June 2015
b) explains three ways to improve representative democracy
Reducing the voting age to 16
o Blurred ‘age of majority’
- Some have responsibilities like marry, work but has no rights
- Giving them the vote means everyone with social responsibilities have a
say in the way their lives are
o Interest ignored
- E.g. tuition fees
- More interest taken of the young people’s problems, end the biasness in
favour of elderly just because they vote more
o Stronger political engagement
- Strengthen their interest and understanding
- Reorientate politics more meaningful to younger voters
- E.g. Scottish referendum 80% 16-18 signed up to vote
Referendums
o Public direct and unmediated control over decision-making
- Interests properly and accurately articulated
- Not distorted by politicians
- Clear mandate
- Stop the voter’s apathy due to the long interval between elections when
people feel like they cannot change anything
- E.g. Scottish Referendum, a problem that govt cannot decide on
o Responsive govt
- Forced to listen to public opinions between elections
- Public express opinion on a particular issue, something they can’t do via
elections
- E.g. upcoming EU referendum, due to the high profile, govt will have to
accept the outcome or face massive opposition
o Reduced govt power
- Check on govt power
- Citizens are protected against the danger of over-mighty govt
- E.g. constitutional matters like EU should not be decided by the
representatives as it gives govt too much power
Digital democracy
o Easier participation
- Convenient
- Increase participation rate
- Increase legitimacy
o Power to the people
- People can support the development of political movement
- Increase their effectiveness
- New style of decentralised and non-hierarchical activists
b) explains three ways to improve representative democracy
Reducing the voting age to 16
o Blurred ‘age of majority’
- Some have responsibilities like marry, work but has no rights
- Giving them the vote means everyone with social responsibilities have a
say in the way their lives are
o Interest ignored
- E.g. tuition fees
- More interest taken of the young people’s problems, end the biasness in
favour of elderly just because they vote more
o Stronger political engagement
- Strengthen their interest and understanding
- Reorientate politics more meaningful to younger voters
- E.g. Scottish referendum 80% 16-18 signed up to vote
Referendums
o Public direct and unmediated control over decision-making
- Interests properly and accurately articulated
- Not distorted by politicians
- Clear mandate
- Stop the voter’s apathy due to the long interval between elections when
people feel like they cannot change anything
- E.g. Scottish Referendum, a problem that govt cannot decide on
o Responsive govt
- Forced to listen to public opinions between elections
- Public express opinion on a particular issue, something they can’t do via
elections
- E.g. upcoming EU referendum, due to the high profile, govt will have to
accept the outcome or face massive opposition
o Reduced govt power
- Check on govt power
- Citizens are protected against the danger of over-mighty govt
- E.g. constitutional matters like EU should not be decided by the
representatives as it gives govt too much power
Digital democracy
o Easier participation
- Convenient
- Increase participation rate
- Increase legitimacy
o Power to the people
- People can support the development of political movement
- Increase their effectiveness
- New style of decentralised and non-hierarchical activists
