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democracy and participation - Coggle Diagram
democracy and participation
Extending the franchise
Extending the franchise refers to expanding the right to vote to more individuals within a society. This process typically involves lowering age requirements, removing property or income qualifications, and including previously excluded groups, thereby broadening democratic participation.
The Representation of the People Act, 1928
Reduced the voting age for women to 21.
Removed property qualifications for voting.
Great Reform Act, 1832
Further lowered property qualifications.
Increased voting rights for the middle class.
Reform Acts of 1867 and 1884
Allowed women over 30 to vote if they met property qualifications, benefiting mostly wealthy, white women.
Lowered the age limit for men to 21.
The Representation of the People Act, 1969
Lowered the voting age to 18.
The Representation of the People Act, 1918
Allowed women over 30 to vote if they met property qualifications, benefiting mostly wealthy, white women.
Lowered the age limit for men to 21.
Lowering the Voting Age
Impact on youth engagement – Allowing younger people to vote could increase political participation among students and young workers, giving them a greater voice in shaping policies that affect their future.
Case study: Scotland’s 16-year-old voters – Scotland lowered the voting age for the 2014 independence referendum and later extended it for all Scottish elections, leading to high youth turnout and more engagement in politics.
Arguments for and against – Advocates argue that 16-year-olds can work and pay taxes, so they should have a say in government decisions. Opponents claim younger voters lack political maturity or experience.
Votes for Prisoners
Human rights considerations – Some argue that restricting prisoners' voting rights violates fundamental human rights and democratic principles.
International comparisons – Many countries, including Denmark and Canada, allow prisoners to vote, while the UK has a near-total ban, making it an outlier.
Public opinion and political resistance – This is a highly controversial issue, with strong opposition from politicians who fear public backlash if prisoners are enfranchised.
Compulsory Voting
Impact on turnout rates – Countries like Australia and Belgium have mandatory voting, resulting in consistently high voter participation.
Ethical concerns about forced participation – Some argue that forcing people to vote infringes on personal freedom and could lead to uninformed choices.
Countries where it is implemented – Over 20 countries have some form of compulsory voting, though enforcement varies.
Online Voting
Accessibility improvements – Digital voting could make elections more accessible to disabled people, overseas voters, and those with mobility issues.
Cybersecurity risks – There are concerns about hacking, voter fraud, and data privacy, making online voting a complex issue.
Pilot programs and trials – Some countries, like Estonia, have successfully implemented online voting with safeguards in place.
Votes for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
Political maturity arguments – Supporters claim younger people are engaged and capable of making informed decisions, especially with citizenship education in schools.
Education and civic engagement – Encouraging voting early can build lifelong engagement in democratic processes.
Lessons from Scotland and Wales – Both have extended the vote to 16-year-olds in local and devolved elections, showing positive impacts.
Participation crisis
Political Trust
General distrust in politicians and political institutions
Role of media in shaping trust
General distrust in politicians and political institutions
A participation crisis is the decline in voter turnout and political engagement, indicating widespread disinterest or distrust in the political system
Voter Turnout
Declining turnout in general elections
Low engagement in local elections
Factors contributing to low turnout (e.g., voter apathy, disillusionment)
youth turnout
Efforts to increase youth engagement (e.g., educational programs, social media campaigns)
Low participation rates among young voters
Possible reasons (e.g., feeling of disconnection from politics, lack of education on political issues)
Declining Voter Turnout
Historical trends – Turnout has fallen from around 80% in the 1950s to only 59.7% in 2024, raising concerns about democratic legitimacy.
Reasons for decline – Apathy, distrust in politicians, and lack of compelling choices contribute to lower engagement.
Impact on democracy – Low turnout weakens the mandate of elected officials and can lead to policies that don’t reflect the will of the majority.
Falling Political Party Membership
Decline in major parties – Membership in traditional parties like Labour and Conservatives has dropped significantly since the 1980s.
Rise of smaller parties – While mainstream parties struggle, smaller parties like the Greens and SNP have seen growth.
Implications for democracy – Fewer party members mean less grassroots involvement and weaker connections between politicians and the public.
Rise of Non-Traditional Participation
Growth of pressure groups – Organizations like Greenpeace and the National Trust have seen membership rise.
Online activism – Social media and e-petitions allow people to engage in politics without voting.
Effectiveness of alternative participation – While engagement is high, it doesn’t always translate into direct political influence.
Barriers to Voting
Voter ID requirements – Some argue ID laws disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
Complex registration process – Bureaucratic hurdles can discourage participation.
Solutions to improve access – Automatic registration and online voting could help.
their is not a participation crisis
An increase of interest on social media
Other ways to participate such as E-petitions
Protests and strikes is an effective way of participate
Become a member Pressure group
Pressure groups (types methods, success)
A pressure group is an organized group seeking to influence government policy or public opinion on specific issues without seeking election, through lobbying, advocacy, and other forms of activism
Interest Pressure Group Represents the interests of a specific section of society, such as trade unions or business associations. Their main goal is to promote and protect the interests of their members
Promotional Pressure Group Advocates for broader societal causes or specific issues, like human rights or environmental protection. Their focus is on benefiting society at large rather than just their members.
celebrity influence
Connections to famous names help pressure groups achieve popular recognition.
Example: EMMA WATSON closely associated with the HEFORSHE campaign.
insider- A group with direct access to government officials, often consulted due to their expertise and reliability in their field. These groups can significantly influence policy decisions
lobbying
Access to decision-making allows pressure groups to lobby politicians.
Influence leads to law changes and policy creation.
Example: General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, Jack Jones, was called "the most powerful man in Britain."
Influence of AA and RAC on smart motorways to temporarily halt the roll-out for more data collection.
outsider A group that lacks direct access to government officials and operates outside formal power channels. They use public campaigns, media, and protests to influence policy and public opinion
financial
Wealth groups can invest heavily in research and meetings with politicians to influence them.
Big businesses like Amazon and Meta use their wealth to influence government policy on tax and social media regulations.
Example: National Trust
public engagement
Pressure groups use social media and public campaigns to engage with the public.
They spread their message on a large scale.
Example: BLM had a vast social media presence with several hashtags trending, promoting discussions and awareness.
Direct and representative democracy
representative
Government is carried out by political professionals
More likely to make highly educated decisions
Politicians are obliged to make unbiased and factually supported decisions
Practical in a large country and does not burden voters with lots of small decisions
Citizen Representation
Citizens elect officials to make decisions
Government reflects the electorate’s preferences
Easier to manage large populations
Decision-Making Process
Elected officials debate and vote on laws
Policies shaped by political parties
Involves negotiation and compromise
Accountability
Politicians can be voted out
Media scrutiny of public officials
Established checks and balances
Public Engagement
Citizens influence policy through elections
Petitions and advocacy shape lawmaking
Political activism affects governance
direct
Purest form of democracy
Gives voters significant powers
Originated in Ancient Greece
Grants people extensive political influence
Allows civilians to hold political offices
Still in use in Switzerland
Rarely implemented in the modern world
Citizen Participation
All citizens vote on laws and policies
No intermediary representatives
Encourages high civic engagement
Decision-Making Process
Policies decided by majority vote
Requires referendums and public ballots
Can be time-consuming
Transparency
Direct input from the public
Reduces political corruption risks
Decisions reflect the will of the majorit
Rights (collective V individual)
Social and Economic Rights:
workers rights
Rights to access community resources
collective
religious people's rghts
indigenous people's rights
minority rights
individual rights- Rights that are held by individuals. These protect personal freedoms and entitlements, such as freedom of speech, right to privacy, and the right to a fair trial
collective rights- Rights that are held by a group rather than individuals. These often relate to groups' identities, cultures, or interests, like minority rights or indigenous peoples' rights
legal protections
Right to a fair trial
Right to privacy
Protection from discrimination
Personal Freedoms:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of religion
Economic Rights:
Right to work
Right to own property
Right to receive education
Social Rights:
Right to healthcare
Right to housing
Right to social security