Direct vs. Representative Democracy
Advantages Disadvantages
Direct Democracy-A Removes need to trust delegates Impractical in modern countries with
form of democracy in Encourages participation large populations
which the people Develops sense of community Many may feel unqualified to make
make decisions not Each vote is equal decisions
elected
representatives
Indirect Democracy Reduces chance of minorities being ignored Good public speakers can manipulate
-The people elect a Representatives held to account by elections Reduced participation
representative to put Politicians better informed on issues than Politicians can be skilled at avoiding
forward their public accountability
interests Parties and pressure groups draw together Politicians support majority
shared views Politicians can be corrupt
Practical for large populus Minority views disregarded
While uk’s system is indirect there is some examples of direct democracy
- Referendums
- The 2015 Recall of MPs Act: This allows a petition to be triggered if an MP is sentenced
to be imprisoned or is suspended from the House of Commons for more than 21 days. If
10 percent of eligible voters in the constituency sign the petition, a by-election is called.
Direct democracy is thus used to hold representatives to account
Crisis in UK Democracy
Democratic deficit-a perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works,
especially in terms of accountability and control over policy-making.
, Positives if uk democratic system Negatives of uk democratic system
Devolved govs- e.g Scotland and Wales Media can be controlled by wealthy-e.g Rupert
Wide range of parties and pressure groups Murdoch controls the Sun
Free media Underrepresentation of minority views
Free and fair elections HOL lacks democracy
Independent judiciary Lacks protection of rights- uncodified constitution
There is a crisis in UK democracy There is not a crisis in UK democracy
Lowest turnout ever recorded 59.4% in a After 2001 general election turnout has been
general election-makes the people question on a steady rise
govs mandate
‘Hapathy’-if people are happy they’re less 72% turnout for EU election/84% for Scottish
likely to engage in politics independence
Membership of political parties has been on
decline= increase in number of swing voters Although political party membership down
increased support for pressure groups e.g
4.5m Britons members of environmental
groups
Voting should be compulsory Voting shouldn’t be compulsory
Voting is a social duty as well as a right. It would not stop politicians focusing their
People should be involved in the processes campaigns on marginal seats, and neglecting
that affect their lives. safe seats where the outcome is predictable.
Politicians would have to run better quality In a preferential voting system, where voters
campaigns, and governments would have to number candidates in order of preference,
frame their policies with the whole electorate compulsory voting may lead to participants
in mind. ‘Donkey voting’, simply placing candidates in
rank order as they appear on the ballot paper
It would produce a parliament that is more (1,2.3 or 3,2,1).
representative of the
population as a whole. Compulsory voting does not address the
deeper reasons why people decide not to
Voters are not obliged to vote for one of the vote.
candidates if they conscientiously cannot do
so; it would still be legal to spoil one's ballot It is undemocratic to force people to take part
paper, or a ‘none of the above’ box could be in something that should be a matter of
provided on the paper. choice.
Advantages Disadvantages
Direct Democracy-A Removes need to trust delegates Impractical in modern countries with
form of democracy in Encourages participation large populations
which the people Develops sense of community Many may feel unqualified to make
make decisions not Each vote is equal decisions
elected
representatives
Indirect Democracy Reduces chance of minorities being ignored Good public speakers can manipulate
-The people elect a Representatives held to account by elections Reduced participation
representative to put Politicians better informed on issues than Politicians can be skilled at avoiding
forward their public accountability
interests Parties and pressure groups draw together Politicians support majority
shared views Politicians can be corrupt
Practical for large populus Minority views disregarded
While uk’s system is indirect there is some examples of direct democracy
- Referendums
- The 2015 Recall of MPs Act: This allows a petition to be triggered if an MP is sentenced
to be imprisoned or is suspended from the House of Commons for more than 21 days. If
10 percent of eligible voters in the constituency sign the petition, a by-election is called.
Direct democracy is thus used to hold representatives to account
Crisis in UK Democracy
Democratic deficit-a perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works,
especially in terms of accountability and control over policy-making.
, Positives if uk democratic system Negatives of uk democratic system
Devolved govs- e.g Scotland and Wales Media can be controlled by wealthy-e.g Rupert
Wide range of parties and pressure groups Murdoch controls the Sun
Free media Underrepresentation of minority views
Free and fair elections HOL lacks democracy
Independent judiciary Lacks protection of rights- uncodified constitution
There is a crisis in UK democracy There is not a crisis in UK democracy
Lowest turnout ever recorded 59.4% in a After 2001 general election turnout has been
general election-makes the people question on a steady rise
govs mandate
‘Hapathy’-if people are happy they’re less 72% turnout for EU election/84% for Scottish
likely to engage in politics independence
Membership of political parties has been on
decline= increase in number of swing voters Although political party membership down
increased support for pressure groups e.g
4.5m Britons members of environmental
groups
Voting should be compulsory Voting shouldn’t be compulsory
Voting is a social duty as well as a right. It would not stop politicians focusing their
People should be involved in the processes campaigns on marginal seats, and neglecting
that affect their lives. safe seats where the outcome is predictable.
Politicians would have to run better quality In a preferential voting system, where voters
campaigns, and governments would have to number candidates in order of preference,
frame their policies with the whole electorate compulsory voting may lead to participants
in mind. ‘Donkey voting’, simply placing candidates in
rank order as they appear on the ballot paper
It would produce a parliament that is more (1,2.3 or 3,2,1).
representative of the
population as a whole. Compulsory voting does not address the
deeper reasons why people decide not to
Voters are not obliged to vote for one of the vote.
candidates if they conscientiously cannot do
so; it would still be legal to spoil one's ballot It is undemocratic to force people to take part
paper, or a ‘none of the above’ box could be in something that should be a matter of
provided on the paper. choice.
