UK Paper 1 Essay Questions
Table of Contents
UK1: Democracy and Participation.............................................2
Evaluate the view that the UK political system is no longer truly
representative................................................................................2
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups enhance democracy in
the UK. In your answer you must refer to at least three pressure
groups............................................................................................3
Evaluate the view that UK democracy is suffering from a participation
crisis...............................................................................................4
Is there a democratic deficit in the UK political system?....................4
Evaluate how far the UK system of representative democracy remains
in need of improvement...................................................................5
Evaluate the extent to which organised groups enhance democracy in
the UK............................................................................................6
Evaluate the view that rights are no longer effectively protected in
the UK............................................................................................7
Evaluate the view that campaigns to extend the franchise have gone
far enough......................................................................................8
UK1: Political Parties...............................................................10
Have party funding reforms been effective?....................................10
Evaluate the case for introducing state funding of political parties. .10
Evaluate the view that the only two parties that matter in our political
system are Labour and Conservatives.............................................11
Evaluate the view that emerging parties are increasingly influential in
UK politics.....................................................................................12
Evaluate how far the Labour party has remained true to its traditional
principles......................................................................................13
Evaluate how far the modern Conservative party may be described as
a ‘one-nation’ party.......................................................................14
Evaluate the view that the Labour party is internally divided...........15
Evaluate the view that the Conservative party is internally divided. .15
UK1: Electoral Systems............................................................17
Evaluate the view that referendums enhance democracy in the UK. .17
Evaluate the case for introducing proportional representation for UK
General Elections...........................................................................17
, Evaluate the view that elections promote democracy and participation
in the UK political system...............................................................18
Analyse and evaluate the criticisms of various electoral systems
around the UK...............................................................................19
‘The first past the post system is no longer fit for purpose’ analyse
and evaluate this statement...........................................................20
Have alternative electoral systems been effective in other parts of the
UK?...............................................................................................20
UK1: Voting Behaviour and the Media.......................................21
Evaluate that the media influence is the most important factor in
determining voting behaviour in general elections..........................21
Evaluate the relative importance of different demographic factors in
voting behaviour...........................................................................22
Evaluate the impact of turnout in determining the outcome of
elections.......................................................................................23
Rational choice is the most important factor in determining how
people vote...................................................................................24
UK1: Democracy and Participation
Evaluate the view that the UK political system is no longer truly
representative
IS representative IS NOT representative
Accurately represent the views of As of 2024 elections 41% of HoC is
all those in society Equality Act represented by women, 14% from
2010 ensures equal rights for all ethnic minorities. 18% of
men and women, promoting an population is ethnic minority so
accessible working environment for there is still work to do.
women. Ending Violence Against
Women and Girls Strategy
2019.Parliament may not be
physically representative, but
legislators take into account views
of the minority.
Pressure groups – represent Insider groups get are far more
minority views outside of influential BMA lobbying
parliament Causal pressure groups government for increased pay for
do this such as Greenpeace with health workers. National Education
, disposable vape ban 250,000 Union effective in raising teacher
signatures shows representation pay however, often have elitist
from outside parliament structure meaning the regular
person is not represented
Devolution allows for local Devolved argued to be not
representation in respective representative enough. In practice
bodies. Since 1998 Blair Wales has little devolved power
government Wales, Scotland and and is not equal to NI or Scotland –
Northern Ireland have gained no power over welfare or tax
devolved power. Scotland can set shows lack of representation
its own rate of tax. Shows how
legislation can now be created with
local legislators with Scottish
parliament
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups enhance
democracy in the UK. In your answer you must refer to at least
three pressure groups.
P-Groups enhance democracy P-Groups do not enhance
democracy
Enhances participation in Often promotes civil disobedience.
democracy and represent a diverse Whilst creating stunts for media
range of views, Shelter represents attention, they prove divisive. Just
the homeless who otherwise lack a Stop Oil caused roadblocks and
voice in the political sphere, threw soup over paintings in 2022.
Muslim Council of GB represents Creates anger towards the groups
the Islamic minority. Shows that and ignorance due to their stunts
the tyranny of the majority can be from government
avoided
Act as a protection of rights, Groups with insider status often
Howard League only has more listened to and have greater
membership of 3000 and made influence. BMA and CBI have
government U-Turn on charging contacts within government that
prisoners for legal aid in 2015. makes it considerably easier to
Shows how the interests of the make change to legislation. Shows
minority are still protected elitism is still in place and not all
voices heard, which does not
enhance democracy
Outer Parliament expertise allows Pressure groups with insider
government to make better and influence that have a greater hold
more representative legislation. on government often do not show
BMA is an insider group with over deference to the democratic
170,000 members which help process and rely on bargaining
formulate NHS related legislation.
Shows government ability to be
Table of Contents
UK1: Democracy and Participation.............................................2
Evaluate the view that the UK political system is no longer truly
representative................................................................................2
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups enhance democracy in
the UK. In your answer you must refer to at least three pressure
groups............................................................................................3
Evaluate the view that UK democracy is suffering from a participation
crisis...............................................................................................4
Is there a democratic deficit in the UK political system?....................4
Evaluate how far the UK system of representative democracy remains
in need of improvement...................................................................5
Evaluate the extent to which organised groups enhance democracy in
the UK............................................................................................6
Evaluate the view that rights are no longer effectively protected in
the UK............................................................................................7
Evaluate the view that campaigns to extend the franchise have gone
far enough......................................................................................8
UK1: Political Parties...............................................................10
Have party funding reforms been effective?....................................10
Evaluate the case for introducing state funding of political parties. .10
Evaluate the view that the only two parties that matter in our political
system are Labour and Conservatives.............................................11
Evaluate the view that emerging parties are increasingly influential in
UK politics.....................................................................................12
Evaluate how far the Labour party has remained true to its traditional
principles......................................................................................13
Evaluate how far the modern Conservative party may be described as
a ‘one-nation’ party.......................................................................14
Evaluate the view that the Labour party is internally divided...........15
Evaluate the view that the Conservative party is internally divided. .15
UK1: Electoral Systems............................................................17
Evaluate the view that referendums enhance democracy in the UK. .17
Evaluate the case for introducing proportional representation for UK
General Elections...........................................................................17
, Evaluate the view that elections promote democracy and participation
in the UK political system...............................................................18
Analyse and evaluate the criticisms of various electoral systems
around the UK...............................................................................19
‘The first past the post system is no longer fit for purpose’ analyse
and evaluate this statement...........................................................20
Have alternative electoral systems been effective in other parts of the
UK?...............................................................................................20
UK1: Voting Behaviour and the Media.......................................21
Evaluate that the media influence is the most important factor in
determining voting behaviour in general elections..........................21
Evaluate the relative importance of different demographic factors in
voting behaviour...........................................................................22
Evaluate the impact of turnout in determining the outcome of
elections.......................................................................................23
Rational choice is the most important factor in determining how
people vote...................................................................................24
UK1: Democracy and Participation
Evaluate the view that the UK political system is no longer truly
representative
IS representative IS NOT representative
Accurately represent the views of As of 2024 elections 41% of HoC is
all those in society Equality Act represented by women, 14% from
2010 ensures equal rights for all ethnic minorities. 18% of
men and women, promoting an population is ethnic minority so
accessible working environment for there is still work to do.
women. Ending Violence Against
Women and Girls Strategy
2019.Parliament may not be
physically representative, but
legislators take into account views
of the minority.
Pressure groups – represent Insider groups get are far more
minority views outside of influential BMA lobbying
parliament Causal pressure groups government for increased pay for
do this such as Greenpeace with health workers. National Education
, disposable vape ban 250,000 Union effective in raising teacher
signatures shows representation pay however, often have elitist
from outside parliament structure meaning the regular
person is not represented
Devolution allows for local Devolved argued to be not
representation in respective representative enough. In practice
bodies. Since 1998 Blair Wales has little devolved power
government Wales, Scotland and and is not equal to NI or Scotland –
Northern Ireland have gained no power over welfare or tax
devolved power. Scotland can set shows lack of representation
its own rate of tax. Shows how
legislation can now be created with
local legislators with Scottish
parliament
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups enhance
democracy in the UK. In your answer you must refer to at least
three pressure groups.
P-Groups enhance democracy P-Groups do not enhance
democracy
Enhances participation in Often promotes civil disobedience.
democracy and represent a diverse Whilst creating stunts for media
range of views, Shelter represents attention, they prove divisive. Just
the homeless who otherwise lack a Stop Oil caused roadblocks and
voice in the political sphere, threw soup over paintings in 2022.
Muslim Council of GB represents Creates anger towards the groups
the Islamic minority. Shows that and ignorance due to their stunts
the tyranny of the majority can be from government
avoided
Act as a protection of rights, Groups with insider status often
Howard League only has more listened to and have greater
membership of 3000 and made influence. BMA and CBI have
government U-Turn on charging contacts within government that
prisoners for legal aid in 2015. makes it considerably easier to
Shows how the interests of the make change to legislation. Shows
minority are still protected elitism is still in place and not all
voices heard, which does not
enhance democracy
Outer Parliament expertise allows Pressure groups with insider
government to make better and influence that have a greater hold
more representative legislation. on government often do not show
BMA is an insider group with over deference to the democratic
170,000 members which help process and rely on bargaining
formulate NHS related legislation.
Shows government ability to be
