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Direct and Representative Democracy - Coggle Diagram
Direct and Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy
Referendums
50% of the vote gets a result
Recall an MP
An MP that has committed an offence can be recalled if 10% of the electorate in the constituency sign a petition, triggering a by-election
E-petitions
Those that get 100,000 signatures are debated in the Commons
Representative Democracy
Types of Representation
MPs
Political parties
Pressure groups
Principles of RD
Burke's Concept of Representatives
A representative should use their judgement, not just follow the will of the people
Delegation
Representatives represent and follow will of people
Group representation
Groups in society are representatives
Party representation
Representatives elected under a party label are expected to follow the party line (generally)
Pros and Cons
DD Advantages
Purest form of democracy
Equal weight to votes - gives a voice to people, no wasted votes
Avoid corrupt MPs, don't need paid representative
Public more responsibility so leads to more educated public?
DD Disadvantages
Impractical in large state
Apathy - may not feel educated enough?
Public open to persuasion/manipulation
Minority opinion is disregarded
RD Advantages
More practical in large state
Cheaper than regular referendums
Can hold people to account
Organised system
Representative may be better informed, use rational judgement (not as emotional?)
RD Disadvantages
Less participation
Corrupt MPs
Politicians 'out of touch' and untrustworthy?
Politicians avoid accountability
MPs can have other jobs
FPTP system leads to majority rule
Parties overrun by self-interested elites
How representative is the UK?
Regular elections?
Over 18s on electoral register can vote
General election every 5 years
Prisoners can't vote though
Protected civil liberties
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
New Bill of Rights?
Multi-party system
Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, SNP etc
Checks and balances on government's power
Governments removed at elections if not voted in again
Pressure group presence
RSPCA on animal welfare law
ASH with smoking ban
Stonewall with gay marriage and adoption law
And more...
Independent judiciary
Supreme Court separate from government and non-political
US Supreme Court is political
Representative assembly
2019 data
34% female MPs
Labour have more female MPs than male
10% ethnic minority background
7% LGBTQ+
Not private educated dominated
Only 41% of Conservatives
30% of Lib Dems
14% of Labour
Does DD or RD work better? Should one be favoured over the other?