Edexcel- Gov and Pol- Unit 1- Democracy

Democracy

• AS Government and Politics- Edexcel

Legitimacy

• Legitimacy is the right for an individual or body to be recognised and have the right to exercise their power.
• In a democratic country an individual or political institution may be given legitimacy through elections. It can be argued that the UK government lacks this legitimacy as they only have a minority of the overall votes. The Coalition Government in 2010 lacked legitimacy as they didn't have an electoral mandate.
• Authority is linked to Legitimacy and is the right to exercise power.
• Legitimacy refers also to the degree of which an individual or body can exerise their power. Power is the ability someone has to force others to do things they may not normally do.

Citizenship

• As a Citizen we have enjoyment of certain rights, such as the right for run for office, equal treatment under the law and the right to a fair trail.
• We have certain liberties, such as the freedom of movement, expression,
• But we also have certain obligations, such as paying tax or obeying the law,
• The Labour Government introduced 'Active Citizenship' and the Conservative Government in 2010 introduced 'Big Society' to help encourage political participation, such as volunteering for a charity, protecting the environment.

Democracy

• is a system of Government where people have access to independent information and can influence decisions. The government is accountable.
• Free elections
• Good turnout at these elections
• Government is accountable
• High degree of freedom for all
• people have access to information
• Government operates in the broad interests of all
• Tolerance of different political interests and beliefs

Direct Democracy

• This is where people make decisions themselves , are consultated on decisions and may take an initiate to create a political change.
• A referendum is an example, in the Uk- EU Referendum in 2016
• Public Consultations

Representative Democracy

• People will vote in an election for a representative who will represent their constituency
• Don't make decisions themselves but the people will delegate this power to their representative
• Range of political parties with different ideologies and beliefs
• Pressure Groups represent certain sections or issues in socitey

Pluralist Democracy

• This is where there is a range of individuals and political institutions that are allowed to operate and they are allowed to flourish due to the acceptance of different beliefs.
• There are many sources of independent information and opinion from the media.
• There is a dispersal of power to individuals, bodies or institutions rather than a concentration of power.
• An example is the USA

Liberal Democracy

• It has the same aspects of a normal democracy but also:
• protects individuals liberties
• a strong constitution that limits the power of the Government
• The Government has strong internal checks and balances
• high level of political tolerance
• An example is Germany

How representation works in the UK

• MP's- represent individual constituencies or as a whole, a section of society, a cause or a national interest but they may also repesent their party and its electoral manifesto
• Parties may represent sections of society or specific political views (e.g- Labour associated with the working class)
• Pressure groups represent certain issues or sections in society
• House of Commons represent a national interest
• House of Lords may represent certain sections of society, causes or the national interest

Parliamentary Democracy

• This is where a Parliament or political association is the key institution and may hold all the power. They can make the Government accountable and Parliament may be the key representative. Government is drawn from Parliament and is also a part of it. Form of liberal democracy

Democracy in the UK

Ways to participate in democracy in the UK

• vote in national, regional or local elections and vote in referendums
• become a member of a political party
• be an activist in a political party
• be a member or support a pressure group
• activist in a pressure group
• stand for office at a local, regional or national level
• be part of a political consulation

Evidence of decline in political participation

• turnouts at elections and referendums have been declining
• party membership has fallen
• partisan dealingment
• However, participation has changed
• growth in the number and membership of pressure groups
• more direct action (protest against rise in tuition fees)
• more campaigning through social media

Ways to increase participation

• Vote at 16
• It is good as it makes political education relevant, improves level of political identification and makes them more politically aware
• but people argue that 16 year old cannot make a judgement and probably wouldn't vote
• Compulsory voting
• turnout levels will increase, it will make the outcome more legitimate and people will engage with politics
• abuse of peoples freedom, expensive to do and may make the result artificial

Folie 15

• Citizenship education
• people will have more knowledge and greater interest
• but, it would be expensive and may not create a genuine interest
• Digital Democracy
• greater access for all
• promote a more direct form of democracy
• vast source of political information on the internet
• improve turnout levels at elections
• but, some people may not be able to participate if they do not understand technology. It could be subject to hacking and there could be false information circulating

How democratic is the UK?

• For
• frequent, free elections
• Freedom of Information Act- citizens can obtain important government information and the administration of the state
• ability to vote, join a political party or form a party or other political association
• number of political parties and other associations (pressure groups) that are allowed to flourish
• referendums are held from time to time on important constitutional decisions
• rule of law- all are equal
• independent judiciary- safeguards rule of law

Folie 17

• Against
• Unelected institutions- House of Lords and the Monarchy
• First past the post voting system is not fair
• Government elected on the minority of votes
• Decline in participation and an increase in disengagement with political parties
• Parliamentary Sovereignity means individuals rights and freedoms are not adequately protected
• as the constitution is not entrenched the distribution of power is not certain

Folie 18

• Assessment of methods to improve the UK's Democracy

Folie 19

• Replacing the Monarchy with a head of state
• For
• Head of state would be accountable
• Increase the democratic legitimacy of the head of state
• Be able to sort out any political deadlocks
• Against
• Destable the political system
• Head of state may give too much power to the Government

Folie 20

• Having an elected second chamber
• For
• The second chamber would be more legitimate
• Democratic chamber be an effective check on the Government
• Against
• Won't be independant
• May excessively check the Government
• May challenge the authority of Parliament

Folie 21

• Increase in use of referendums
• For
• Increase political participation
• Purest form of democracy
• Make people more politically aware
• Against
• too many referendums may result in voters fatigue and low turnout
• Minorities are ignored as only the majority wins
• Electorates may not understand complex issues or may vote emotionally

Folie 22

• Reforming the voting system
• For
• Voting would be fairer and give the electorate more choice plus reduced the number of wasted votes
• Parliament would be more representative
• increased democratic legitimacy of mp's and the government
• Against
• With proportionate representative you loose the link between the MP and the constituencies
• Voters may find it hard to adapt to a new system
• Multiparty Governments are less stable. It may be hard to form a government if there is not a majority

Folie 23

• Introduce a codified constitution
• For
• citizens would know the distribution of power and what limits of power the political associations have
• it would stop the drift of power over to strong governments
• Rights and freedoms would be adequately protected
• Against
• Won't be as flexible
• May limit the Governments power too much
• too much power in the hands of unaccountable, unelected judges to interpret the constitution

Folie 24

• Decentralizing the Government
• For
• Local and regional governments are smaller and more democratic
• Curb the increasing power of the central government
• Bring the government closer to the people
• Against
• if the local and regional governments have more power there would be more variable state provisions
• The people may take local and regional government elections less seriously, which would mean a low turnout