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112 Cards in this Set
- Front
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What types of representation do we have in parliament? |
Social representation National interest Constituency representation Party representation Casual representation |
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What examples do we have in parliament to hold MPs accountable? |
MP recall act Gov (2019 general election) |
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What is a representative democracy? |
A system where people are represented by others. Representatives are elected |
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What are features of a representative democracy ? |
Elections Representatives Parties |
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What is a direct democracy |
When the electorate participate directly without representatives |
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What are the key features of a democracy |
free and fair elections peaceful transitions of power widespread participation freedom of expression freedom of association (protest) protection of rights and liberties rule of law a constitution |
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what examples do we have to show the UK has fair elections |
proportional systems in place in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and other devolved local bodies |
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what examples do we have to show the UK doesn't have fair elections |
a candidate who wins the most votes can be said to have won the election fairly, but if they only gained 25% of the votes casted it may be seen as unfair because 75% of people didn't vote for them |
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why was Fiona Onasanya recalled? |
because she had lied about a speeding offence |
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How did the life peerages act aim to improve social representation in the uk? |
1958, it allowed women to become life, spiritual and hereditary peers |
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How can referendums be criticised? |
the 'tyranny of the majority' majority force the minority to go with what they want excessive use may undermine the authority of representative democracy |
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which tory MP was convicted as he admitted to submitting two false invoices for landscape photographs to decorate his new office in 2015? |
Chris Davies |
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what is an example of the social representation in today's parliament? |
32% of the London assembly are ethnic minorities 69 MPs are ethnic minorities |
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why are referendums held? |
to entrench constitutional reform test public opinion resolve a conflict within a party resolve conflict between parties sharing power to achieve a political goal |
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what is an example of a referendum held to entrench constitutional reform? |
devolution to wales 2011 |
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example of a referendum held to test public opinion |
north east assembly 2004 |
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example of a referendum held to resolve conflict within a political party? |
EU referendum 2016 |
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example of a referendum held to resolve conflict between parties sharing power? |
AV referendum 2011 |
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example of a referendum to solve conflicts in the wider community |
1998 good Friday agreement |
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an example of a referendum to achieve a political goal? |
Scottish independence referendum 2014 |
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what are sectional/ interest pressure groups |
PG that represent the interests of a particular group within society. They lobby government on behalf of specific of clearly defined social groups |
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give 2 examples of sectional/ interest PGs |
Muslim council of Britain National union of students (NUS) |
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what are cause/ promotional PGs |
they promote particular issues. Their members are united by their shared interest. |
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what are two examples of cause / promotional pressure groups |
friends of the earth Greenpeace |
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what are insider PGs |
they have privileged access to gov decision making |
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what is an example of an insider PG |
BMA British medical association Howard league of penal reform |
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what is an outsider pressure group |
they don't possess access to political decision making, they achieve influence by gaining public support |
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what is an example of an outsider PG |
the Gurkha justice campaign |
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what is an example of how resources aren't necessary for pressure groups to achieve success |
2016- the 38 degrees petition website got over 320,000 signatures against privatizing the land registry- without finance |
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what is an example of how resources are necessary for pressure groups to achieve success |
trade unions made up 66% of labour's funding in 1992, got the minimum wage in 1998. |
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example for the necessity of ideological compatibility for PGs to achieve success |
CBI lobby for corporation tax decrease- it decreased in 2010 to 19% |
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give an example of when popularity was essential in order for PGs to achieve success |
38 degrees got 320,000 signatures against privatizing the land registry- without finance |
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an example of when popularity wasn't essential in order for PGs to achieve success |
stop the war coalition had 1 million Britons march the streets to protest against the Iraq war, however, we still went to war |
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give an example of when tactful methods were detrimental to a PGs success |
extinction rebellion- glued themselves to M25 motorway, resulted in police and crime sentencing bill BMA strikes in 2016/17 - junior doctors eventually went back to work |
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how does freedom of expression help to enhance our democracy |
the press and broadcast media maintains political neutrality. Free access to the internet we have civil liberty, so we can't be prosecuted for expressing negative opinions of people in power's politics and competence. |
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how can our freedom of expression be hindered and therefore hinder the heath of our democracy |
much ownership of the press is in the hands of a few large powerful companies e.g news international which owners tend to have their own political views |
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how does widespread participation amplify our democracy |
there is an extensive membership of pressure groups, which are free and active. Growing level of participation in democracy, large proportion of population participates in |
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how is widespread participation hindered and therefore hinders the health of our democracy? |
since 2001 voter turnout in general elections has been, on average, lower than in previous elections party membership especially amongst the young has been in decline. |
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how is freedom of association amplified and therefore amplifies our democracy? |
No restrictions on legal organisations. People may organise and instigate public protests |
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how is the freedom of association hindered and therefore hinders our democracy? |
gov has power to ban some associations because they are seen as based on racial hatred or terrorism. police and crime sentencing bill |
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how are the protection of rights and liberties amplified and therefore amplifying our democracy? |
European convention on Human rights (ECHR) the human rights act separation of power from the judiciary and members of parliament |
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how are the protection of human rights hindered and therefore hindering our democracy? |
parliament is sovereign, rights are at the mercy of the government with a strong majority. ECHR isn't binding on the UK parliament |
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how is the rule of law amplified and therefore amplifying our democracy |
upheld strictly by the judiciary. The right to judicial review underpins this judiciary is independent and not political |
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how is the rule of law hindered and therefore hindering our deomcracy |
the monarch is exempt from legal restrictions statistical evidence to suggest that those of a higher socioeconomic are treated more leniently than their counterparts |
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how is the constitution amplified and therefore our democracy |
parliaments and the courts ensure government act within the law Human rights act, acts as a restraint on the actions that the government constitutional checks exist to limit the power of gov |
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what are the advantages of a direct democracy |
Every vote carries the same weight in a direct democracy.
it can avoid deadlock and delay within politics gives greater legitimacy
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disadvantages of a direct democracy |
tyranny of the majority some issues too complex for lay citizens to understand people may be too easily swayed by short term |
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advantages of representative democracy |
reps can develop expertise to deal with matters can be held to account at election time time to deal with a variety of complex matters pragmatic |
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disadvantages of representative democracy |
may not act in best interests of constituencies difficult to hold reps accountable in-between elections lead to public disengaging they can ignore minorities and be unrepresentative |
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what and when was the great reform act |
1832 creates urban seats such as Manchester. gave votes to tenant farmers and small property holders increased franchise to over a million |
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what and when was the second reform act |
1867 borough householders were enfranchised. electorate rises from 1-2 million electorate over 5 million 25% of adult population |
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what and when was the representation of the people act |
1918 gave the vote to all men over 21 regardless of property status. women over 30 the right to vote if they or their husbands had a property qualification 75% of adult population can vote |
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what was the second representation of the people act and when did it happen |
women in 1928 were given the right to vote on the same level as men |
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what was the third representation of the people act and when did it happen |
1969 voting age reduced to 18 loophole of getting two votes (one for each constituency you had a property in) ended in 1848 |
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when did Scotland allow 16 year olds to vote |
2014 |
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when was the magna carta and what did it establish |
1215 limited the arbitrary power of the monarch establishes the principle that everyone is entitled to a fair trial trial by jury and monarch can only impose taxes with consent of the people |
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what and when was the English bill of rights |
1689 establishes the principle of parliamentary sovereignty allows citizens to petition a government (freedom of speech) |
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what and when was/is human rights act |
1998 the right to life. the right to respect for private and family life. the right to freedom of religion and belief. |
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equality act 2010 |
in public life discrimination is illegal in 9 areas: age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief |
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our rights are adequately protected |
women ethnic minorities human rights (refugees) |
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representative democracy is better/ more pure |
representation national interest constituency representation |
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petitions to extend the franchise have been widely successful |
votes at 16 women prisoners |
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pressure groups enhance our democracy |
methods and tactics lack of accountability (for the pressure group |
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Participación crisis |
Non traditional methods eg pressure groups Turnout Referendums |
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new labour values |
enabling state class conflict communitarianism equality of opportunity capitalism and private ownership constitutional reform individualism |
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old labour values |
statism class conflict collectivism equality of outcome common ownership trade unionism welfarism |
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Paired points for: ’class is the most important factor for determining the outcome of an election,’ |
1979 wider context 1997 policy 2019 party leader |
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Class dealignment 1979 |
Thatcher flipped 11% of C2 voters and 9% of DE voters |
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Why was wider context the most significant factor in 1979 |
Inflation was at 13.39% There were 34 major stoppages in 1970 and 9 in 1969 |
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Why was policy most important factor in 1997 |
Removal of clause 4 Blair’s pledge to get 250,000 under 25s off of benefits and into work |
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why was party leader the most important factor in 2019 |
Johnson was seen as a relatable figure who was strong enough to 'get Brexit done' |
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Paired points for ‘policy is the most important factor in determining a political party’s success’ |
Policy Party leader Wider context |
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Why is policy the most important factor in determining a political party’s success |
Blair was only able to win his 1997 election with his third way policies eg refusal to increase top rate of tax to 45% removal of clause IV |
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Why was party leader the most important factor in determining a political party’s success |
Tony Blair was seen as young and popular whereas John major was seen as boring and tired. Nick Clegg had a great media presence but was unable to win the election and was forced into a coalition. |
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The Uk is a two party state paired points |
Influence over elections Influence of legislation Influence over policy |
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A01 for how minor parties influence governments |
When Lib Dem’s we’re in a coalition with conservatives they influenced things like pupil premium The emergence of UKIP has made the conservatives have to go more right wing on certain policies eg immigration Rwanda policy However, lib dems couldn’t influence the government enough to create uni fees to be free. |
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A01 how minor parties have Influenced elections |
SNP have been running Scotland for the last 8 years Emergence of Lib Dem’s caused Cameron to enter into a coalition with them |
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A01 how minor parties have influenced legislation |
The DUP voting down Theresa may’s Brexit deal meant that her deal couldn’t go through and ultimately lead to her downfall |
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Conservatives are more one nation than new right paired points |
Cameron Johnson May |
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May conservatives more one nation than new right A01 |
May’s pledge to increase the top rate of tax to £50k However her pledge to foreign ownership of companies controlling infrastructure don’t undermine our security or essential service shows her protection of public services. |
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Cameron one nation > new right A01 |
Reduction of benefits to £23k and creation of universal credit shows his commitment to low taxation However Cameron’s dedication to increase NHS spending to £8bn a year by 2020 and provide a seven day a week NHS service |
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Johnson one nation > new right A01 |
Johnson pledged not to raise NI VAT or income tax However pledged 3.6 billion to improve local town’s economies |
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The Labour Party today has abandoned old labour values paired points |
Starmer Corbyn Red Ed |
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Referenda are more important than general elections |
Legitimacy Outcome Representative democracy |
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General elections> than referenda legitimacy A01 |
The turnout for refrenda is higher than that of general elections |
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Media is the most important factor in determining the outcome of elections |
Media Class age |
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Media as the most important factor A01 |
Torres spent £100k on Facebook ads per month in 2015 Cameron nicknamed ‘webcameron’ However, Scottish referendum in 2014 over 80% of tweets were supportive of the yes campaign despite only 45% voting for it |
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A01 outcome referenda> general elections |
Referenda is more important because it leads to more deterministic and definite outcomes eg Brexit This isn’t true because refrenda are just adversary Parliament don’t have to adhere to it General elections don’t definitely mean that manifestos will happen eg coalitions |
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A01 representative democracy referenda> general elections |
Referenda undermines our representative democracy because now ppl are taking an active role in decision making of which they have no expertise |
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A01 ed milliband policies |
Raise minimum wage to £8 Increase top rate of tax to 50p Give 16 plus right to vote |
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2019 general election turnout |
67% |
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Brexit referendum turnout |
72% |
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Scottish election turnout |
2016 62% |
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2004 north east assembly turnout |
48% |
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Percentage of BAME in HoC 2019 |
10% compared to 13 percent of Uk population |
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Percentage of women in Parliament |
34% |
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Labour Party factions |
Momentum : Corbyn left wing republican opposed to nuclear trident support of nationalisation Blue labour: blue-collar culturally conservative values within the UK emerged after for the first time in 2010 party received fewer working class votes than middle class Maurice glasman guild socialism New labour |
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Cons party factions |
Blue collar conservatives: working class conservatives Esther McVey champion working people And create a conservative agenda to help those neglected by labour. 159 MPs not as active in policy change Cornerstone: traditional conservatism unitary governance no devol tradition nation family religious ethics free enterprise Jacob Rees-mogg Conservative way forward: Thatcherite in all leadership elections since 97 the candidate supported by conservative way forward has won Eric forth |
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Functions of political parties |
Making policy Representation in 2017 of the 82% of those who voted felt they were represented by cons 42 labour 40 Political education Mobilising consent for government Selecting candidates Identifying leaders |
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“Political parities fulfil their functions” (30) themes |
Making policy Representation |
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“We need urgent reform in our Party funding” (30) themes |
Donations Public funding and trade unions |
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A01 party funding donations |
1997 Ecclestone donated £1 million to labour and it was seen as a payment for delaying implementing a ban on tobacco advertising in formula one racing 2006 several wealthy individuals had loaned money to labour had been nominated for peerages “cash for honours” 2016 labour was fined £20K by the EC for breaching finance rules. £7614 was missing from party’s return cost of Ed Milliband ‘s ‘tombestone’ Conservative Party was fined £70K for breaches in expenses conservatives had failed to report £222,889 2015 election 2000 political parties, elections and referendums act. £30k can be spent per constituency. Donations of £5K nationally or £1K locally have to be declared |
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A01 public funding and trade unions |
Electoral commission allocated £2 million a year to the parties to help them develop policies These sources combined provided 18% of the money parties spent between 2001 and 2011 2017 unite trade union gave £657k to labour |
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A01 political parties make policy (fulfil their function) |
National policy forum for Labour Party consults with party members over development policy. Institute of economic affairs a free market think tank provided internal markets (hospitals buying use of facilities from private sector) this is now an NHS policy |
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”Momentum is the most influential faction in the Labour Party today” (30) themes |
Momentum vs new labour Momentum vs blue labour |
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"Factions are helpful in political parties obtaining success." (30) themes |
Conservative: new right one nation Labour: momentum new labour |
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"campaigns to extend the franchise have been successful" (30) themes |
women's right to vote votes for 16+ |
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"FPTP is the best electoral system in the UK" (30) themes |
voter choice strong gov party representation |
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FPTP strong governments A01 |
2010, 2015 and 2017 the system did not produce a single decisive government majority Despite this since 1945 FPTP has always resulted in a strong governments (single party) clear mandate and accountability |
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FPTP voter choice A01 |
FPTP creates safe seats which means that voters do not have an adequate choice of representation. 2019: 421 of the 650 seats were won by an absolute majority. 207 won between 40 and 50% and 22 seats won on less than 40% however, it can give a direct relationship between the constituent and the MP it excludes extremist parties |
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AMS strong governments A01 |
single-party governments are hard to achieve. 2016: SNP majority government, 63 seats with 47% of the constituency vote and 42% of the regional vote. 2016 Wales, coalition of Labour and Liberal Democrats, a total of 34 seats with 42% of the constituency vote and 38% of the regional vote. |
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AMS voter choice A01 |
choice is enhanced under AMS because a member of the electorate can either approach one constituency member or any of the regional list members.
Some critics predicted that citizens would see constituency voting under AMS as more important than top-up votes; and in the 2000 London elections one in six voters did not use their List vote. However, by 2008, 2012 and 2016 more people voted in the top-up election than in the constituency stage.
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