Politics Paper 1 Essay Plans | Exam Prep with Structured Outlines & Key Points

Component One: UK Politics - Complete Essay Plans

Contents


Contents​ 1
Template​ 3
Unit 1: Democracy and Participation​ 4
1.1 Evaluate the view that direct democracy is more effective than representative democracy​ 4
1.1 Evaluate the view that the UK is in a participation crisis​ 6
1.1 Evaluate the view that UK is heading into a democratic deficit​ 7
1.2 Evaluate the view that reforms to democracy in the UK haven’t gone far enough​ 9
1.3 Evaluate the view that government attitudes are the most important factor determining the success of pressure groups​ 11
1.3 Evaluate the view that pressure groups enhance democracy​ 13
1.3 Evaluate the view that think tanks, lobbyists and corporations have a limited influence on government​ 15
1.4 Evaluate the view that the Human Rights Act does not effectively protect our rights​ 17
1.4 Evaluate the view the argument that pressure groups are the most effective protector of rights in the UK political system​ 19
1.4 Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected in the UK​ 21
Unit 2: Political Parties​ 23
2.1 Evaluate the view that political parties should be state funded​ 23
2.1 Evaluate the view that the system of funding of political parties in the UK should be reformed​ 25
2.2 Evaluate the view that the Conservative Party is more united than divided​ 27
2.2 Evaluate whether the Conservative Party has abandoned Thatcherism​ 29
2.2 Evaluate the view that the Labour Party is still internally divided​ 30
2.2 Evaluate the view that the current Labour Party is more influence by Old Labour than New Labour​ 32
2.2 Evaluate the view that the Labour Party and Conservative Party are now more similar than dissimilar​ 33
2.3 Evaluate the view that the Labour and Conservative parties are the only parties that matter in UK politics​ 34


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, 2.4 Evaluate the view that the UK is no longer a two party system​ 36
2.4 Evaluate the view that leadership is the most important factor determining the success of political parties.​ 38
2.4 Evaluate the extent to which political parties enhance representative democracy in the UK​ 40
Unit 3: Electoral Systems​ 41
3.1 Evaluate the view that the first-past-the-post electoral system is effective at promoting democracy in the UK​ 41
3.1 Evaluate the view that the first-past-the-post electoral system should be replaced with a different system in general elections​ 43
3.1 Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in the UK make significant difference to accountability of government​ 45
3.2 Evaluate the extent to which the increased use of referendums would improve democracy in the UK​ 47
Unit 4: Voting Behaviour and the Media​ 49
4.1 Evaluate the view that social factors solely determine voting behaviour​ 49
4.1 Evaluate the extent to which general elections in the UK are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition​ 51
4.1 Evaluate the extent to which rational choice is the most important factor in voting behaviour​ 53
4.2 Evaluate the view that social media is now more important than traditional media in politics​ 55
4.2 Evaluate the view that opinions polls are more significant than traditional media in holding the government to account​ 57




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,Template


introduction here, defining key terms


Against essay position For essay position Evaluation

Evaluation of
each point




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, Unit 1: Democracy and Participation


1.1 Evaluate the view that direct democracy is more effective than representative democracy



Representative democracy = where citizens choose representatives to make decisions on our behalf, e.g general elections
Direct democracy = where citizens make political decisions directly, e.g referendums

Against essay position For essay position Evaluation

Direct democracy is the purest form of democracy as all the peoples’ voices are Representative democracy is the only system which will allow a large country to Representativ
equal. This concludes that there is a greater democratic legitimacy, as there is a make practical, effective and quick decisions to address complex issues which e democracy
clear expression of the will of the people. Arguably, therefore, direct democracy makes need rapid responses. Citizens cannot always be expected to make decisions, so it is more
the state more democratic as compared to representative democracy. is more effective to have representative’s whose occupation is to be informed and effective as it
-​ EXAMPLE: Switzerland, a state which uses direct democracy often - giving analyse political issues. allows for
around 10 referendum style votes a year is considered the 5th most -​ EXAMPLE: During crises like COVID-19, it is impractical to consult the practical
democratic state globally, whereas the UK is 17th. public on every decision. During the pandemic, the Coronavirus Act 2020 decisions to
was passed to grant the government emergency powers to make be made.
HOWEVER regulations without having to consult parliament. Supports the
protective
Although being the purest form, is also largely impractical. In a modern state, it theory of
would be too timely and expensive to be running constant referendums and democracy
votes on every issue. It is much easier for a strong, sovereign government which can
respond pragmatically and quickly to the issues of the day, instead of the consult the
citizenry on every policy change.

-​ EXAMPLE: The Cabinet Office estimated that the total cost of the 2016 EU
Referendum was £150 million (including the cost of running polling
stations and counting votes).




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