Democracy & Participation (Edexcel A Level Politics): Flashcards
Exam code: 9PL0
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Define representative democracy.
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Define representative democracy.
Representative democracy is a system where citizens elect people or political parties to make decisions and govern on their behalf, rather than participating directly in law-making.
Define direct democracy.
Direct democracy is a system where citizens make political decisions themselves by voting on individual issues rather than electing representatives to decide for them.
Define accountability in a representative democracy.
Accountability means representatives must justify their decisions and actions to voters at election time and can be removed if voters are dissatisfied with their performance.
How many MPs did voters elect in the 2024 General Election?
In the 2024 General Election, 29 million voters elected 650 MPs, giving the Labour Party a majority with 411 seats.
Democracy comes from the Greek words 'demos' and 'kratos', which literally translates as 'rule of the '.
Democracy comes from the Greek words 'demos' and 'kratos', which literally translates as 'rule of the people'.
What percentage of voters chose to leave the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum?
In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 52% of voters chose to leave the EU, against 48% to remain.
The 2016 Brexit referendum had a turnout of , the highest since the 1992 General Election.
The 2016 Brexit referendum had a turnout of 72.2%, the highest since the 1992 General Election.
True or False?
The advantages of representative democracy are broadly the same as the advantages of direct democracy.
False.
The advantages of representative democracy are broadly the inverse of the advantages of direct democracy, and vice versa.
What was the turnout in the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum?
Turnout in the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum was 85%, cited as a sign that UK democracy is healthy.
What share of the vote did Labour win in 2024 despite taking 63% of the seats?
Labour won just 33.7% of the vote despite taking 63% of the seats, making 2024 the most disproportionate election ever and showing how First Past The Post distorts representation.
True or False?
The Human Rights Act 1998 codified the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
True.
The Human Rights Act 1998 codified the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law to better protect individuals' rights.
Which Act led to the creation of the UK Supreme Court?
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 led to the creation of the UK Supreme Court, which became operational in 2009.
What did the Recall of MPs Act 2015 allow constituents to do?
The Recall of MPs Act 2015 allowed constituents to force a by-election if their MP receives a custodial sentence, is suspended from the Commons for 10 or more days, or is convicted under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.
Define the franchise.
The franchise refers to the right to vote.
Which 1832 Act extended the vote to middle-class men owning property worth £10 or more?
The Great Reform Act 1832 extended the vote to middle-class men owning property worth £10 or more, raising the electorate to around 800,000.
What did the 1918 Representation of the People Act do for women?
The 1918 Representation of the People Act gave the vote to women aged 30 and over who met a property qualification.
The Act 1928 extended the vote to women on equal terms to men.
The Equal Franchise Act 1928 extended the vote to women on equal terms to men.
Which 1969 Act lowered the voting age to 18?
The Representation of the People Act 1969 lowered the voting age to 18, adding around three million new voters to the electorate.
Define the suffragists.
The suffragists (NUWSS), led by Millicent Fawcett, campaigned for votes for women using peaceful and lawful methods such as petitions, public speaking and lobbying.
Define the suffragettes.
The suffragettes (WSPU), led by Emmeline Pankhurst, used militant tactics such as protests, window-smashing, arson and hunger strikes to campaign for votes for women.
True or False?
The suffragists (NUWSS) used militant tactics such as arson and window-smashing.
False.
It was the suffragettes (WSPU) who used militant tactics; the suffragists used peaceful and lawful methods.
What turnout did 16-17 year-olds achieve in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum?
16-17 year-olds achieved a turnout of 75% when they were allowed to vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum.
Which body coordinates the Votes at 16 Coalition?
The Votes at 16 Coalition is coordinated by the British Youth Council.
What does the Votes at 16 campaign argue?
The Votes at 16 campaign argues that 16-17 year-olds should have the right to vote in all UK elections, making it the most prominent current movement to extend the franchise.
True or False?
16-17 year-olds can currently vote in UK General Elections.
False.
16-17 year-olds cannot vote in UK General Elections, which remains the main target of the Votes at 16 campaign.
Define pressure group.
Pressure groups are organisations that seek to influence government policy without putting candidates forward for election.
Define a sectional pressure group.
Sectional groups represent a specific section of society, such as a profession or union, for example the British Medical Association representing doctors.
Define a causal pressure group.
Causal groups campaign for a cause that benefits wider society rather than just their members, for example Greenpeace promoting environmental protection.
Define an insider pressure group.
Insider groups have close links with government and are often consulted on new laws or policy, for example the National Farmers' Union advising DEFRA.
Which outsider group uses non-violent direct action to highlight climate change?
Extinction Rebellion is an outsider group that uses non-violent direct action and high-profile protests to draw attention to climate change.
Disruptive direct action can the public, as when a YouGov poll found 72% opposed Insulate Britain's motorway protests.
Disruptive direct action can alienate the public, as when a YouGov poll found 72% opposed Insulate Britain's motorway protests.
Which method did Marcus Rashford use to force a government U-turn on free school meals in 2020?
Marcus Rashford used a media campaign, which forced a government U-turn on free school meals in 2020.
Which method did For Women Scotland Ltd use to influence government over the Equality Act 2010?
For Women Scotland Ltd used legal action, winning a UK Supreme Court case that 'man', 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act referred to biological sex.
True or False?
Insider status gives a pressure group direct access to decision-makers.
True.
Insider status gives direct access to decision-makers, one of the key factors affecting pressure group success.
Which pressure group drew attention to river pollution during the 2024 Boat Race?
River Action drew attention to river pollution during the 2024 Boat Race, showing how pressure groups improve political education.
How do mass protests, such as the 2024 pro-Palestinian marches in London, help pressure groups support democracy?
They promote participation by giving citizens a way to engage in politics between elections, as seen when around 300,000 people joined the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests in London.
The NFU uses insider, expertise-driven methods, whereas Extinction Rebellion relies on pressure.
The NFU uses insider, expertise-driven methods, whereas Extinction Rebellion relies on public pressure.
Define think tank.
Think tanks are independent research organisations that develop policy ideas, produce reports and analyse government policy.
Define lobbyists.
Lobbyists are paid individuals or companies hired to influence government on behalf of clients such as businesses, charities or foreign governments.
Define corporations as an influence on government.
Corporations are businesses that seek government decisions which support their commercial interests.
Besides pressure groups, which three organisations influence government and Parliament?
Alongside pressure groups, think tanks, lobbyists and corporations influence government and Parliament.
How did think tanks shape the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024?
Think tanks shaped it through policy research and recommendations, as when the IPPR influenced the stricter regulation of technology firms in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Lobbyists gain influence through privileged to ministers, shown by fossil fuel lobbyists meeting Labour ministers over 500 times in 2024-25.
Lobbyists gain influence through privileged access to ministers, shown by fossil fuel lobbyists meeting Labour ministers over 500 times in 2024-25.
How did Greensill Capital seek to influence ministers over the Covid Corporate Financing Facility?
Greensill Capital sought to lobby ministers directly, employing former Prime Minister David Cameron to press for access to the Covid Corporate Financing Facility scheme.
What does the PPE Medpro contract reveal about how corporations can influence government?
It shows how political connections and access can secure lucrative government contracts, as PPE Medpro won a fast-track Covid-19 deal worth over £200 million after being recommended by Lady Michelle Mone, raising concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest.
True or False?
The Owen Paterson case showed how paid lobbying by an MP can create a conflict of interest.
True.
Owen Paterson was paid to lobby ministers for Randox Laboratories, a conflict of interest that led to a major lobbying scandal.
Corporations pursue their interests through government, as Randox won Covid testing contracts worth up to £777 million.
Corporations pursue their commercial interests through government, as Randox won Covid testing contracts worth up to £777 million.
How do think tanks influence Parliament through its committees?
Think tanks influence Parliament by submitting evidence to select committees, as well as publishing research and advising ministers.
How can corporate donations to political parties raise transparency concerns?
Corporate donations can create conflicts of interest, as when JCB's owner donated millions to the Conservative Party and Conservative politicians publicly promoted the firm's 'Pothole Pro' machine.
What did Magna Carta (1215) establish?
Magna Carta (1215) limited the power of the monarch and established the principle of due process and protection from arbitrary imprisonment.
Define the Human Rights Act 1998.
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, allowing individuals to challenge rights breaches in UK courts rather than going to Strasbourg.
The Equality Act 2010 protects people with protected characteristics, including age, race, sex and disability.
The Equality Act 2010 protects people with nine protected characteristics, including age, race, sex and disability.
Which 2013 Act legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales?
The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales, marking a major development in LGBT rights.
What new protest-related offence did the Public Order Act 2023 create?
The Public Order Act 2023 created new protest-related offences such as 'locking on', raising concerns about freedom of assembly.
Define judicial review.
Judicial review is the process by which the courts can challenge government action and block unlawful decisions, upholding the rule of law.
Define parliamentary sovereignty.
Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament is the supreme legal authority that can create or overturn any law, and devolved legislation remains subservient to parliamentary law.
True or False?
In the Shamima Begum case, the Supreme Court ruled the government acted unlawfully in revoking her citizenship.
False.
The Supreme Court ruled the government acted lawfully in revoking Shamima Begum's citizenship on national security grounds, showing the tension between individual rights and national security.
How do civil liberties groups like Liberty protect rights against state surveillance?
They use strategic litigation, as when Liberty challenged the Investigatory Powers Act, and they also brief Parliament on rights-restricting bills such as the Public Order Act 2023.
How did Big Brother Watch hold the state to account over surveillance technology?
It investigated and exposed unlawful police use of live facial recognition, holding the state to account over surveillance technology.
In Miller v PM (2019), the Supreme Court blocked the unlawful of Parliament, protecting parliamentary sovereignty.
In Miller v PM (2019), the Supreme Court blocked the unlawful prorogation of Parliament, protecting parliamentary sovereignty.
Which 2005 ECHR ruling on prisoners' voting rights has the UK ignored?
The UK has ignored Hirst v UK (2005), an ECHR ruling on giving prisoners the vote.
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