Topic 1 essay plans 100% PASSED
Evaluate the view that the franchise should be further extended
1) Responsibility without rights
For
- Pay tax, marry, join army
- Corbyn said that we cannot deny these people their full rights as citizens (could be seen as a political
move as the youth are more likely to vote labour)
- Conservatives dispute this but it is contradictory as 15 year olds voted in their leadership election
Against
- Eventhough they have these rights, most people do not use them
- Their educational development remains incomplete and they could be more influenced by their
parents
2) Political Engagement
For
- Involving youth may have a trickle up effect and mobilise their parents
- Increasing rates at a time of apathy
- Structured environments like school can increase turnout by helping them overcoming obstacles like
registering
- Youth politically engaged on social media and direct action
- Strengthen youth political interests and reorintate politics around issues like education
Against
- Younger voters less likely to vote. In the 2015 election just 43% of 18-24 year olds voted compared
with 78% 65+
- Voters who do not vote in their first election are the most unreliable voters so it could create a
generation of abstainers
3) Complusory voting
, For
- Turnout in Austrailia has never dropped below 90%
- Gives politicians more legitimacy
Against
- It does not tackle the root causes of low turnout, merely the symptoms
- People do not want to vote due to disattifaction with the parties and the voting system
- May force people to vote for parties that they don't want to and so the system will never change
- Politicians are elected with the votes of the least interested and most ill-informed of the electorate and
these may be influenced more by the tabloid newspapers.
- Some voters will make a random choice on the ballot paper because they have to vote.
Evaluate the extent to which UK democracy is in crisis
1) Participation
For
- 2001 turnout was 59%
- People felt like little was at stake because they had little attachment to either party
- 1% of the population is in a political party
Against
- Participation may just be changing in a pluralist democracy
- Exam and BLM protests
- Perhaps there is a resurgence of voting
- 2019 GE had 67%
- EU ref had 72%
- Indyref had 84%
2) Systemic issues
For
- FPTP unrepresentative
- 2015, UKIP won 12.5% of the vote and won 0 seats
- MPs may not even get 30% of the vote in their constituency
- People don't bother to vote or don't want to waste their vote
- Scotland has become a one party state. But big chunks do not vote for the SNP. As the country gets
more regionalised there are issues with FPTP
- Dissatisfaction with the major parties does not affect their vote share. People feel like they have to
vote for the major parties tactically due to the voting system and not wanting to waste a vote
Against
Evaluate the view that the franchise should be further extended
1) Responsibility without rights
For
- Pay tax, marry, join army
- Corbyn said that we cannot deny these people their full rights as citizens (could be seen as a political
move as the youth are more likely to vote labour)
- Conservatives dispute this but it is contradictory as 15 year olds voted in their leadership election
Against
- Eventhough they have these rights, most people do not use them
- Their educational development remains incomplete and they could be more influenced by their
parents
2) Political Engagement
For
- Involving youth may have a trickle up effect and mobilise their parents
- Increasing rates at a time of apathy
- Structured environments like school can increase turnout by helping them overcoming obstacles like
registering
- Youth politically engaged on social media and direct action
- Strengthen youth political interests and reorintate politics around issues like education
Against
- Younger voters less likely to vote. In the 2015 election just 43% of 18-24 year olds voted compared
with 78% 65+
- Voters who do not vote in their first election are the most unreliable voters so it could create a
generation of abstainers
3) Complusory voting
, For
- Turnout in Austrailia has never dropped below 90%
- Gives politicians more legitimacy
Against
- It does not tackle the root causes of low turnout, merely the symptoms
- People do not want to vote due to disattifaction with the parties and the voting system
- May force people to vote for parties that they don't want to and so the system will never change
- Politicians are elected with the votes of the least interested and most ill-informed of the electorate and
these may be influenced more by the tabloid newspapers.
- Some voters will make a random choice on the ballot paper because they have to vote.
Evaluate the extent to which UK democracy is in crisis
1) Participation
For
- 2001 turnout was 59%
- People felt like little was at stake because they had little attachment to either party
- 1% of the population is in a political party
Against
- Participation may just be changing in a pluralist democracy
- Exam and BLM protests
- Perhaps there is a resurgence of voting
- 2019 GE had 67%
- EU ref had 72%
- Indyref had 84%
2) Systemic issues
For
- FPTP unrepresentative
- 2015, UKIP won 12.5% of the vote and won 0 seats
- MPs may not even get 30% of the vote in their constituency
- People don't bother to vote or don't want to waste their vote
- Scotland has become a one party state. But big chunks do not vote for the SNP. As the country gets
more regionalised there are issues with FPTP
- Dissatisfaction with the major parties does not affect their vote share. People feel like they have to
vote for the major parties tactically due to the voting system and not wanting to waste a vote
Against
