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10 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Define liberal democracy |
- Combines both liberal and democratic elements -Democratic features: universal suffrage, free and fair elections and representatives. Liberal features: upheld civil liberties, checks and balances and and constitution that limits governmental powers. E.g. Norway. |
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What is representative democracy? |
-Free and fair elections are held to elect a representative that acts on the peoples behalf. - The electorate delegates their power to the representatives - it's an indirect democracy - representatives may make decisions their constituency doesn't like -calls for greater use of referendums |
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How does a referendum differ from an election? |
Referendum is a public vote on policy (e.g. AV 2011) which is not legally binding e.g. Catalonia vote on independence whereas election results aren't 'recommendations'. Elections are regular (five years) whilst referendums were held twice before Blairs radical reforms. Elections are there fulfill office whilst referendums are there to increase participation. |
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Explain how compulsory voting increases participation? |
Compulsory voting ensures a 100% voter turnout which is needed as in the 2015 election turnout was 66% which means the elected party may not have legitimacy. It creates a true democratic state as every individual is represented e.g. like in Australia where it's a government by the people. |
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Assess compulsory voting |
+ increased voter turnout + better educated citizens + improved legitimacy - wasted votes - contradicts the premise of democracy, it takes away your right to not vote. |
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Assess the use of e-media |
+ revolutionise politics, frequent connection for the UK citizens. + elderly can vote from comfort of their home. - digital system may be subject to fraud and hacking. - less open and transparent systems. |
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Assess the use of referendums |
+ Increased participation and legitimacy + people become more educated - Prolongs decision making - Expensive - decision is left to potentially uneducated public |
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Assess the introduction of initiatives |
+ Public can draw up the political agenda + address issues which politicians may avoid + Engage and educate the wider public. - May trivialise decision making - could unfavourably slant the political agenda with insignificant issues |
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What is direct democracy? |
The people make decisions themselves actively. Through referendums e.g. UK av 2011. People are directly consulted on political decisions which is also known as consultative democracy. People may take initiatives to shape the political agenda which is frequently used in USA and Switzerland. |
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What is representative democracy? |
Free and fair elections elect representatives that act on the peoples behalf. They delegate their power. Political parties represent different political views. Pressure groups represent different sections of society, interests and causes. Representative assemblies that express the will of the people. |
