Karteikarten
Democracy
Karten in diesem Stapel (43)
- 1What is democracy?is "rule by the people".Its democratic systems of government give citizens a say in choosing the politicians and in some cases even policies, that will shape their everyday life.
- 2What is a representative democracy?Where citizens elect representatives to formulate legislation and take other decisions on their behalf.
- 3What is liberal democracy?Liberal democracy is a style of democracy incorporation free and fair elections with a belief in the importance of certain key rights and responsibilities. Liberal democracies extend the franchise widely among citizens.They guarantee freedom of speech and allow the people to assemble and petition for the redress of grievances.
- 4Totalitarian democracy?Where citizens of a given state are granted the right to vote but are unable to choose candidates representing parties other than the one power. Totalitarian democracies are top down and citizens are not allowed any real input into the policy making process.
- 5Majoritarian democracy?where the government is based on the majority support of those who inhabit a given territory.This form of democracy has the potential to see minorities marginalised and exclude from the policy making process.
- 6Consensual democracy?Where there is a conscious effort to reach out in more inclusive way to all groups within a given territory as opposed to simply seeking to carry the support of a majority
- 7Parliamentary democracy?where the executive part of government is drawn from the elected legislative and is, in turn, accountable.
- 8Consultative or participatory democracy?Where a more convectional representative democracy incorporates elements of direct democracy- such as public inquires, referendums, citizens assemblies or elements of e-democracy-with a view to engage the broader citizenry in the policy-making process.
- 9Pluralist democracy?a system of government that encourages participation and allows for free and fair competition between competing interests.
- 10New England 'town hall meeting'An example of direct democracy would be the 'town hall meetings' still held in new England states such as Maine and Massachusetts in the USA.
- 11Representative democracy?Direct democracy is simply not practical in a modern state comprising millions of citizens.Most modern democracies practise an indirect or representative form of democracy.Edmund Burke summed up what many see as the essence of representative democracy." your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgement'<<
- 12ReferendumA vote on a single issue put to a public ballot by the government of the day.Refernedums offer a degree of direct democracy.They are generally framed in the form of a simple yes/no question.In Eire for example , a 1995 referendums legalised divorce, whereas in Switzerland , where they average around 4 referendums per year, the people rejected a proposal to guarantee all workers 6 weeks annual leave by 66.5% to 33.5% in 2012.
- 13initiatives?Initiatives give the ordinary citizens the opportunity to call a public ballot on a question of their own choosing.Often by collecting a predetermined number of signatures on a petition and thereby triggering a referendum.
- 14The initative process of califoniaIn order to qualify for a public vote on changing on a regular law in califonia, petitions must secure a number of signatures equal to at least 5% of the total number of votes cast for state governor at the previous election.In 2012 the target was 504,760 signatures ( wither a higher target of 807,615 applying to any initative proposing an amendment to the california state constitution).
In 2012, a ballot initiative proposing the abolition of the death penalty in the state of California gained enough signatures to qualify it for the November ballot as 'preposition 34'.
The proposal wanted to abolish the death penalty and replace it with a life sentence without the possibility of parole.The proposition also provide $100 million per annum to investigate homicide and rape cases within the state, this additional fund would be from the the money ($4 billion) not spent on the administration and repeals of the death penalty, Proposition 34 was narrowly defeated 53%:47% in november 2012. - 15WordingThe wording of the 1975 referendum on whether or not the UK, should remain the EEC was said to have been phrased in such a way to encourage a positive response- a criticism that was also levelled at the SNPs preferred wording for the 2014 referendum scottish independence "do you agree that scotland should be an independent country"
- 16TimingEven when referendums are offered- and they are rarely offered in the UK- those scheduling from routinely delay until such a time as they think they are most likely to secure the desired outcome.This criticism could be applied to the SNPs decision to delay the referendum on the scottish independence until 2014 (find out result).
- 17FundingAt the time of the 1975 referendum on EEC membership, the yes campaign was said to have outspent the no camp by a ratio of 3:1. Under the political parites, Elections and Referendums act 2000, referendums in the UK were to be state funded, with the yes and no campaign each recieving a £600,000 pubic grant.However funding remained an issue at the 2011 AV referendum.
- 18EU referendumEngland
Leave 53.4%
15,188,406 VOTES
Remain 46.6%
13,266,996 VOTES
Northern Ireland
Leave 44.2%
349,442 VOTES
Remain 55.8%
440,707 VOTES
Scotland
Leave 38.0%
1,018,322 VOTES
Remain 62.0%
1,661,191 VOTES
Wales
Leave 52.5%
854,572 VOTES
Remain 47.5%
772,347 VOTES
Boris johnson and Nigel farage wanted Brexit.David cameron wanted to remain,Scotland also wanted to remain and after the result there may be a scottish referendum for independence. Theresa may the new prime minister will have to trigger Article 50 and it could take up to 2 years to leave EU. - 19Local referendumsEstablishing directly elected mayors
The greater london authority, comprising a directly elected mayor of london and a 25 member assembly, was established following a regional referendum in the capital in 1998.Since then there have been around 50 seperate referendums on the question of whether or not to establish local mayors in places as distant as the isle of wight and Hartlepool.
May 2012 saw referendums in the 10 largest in the 10 largest English cities that had neither balloted residents previously, nor introduced directly elected mayors by some other means- in line with a pledge made in 2010 conservative party manifesto.However, only in Bristol did voters deliver a yes vote.
Although turnout at some of the local mayoral referendums held since 1997- ranging between 10% and 64%- has given a cause for concern, but the widespread use of such public polls has clearly added to the sense that referendums are now part of the UK's democratic architecture. - 20Case study: the rise and fall of the mayor of hartlepoolThe election of the Hartlepool FC mascot, H'Angus the monkey (otherwise known as stuart drummond) as mayor of hartlepool in 2002 brought widespread criticism.
He was an individual who campaigned on a platform of giving free bananas to school children, it was then argued how could he be placed in charge of a £106 million budget.
Drummonds performance and re-election in 2005 and 2009 led to many reconsidering their position.However a second a second referendum in 2012 saw voters approving the abolition of the post of mayor of hartlepool, with effect from may 2013. - 21Congestion chargesThe congestion charge initiative originated with central government but it was largely left to local authorities to implement it.
Whereas the first mayor of london. ken livingstone used his considerable executive powers over london to introduce the charge in the capital , effort to do so in edinburgh (2005) manchester (2008) involved seeking approval for the introduction of such charges through a local referendum.Turnout in edinbrugh 61.7% "yes" 25.5% "no" 74.4%. manchester turnout 53.2% YES 21.2% No 78.8%.
The no votes effectively prevented the improvements in transport infrastructure that those on all sides of the funding argument accepted were necessary. In the case of manchester the no vote was particularly significant. - 22What is a recall?A device that allows citizens to unseat an elected official before the end of their term in office.E=In the Uk recalls are permitted only where there is evidence of corruption, negligence or in some case incompetence.Recalls have not usually been available to voters in the U.k, however the 2009 MPs expenses scandal led to calls for the introduction of such a system.In the main 3 parties maifestos of the 2010 general election proposed introducing the power of recall, though little progress has been made.
Recalls can also undermine the principle of representative democracy.( Find upto date example/evidence) - 23What is political culture?The ideas, beliefs and attitudes that shape political behavior within a given area. It describes the way in which citizens collectively view the political system and their status and role within it.
- 24HomogeneityA belief that citizens shared a common heritage and identity; a sense of togetherness that transcended what divided them.
- 25ConsensusWhere UK citizens accepted the basic 'rules of the game'.These rules included the need for toleration, pragmatism, peaceful negotiation and compromise
- 26Deferencethe idea that people deferred to an elite that was regarded as being "born to rule",that there was a natural willingness to accept n ingrained, class based inequality and a rigid social hierarchy.
- 27Electoral participation(1/2)Those who are eligable and registered to vote in a given election are referred to collectively as the electorate.Under the representation of the people act (1969), the franchise was extended to virtually all citizens aged 18+. The effect of this act and other changes dating back to the great reform act (1832) was significantly to increase the number of eligable voters.
In 1831, only 5% of adults were able to vote.This represented 450,000 individuals from a population of 25 million.
In 1969, 99% of adults were able to vote, this represented around 40 million individuals from a population of 58 million. - 28Electoral participation (2/2)In the UK voters are legally required to vote.Voter registration averaged around 95% of the voting age population in the second half of the twentieth century but it has said to have declined to around 91% in recent years, perhaps as a result of a more mobile population.
YOU CANNOT VOTE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IF YOU ARE:
*a member of the house of lord
a EU citizen form an EU country other that the UK and ireland, although they can vote in european parliament elections and local elections in any EU country which they are living in
*suffering from mental illness
*convicted of a corruptor illegal electoral practice
*a convicted criminal serving a custodial sentence. - 29Turnoutthe percentage of registered voters who cast a ballot in a given election, important measure of political participation.
Low turnout can be a problem because it brings into question the governments legitamacy and the strength of its electoral mandate.In 2005 for example, the labour party secured a commons majority of 65 with the support of only 35.2% of the 61.4% of eligable voters turned out to vote.This was equivalent to just 21.6% of the electorate.Over the years the turnout in general elections has fluctuated, from 1945 72.8%, to the highest in 1950 83.9%, there was the lowest in 2001 with 59.4% and the most recent in 2015 with 66.1%. - 30LegitimacyThe legal right or authority to exercise power.A government claims its legitimacy as a result of the mandate it secures at a general election.
- 31MandateThe right of the governing party to pursue the policies it sets out in its general election manifesto.
The doctrine of the mandate gives the governing party the authority to pursue its stated policies but does not require it to do so or prevent it from introducing proposals not included in its manifesto.
In its 1997 general election mainfesto, New labour promised to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit in the house of lords and to move towards a more democratic and representative second chamber.It largely delivered on the first of these pledges with the house of lords act (1999). - 32Differential turnoutWhere the national turnout figure recorded at a given election mask differences in turnout by constituency or by region.A number of factors might account for differential turnout:
*how marginal an individual seat or election is
*the electoral system in operation
*local or national issues and controversies
*the intensity of the campaign
*media attention - 33What factors might account for variable turnout?*Type of election
*political apathy or disengagement (the power report suggested that increasing number of voters were coming to the conclusion that elections made little difference).
*Hapathy
*The relative value of the vote
*The electoral system in operation
*The role of mass media - 34What is the difference between 'hapathy' and political apathy?Political apathy is a state of passivity or indifference towards political institutions and their associated processes often linked to a decline in political participation.In comparison Hapathy is the idea that voters may abstain from voting as a result of happiness with the way in which they are being goverened.Research conducted on behalf of the electoral commision in 2005 showed that 29% of those who described themselves as satified with the democracy did not cast a vote at the 2005 general election whereas 59% who were dissastifed with the democracy still turned out.
- 35More inclusive definition of electoral participation, might include?*canvassing and leafleting
*organising election events and fundraising events.
*Staffing campaign offices. - 36Non electoral participationWriting to ones elected representatives or meeting them in person
Having an ongoing membership of and/or involvement in a political party
Engaging in political protest or organised pressure group activity( as party membership has fallen, involvement in pressure group activity has risen).
Engaging with, discussing or debating political issues. - 37Is there a participation crisis in the UK?The POWER report (2006) main conclusion was that the popular disillusionment with democratic institutions and the main political parties demanded immediate attention.
The changing nature of politics is important with low turnouts in the 2001, 2005 and 2010 general elections and a rise in 'the politics of protest' over fuel duty, fox hunting, globalisation, the war in iraq and government spending plans.
Declining party membership in the last 30 years has been matched by the steep rise in pressure group activity.In 2012, for example, the RSPB had twice as many members as the three main UK political parties combined.
The rise of consumer campaigns; theres been a rise in the number of individuals involved in motivated consumer boycotts, social movements and other kinds of less formal political participation, for example research has demonstrated that the % of individual have rose from 4% in 1984 to 31% in 2000. - 38Green peace (pressure group)Greenpeace is an international organization whose goal is to “ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity”. They have offices in over 40 countries so do not accept funding from governments, corporations or political parties. But instead rely on 2.9million individual supporters and foundation grants. They focus on world-wide issues such as deforestation, overfishing, global warming, commercial whaling, genetic engineering and anti-nuclear issues. Greenpeace uses direct action, lobbying and research to achieve its goals.
- 39Amnesty international (pressure group)Amnesty International Non-governmental organization focused on human rights. The objective of the organisation is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.”Amnesty draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international laws and standards. It works to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on governments that let abuse take place.
- 40The royal society for the protection of birdsOver a million members
A staff of over 1,300 and almost 18,000 members
In 2010 resources available for charitable purposes totalled £94.7 million.
A UK headquarters, three international offices and 9 regional offices.
A local network of 175 local groups and more than 110 youth groups
At least 9 volunteers for every paid member of staff. - 41Addressing the participation crisis falls into two categories.*those that attempt to to deal with the problem of electoral turnout head on, generally making it easier to vote
*those who try to get to the root of the problem by considering some of the deeper problems affecting democracy in the UK. - 42Tackling the issue of low turnout*encouraging a greater take up of postal voting
*experimenting with SMS texting and web based voting
*making voting compulsory for those eligible, as in Australia
*lowering the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 - 43Compulsory voting in AustraliaIn Australia, this requirement is included in the commonwealth Electoral act (1918) which was amended in 1924 to make voting at federal elections compulsory.Turnout at the first election held after the introduction of compulsory voting, in 1925, rose to 91.4%.Whereas only 65.1% of registered voters in cast a ballot in the 2010 UK general election, the 2010 elections to the Australian House of representatives saw a turnout of 93.3%.
however there is high levels of 'donkey voting' and 'informal voting'
Informationen
- Beschreibung
- AS level Government and politics Karteikarten am Democracy, erstellt von Wendy Hartley am 03/12/2016.
- Erstellt von
- Wendy Hartley
- Aufrufe
- 0
- Bewertung