Chapter 6 – Democracy and
Participation
Direct Democracy – System of Democracy where people
decide on policy initiatives directly
Representative Democracy – System of Democracy where
people vote for elected representatives to make decisions on the
people’s behalf
Suffrage – The Right to Vote
Participation – Various ways that people can get involved in
the political process
Partisan Dealignment – Process whereby individuals
become less partisan/predictable in supporting a particular
political party
, “Explain and Analyse three functions of
Democracy”
1. Representation
- Since the 1928 Representation of the People Act (enfranchising
women) and the 1969 Representation of the People Act
(lowering the voting age) – all over 18s in the UK are eligible to
vote (apart from prisoners and the homeless)
- TISB by having virtually most of the population enfranchised
this allows for an elected government to be fully reflective of
the voice of multiple groups of people rather than simply the
wealthy, elite male population
2. Participation
- In the UK there are general elections every 5 years, local
elections, devolved parliament elections in Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales, and mayoral elections in many cities such
as Manchester
- TISB by allowing for multiple forms of participation this
engages voters to make educated choices and feel that they are
heard in a democracy
3. Accountability
- 2019 General Election = Labour MPS were held accountable by
voters for their leader Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of positions
regarding Brexit, as well as being their most left-leaning
manifesto since Michael Foot in the 1983 Election
- TISB this majorly reduces the risk of a leader making decisions
that go against the will of the majority of people – eliminating
the risk of a dictatorship
Participation
Direct Democracy – System of Democracy where people
decide on policy initiatives directly
Representative Democracy – System of Democracy where
people vote for elected representatives to make decisions on the
people’s behalf
Suffrage – The Right to Vote
Participation – Various ways that people can get involved in
the political process
Partisan Dealignment – Process whereby individuals
become less partisan/predictable in supporting a particular
political party
, “Explain and Analyse three functions of
Democracy”
1. Representation
- Since the 1928 Representation of the People Act (enfranchising
women) and the 1969 Representation of the People Act
(lowering the voting age) – all over 18s in the UK are eligible to
vote (apart from prisoners and the homeless)
- TISB by having virtually most of the population enfranchised
this allows for an elected government to be fully reflective of
the voice of multiple groups of people rather than simply the
wealthy, elite male population
2. Participation
- In the UK there are general elections every 5 years, local
elections, devolved parliament elections in Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales, and mayoral elections in many cities such
as Manchester
- TISB by allowing for multiple forms of participation this
engages voters to make educated choices and feel that they are
heard in a democracy
3. Accountability
- 2019 General Election = Labour MPS were held accountable by
voters for their leader Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of positions
regarding Brexit, as well as being their most left-leaning
manifesto since Michael Foot in the 1983 Election
- TISB this majorly reduces the risk of a leader making decisions
that go against the will of the majority of people – eliminating
the risk of a dictatorship
