Democracy and Participation:
Direct Democracy - Individuals express themselves, not elective, citizens active in decision making
Representative Democracy - Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, all
adults have the right to vote for a representative, elections are free and fair, citizens pass authority to
their representatives
System Advantage Disadvantage Example
Direct ● Equal weight to all ● Impractical ● National
Democracy votes ● Many feel referendums
● Encourages unqualified ● 2015 Recall of
participation ● Open to MPs act (Fiona
● Individuals manipulation Onasanya
responsible ● Tyranny of the recalled 2019
● Sense of community majority following
perversion of the
course of justice)
Representative ● Only practical option ● Reduced ● FPTP
Democracy ● Pluralist democracy participation ● EU Parliament
(competing ● Parties have their ● Parliament
arguments) own agenda
● Reduces chance of ● Minorities still
minority rights underrepresented
being overridden ● Politicians skilful in
● Elections hold avoiding
representatives to accountability
account ● Politicians may be
● Politicians are better corrupt and/or
informed and more incompetent
able to make
governmental
decisions
Case for reform:
● Underrepresentation of minority viewpoints due to FPTP
● House of Lords lack legitimacy and a mandate
● Lack of Protection of Rights - Governments can derogate from HRA (1998)
● Control of sections of the media by the wealthy - Murdoch Empire (Times, Sun, Sunday Times, Sky,
Fox, News Corp)
Voter Turnout:
● 2001 - 59.4%
● 2005 - 61.4%
● 2017 - 68.7%
Party Membership:
Conservatives 2016 - Under 150,000
1990s - 400,000
Labour 1997 - 190,000
2016 (Under Corbyn) - 515,000 (largest political
party in Europe)
SNP 2013 - 25,000
Direct Democracy - Individuals express themselves, not elective, citizens active in decision making
Representative Democracy - Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, all
adults have the right to vote for a representative, elections are free and fair, citizens pass authority to
their representatives
System Advantage Disadvantage Example
Direct ● Equal weight to all ● Impractical ● National
Democracy votes ● Many feel referendums
● Encourages unqualified ● 2015 Recall of
participation ● Open to MPs act (Fiona
● Individuals manipulation Onasanya
responsible ● Tyranny of the recalled 2019
● Sense of community majority following
perversion of the
course of justice)
Representative ● Only practical option ● Reduced ● FPTP
Democracy ● Pluralist democracy participation ● EU Parliament
(competing ● Parties have their ● Parliament
arguments) own agenda
● Reduces chance of ● Minorities still
minority rights underrepresented
being overridden ● Politicians skilful in
● Elections hold avoiding
representatives to accountability
account ● Politicians may be
● Politicians are better corrupt and/or
informed and more incompetent
able to make
governmental
decisions
Case for reform:
● Underrepresentation of minority viewpoints due to FPTP
● House of Lords lack legitimacy and a mandate
● Lack of Protection of Rights - Governments can derogate from HRA (1998)
● Control of sections of the media by the wealthy - Murdoch Empire (Times, Sun, Sunday Times, Sky,
Fox, News Corp)
Voter Turnout:
● 2001 - 59.4%
● 2005 - 61.4%
● 2017 - 68.7%
Party Membership:
Conservatives 2016 - Under 150,000
1990s - 400,000
Labour 1997 - 190,000
2016 (Under Corbyn) - 515,000 (largest political
party in Europe)
SNP 2013 - 25,000
