EDEXCEL A LEVEL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS PAPER 1
Direct democracy - (ANSWER)all individuals express their opinions themselves and not through
representatives acting on their behalf
Representative democracy - (ANSWER)an individual selects a person to act on their behalf
Similarities of representative and direct democracy - (ANSWER)based on a majority
Differences of direct and representative democracy - (ANSWER)direct is not elective,
direct is for individuals,
direct has more citizen involvement
Legitimacy - (ANSWER)the right to exercise power
Democratic deficit - (ANSWER)a deficiency in the way a democratic body works
Positives of UK's democracy - (ANSWER)fair and free elections,
free from intimidation,
wide choice of parties,
press freedom,
independant judiciary
Negatives of UK's democracy - (ANSWER)under representation of minorities,
can't vote for lords,
doesn't protect rights
press is owned by millionaires
,Examples of declining participation - (ANSWER)2001 turnout was lowest since WWII (59.4%),
conservative party has lost members (124,000 members in 2018)
Examples of rising participation - (ANSWER)labour biggest party in europe (552,000 members),
turnout rising (68.6% 2017),
e-democracy
Franchise / suffrage - (ANSWER)the ability to vote in public elections
Pluralism - (ANSWER)lots of people have a say
Elitism - (ANSWER)only a select few have a say
To be able to vote you must: - (ANSWER)be 18+,
be a registered british/irish citizen
To be able to vote you cannot: - (ANSWER)be under 18,
be a member of the house of lords,
be convicted of illegal electoral practise,
detained in a psychiatric hospital
Great reform act 1832 - (ANSWER)created 67 new constituencies, included small land owners,
tenant farmers and shopkeepers in the property qualification and gave the vote to all
householders who paid a yearly rent of £10+
Representation of the people act 1918 - (ANSWER)allowed men 21+ (with/without property)
and women 30+ who live in the constituency or owned land worth £5+ to vote
,Representation of the people act 1928 - (ANSWER)gave women electoral equality (21+
with/without property)
Representation of the people act 1948 - (ANSWER)abolished plural voting (2 separate uni votes)
and increased MP's to 613
Representation of the people act 1969 - (ANSWER)voting age reduced to 18 to reflect change in
view on adulthood
For lowering voting age to 16: - (ANSWER)already trusted with legal rights (leave school, work,
army),
have to learn about politics in school,
voting earlier increases chance of involvement,
affects their future
Against lowering voting age to 16: - (ANSWER)some lack maturity,
may be influenced by parents,
scottish referendum isn't fair because it had an unusually high turnout,
only a few countries allow 16 year olds to vote
Electoral Reform Society - (ANSWER)longest standing pro democracy organization (1884),
formed to provide better democracy where everyone votes and is treated equally, works with
activists and politicians
Electoral reform society campaigns - (ANSWER)elected house of lords,
votes at 16,
local democracy,
replace FPTP with STV
Votes at 16 - (ANSWER)formed in january 2003, want the voting age lowered to 16 as it affects
young people's future
, Pressure group - (ANSWER)an organised group that seeks to influence government policy or
legislation
Pluralism - (ANSWER)the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body which
permits the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles
Pressure group features: - (ANSWER)want to influence policy,
usually single issue,
more of them,
represent an issue that isn't supported by the wider public
Political parties features: - (ANSWER)want to make policy and run the country,
aim to win power,
few parties,
have a wide range of policies to accommodate a wide range of views,
create laws
Sectional pressure groups - (ANSWER)a specific group that promotes the interest of an
occupation or group in society
Sectional pressure group examples - (ANSWER)trade unions, national union of teachers, british
medical association
Cause pressure groups - (ANSWER)aims to change opinions and attitudes, open to everyone
Cause pressure groups examples - (ANSWER)greenpeace, PDSA, RSPCA
Sectional cause pressure groups - (ANSWER)the membership are different to the group it
represents
Direct democracy - (ANSWER)all individuals express their opinions themselves and not through
representatives acting on their behalf
Representative democracy - (ANSWER)an individual selects a person to act on their behalf
Similarities of representative and direct democracy - (ANSWER)based on a majority
Differences of direct and representative democracy - (ANSWER)direct is not elective,
direct is for individuals,
direct has more citizen involvement
Legitimacy - (ANSWER)the right to exercise power
Democratic deficit - (ANSWER)a deficiency in the way a democratic body works
Positives of UK's democracy - (ANSWER)fair and free elections,
free from intimidation,
wide choice of parties,
press freedom,
independant judiciary
Negatives of UK's democracy - (ANSWER)under representation of minorities,
can't vote for lords,
doesn't protect rights
press is owned by millionaires
,Examples of declining participation - (ANSWER)2001 turnout was lowest since WWII (59.4%),
conservative party has lost members (124,000 members in 2018)
Examples of rising participation - (ANSWER)labour biggest party in europe (552,000 members),
turnout rising (68.6% 2017),
e-democracy
Franchise / suffrage - (ANSWER)the ability to vote in public elections
Pluralism - (ANSWER)lots of people have a say
Elitism - (ANSWER)only a select few have a say
To be able to vote you must: - (ANSWER)be 18+,
be a registered british/irish citizen
To be able to vote you cannot: - (ANSWER)be under 18,
be a member of the house of lords,
be convicted of illegal electoral practise,
detained in a psychiatric hospital
Great reform act 1832 - (ANSWER)created 67 new constituencies, included small land owners,
tenant farmers and shopkeepers in the property qualification and gave the vote to all
householders who paid a yearly rent of £10+
Representation of the people act 1918 - (ANSWER)allowed men 21+ (with/without property)
and women 30+ who live in the constituency or owned land worth £5+ to vote
,Representation of the people act 1928 - (ANSWER)gave women electoral equality (21+
with/without property)
Representation of the people act 1948 - (ANSWER)abolished plural voting (2 separate uni votes)
and increased MP's to 613
Representation of the people act 1969 - (ANSWER)voting age reduced to 18 to reflect change in
view on adulthood
For lowering voting age to 16: - (ANSWER)already trusted with legal rights (leave school, work,
army),
have to learn about politics in school,
voting earlier increases chance of involvement,
affects their future
Against lowering voting age to 16: - (ANSWER)some lack maturity,
may be influenced by parents,
scottish referendum isn't fair because it had an unusually high turnout,
only a few countries allow 16 year olds to vote
Electoral Reform Society - (ANSWER)longest standing pro democracy organization (1884),
formed to provide better democracy where everyone votes and is treated equally, works with
activists and politicians
Electoral reform society campaigns - (ANSWER)elected house of lords,
votes at 16,
local democracy,
replace FPTP with STV
Votes at 16 - (ANSWER)formed in january 2003, want the voting age lowered to 16 as it affects
young people's future
, Pressure group - (ANSWER)an organised group that seeks to influence government policy or
legislation
Pluralism - (ANSWER)the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body which
permits the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles
Pressure group features: - (ANSWER)want to influence policy,
usually single issue,
more of them,
represent an issue that isn't supported by the wider public
Political parties features: - (ANSWER)want to make policy and run the country,
aim to win power,
few parties,
have a wide range of policies to accommodate a wide range of views,
create laws
Sectional pressure groups - (ANSWER)a specific group that promotes the interest of an
occupation or group in society
Sectional pressure group examples - (ANSWER)trade unions, national union of teachers, british
medical association
Cause pressure groups - (ANSWER)aims to change opinions and attitudes, open to everyone
Cause pressure groups examples - (ANSWER)greenpeace, PDSA, RSPCA
Sectional cause pressure groups - (ANSWER)the membership are different to the group it
represents
