Nature of Democracy

Nature of Democracy

1. Democratic Legitimacy:: The right to govern/exercise control

   • May be due to wide recognition of goverance
   • Conveyed through elections
   • May also refer to the degree by which power can be justified
     • House of Lords

2. Three levels of power

   • Coercion - Physical Force
   • Political Power - use of legal authority and persuasion
   • Influence - The ability to affect thought of of others
     • Not Physical

3. Authority - Right to exercise control

   • Sources of Authority
     • Tradition
     • Election
     • Charisma

4. Consent

   • free elections
     • good turnout
   • lack of dissent
   • Referendum

5. Citizenship

   • Grants a person explicit rights
     • Vote
     • fair trial
     • Justice
     • Stand Office
   • Enjoyment of civil liberty
   • Big Society
     • Politically active
     • Charity

6. Democracy

   • A system of governance whereby the people are able to influence politics
   • Accountable
   • Strands of democracy
     • Direct
       • People themselves make decisions
         • Referendums & Plebicites
           • 2011 - AV
           • 2014 - Scottish Independence
       • People may use initative to create political change
     • Representative
       • Political decisions made by elected representatives
         • Decision-making is delegated to these representatives
       • Different Political Parties represent different views and ideologies
       • Pressure Groups
       • UK Representation
         • MPs
           • Stand in constituencies
           • Represent party - Not necessarily individual constituents
         • House of Commons
           • Represents UK
             • Parliamentary democracy
               • Parliament is the source of political power
               • Liberal democracy
           • Should it be more representative?
             • Micro-cosm
         • House of Lords
           • Non-elected
           • Represents particular causes
     • Pluralist
       • Multiple parties and associations c0-exist
       • Political beliefs are tolerated
       • Power is dispersed
     • Liberal
       • Constitutional Limitations
       • Checks & Balances
       • Liberty respected
   • Features of a modern democracy
     • Peaceful power transfer
     • Free, fair & regular elections
     • People have access to independent information
     • High degree of freedom
     • Ideologies & Beliefs are tolerated
     • Rule of Law applied to all