective of class, gender and ethnicity, everyone has an equal say.
Turnout varies drastically amongst groups, such as age.
Representation- those elected must act in best interest of the citizens in their area.
Most elected representatives belong to a political party and represent their party’s views most of the time.
Rule of law- laws apply equally to everyone, including the government, anyone who breaks the law is punished.
Sometimes, some people see the government as above the law, such as parliamentary privilege, and momentarily Boris Johnson with ‘Partygate’.
Suffrage Developments
Origins of parliament predate democracy
Britain is reality was an oligarchy in which political power lay almost exclusively in the hands of a small group of voters.
Universal suffrage was achieved evolutionary
Once eligibility began, it was arguably inevitable that the momentum for politics reform would continue until virtually all the adult population was enfranchised.
Great Reform Act 1832
Passed by Whig Government
One in five male adults could now vote (5.6% of the total population)
Abolished ‘rotten boroughs’ which were constituencies that had almost no voters but dutifully elected two MPs every election.
Represenation of the People Act 1918
Passed by David Lloyd George wartime coalition
Product of social and political changes
All men over 21 (19 for veterans) could vote.
Women over 30 meeting property qualification could no vote.
Representation of the People Act 1928
Passed by Stanley Baldwin’s Conservative government
Women received the right to vote on equal terms to men
Representation of the People Act 1969
Passed by Harold Wilson’s Labour government
Voting age was lowered to 18.
Suffragists and Suffragettes and Gender Dimension
Originated in the 1860s, suffragists were peaceful, suffragettes were militant and prepared to break the law.
Women paid equal taxes, were intellectual equals, franchise had already been reformed, roles as mothers and wives were vital to the nation
However, politics would be a distraction, they were too emotional, and women would outnumber men among the electorate
Reforms were necessary for men anyway, there was a change of PM, as wel as the invaluable contribution of women at war.
It took far longer for women to be elected as MPs (Nancy Astor 1919), to become PM (Margaret Thatcher 1979) as well as women still being underrepresented at Westminster.
Suffrage as a Human Right
Issues include the votes for 16-17 year olds, and the debate over whether prisoners should vote.
16-17 year olds enjoy the responsibility and rights of paying income tax and national insurance, joining the armed forces and consenting to sexual relationships and getting married.
Traditionally, prisoners lost the right to vote while incarcerated.
Unlike many states in the US, this right was only removed during incarceration, not extending beyond.
Convicted prisoner John Hirst began a legal campaign supported by many penal reform pressure groups
The UK High COurt initially dismissed this case in 2001, but overturned by a ruling of the ECtHR of unlawfulness and in isolation of Article 3 of the First Protocol of the ECHR.
Should prisoners in the UK have the Right to Vote?
Yes
Voting is a pet of civic repsonsibility, removing it makes rehab harder
Voting is a fundamental rights
Societal alienation through disenfranchisement
The ECtHR ruled against a blanket ban so the UK must honour its commitment to abide by the court’s ruling.
No
Should lose right to have a say in how society is run.
osing the vote serves as a deterrent from future committing of a crime.
Not necessarily a member of the community of the constituency they are in
Public opinion is strongly against
Undermines parliamentary sovereignty