AQA • UK POLITICS ESSAY

1. Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected by the UK constitutional arrangements - ANS - Common law (trad, custom and precedent/judge made) > precedent made by judges protecting rights e.g. murder vs statute law can 'overturn' these or reform - Statute Law > HRA 1998 (incorporated ECHR convention) e.g. whole life sentences deemed breach of article 3 in convention 2013 vs not entrenched so can be set aside by parli e.g. over terrorism legislation - Conventions (...

Are parties good for democracy Representation People's representatives. Provide candidates for Westminster; elected by people for people. however 'winners bonus' is exacerbated by parties under FPTP. Con 37% votes vs 51% seats in 2015. UKIP in 2015 12.6% of vote but no seats. Johnson originally only elected by Tory party members which is unrepresentative !! Also growing cynicism that parties aren't representative and are selfish, eg. Cameron giving his supporters peerages before leavin...

Evaluate the extent to which political parties should be funded by the state agree - 1 =Reduce political corruption Case study to support = 1 in 10 Conservative Party donors who gave £100,000 become Peers in Lords. Big business donates to Conservatives and demand tax breaks 2=Reduce the power of the trade unions Case study to support = Labour is heavily bankrolled by Trade Unions, and this means unelected Trade Unions can control the government if Labour are in power 3=Gives smaller part...

Direct democracy - Advantages Gives equal weight to all votes Encourages popular participation Purest form of democracy which gives decisions legitimacy Disadvantages Impractical in a large, modern state Open to manipulation by cleverest speakers No mediation by parliamentary institutions meaning minority viewpoints disregarded Representative Democracy - Advantages Practical in a large, modern state Parties and pressure groups provide pluralism and choice Representatives protect minor...

STV is arranged in alphabetical order; it isn't arranged randomly • This is unfair - it prioritises candidates simply due to... Why STV isn't as democratic as other voting systems: However... • STV provides broadly proportional results; it reflects the politics of all political parties, but mostly the winner • In STV, you rank candidates; you can vote multiple candidates • Ranking candidates makes tactical voting obsolete • This is a better reflection of voters' political vi...

Explain and analyse three different theories of representation - 1. Trustee (2013 vote on gay marriage) 2. Delegate (Tory MP zac goldsmith - 3rd Heathrow runway) 3. Mandate (in 2017 Tory manifesto they only fulfilled 175 out of 257 pledges) Explain and analyse three stages in the legislative process - 1. Second reading 2. Committee stage 3. Report stage Explain and analyse three perogative powers of the PM - 1. Patronage (rishi sunak appointment of chancellor of the exchequer) 2. Dispen...

when did blair get involved in the Iraq war? - ANS 2003 When did Blair get involved in the Afghanistan war? - ANS 2001 When was the Scotland act? - ANS 1998 when was the wales act? - ANS 1998 When was the Good Friday Agreement? - ANS 1998 When was the Greater London Authority Act? - ANS 1999 When was the wales and scotland devolution referendums? - ANS 1997 When was the London devolution referendum? - ANS 1998 When was the Civil partnership act? (allowed gay couples to be legally joined)...

Explain and analyse three different theories of representation - 1. Trustee (2013 vote on gay marriage) 2. Delegate (Tory MP zac goldsmith - 3rd Heathrow runway) 3. Mandate (in 2017 Tory manifesto they only fulfilled 175 out of 257 pledges) Explain and analyse three stages in the legislative process - 1. Second reading 2. Committee stage 3. Report stage Explain and analyse three perogative powers of the PM - 1. Patronage (rishi sunak appointment of chancellor of the exchequer) 2. Dispen...

when did blair get involved in the Iraq war? - ANS 2003 When did Blair get involved in the Afghanistan war? - ANS 2001 When was the Scotland act? - ANS 1998 when was the wales act? - ANS 1998 When was the Good Friday Agreement? - ANS 1998 When was the Greater London Authority Act? - ANS 1999 When was the wales and scotland devolution referendums? - ANS 1997 When was the London devolution referendum? - ANS 1998 When was the Civil partnership act? (allowed gay couples to be legally joined)...

Evaluate the extent to which the UK political system is democratic/undemocratic. - ANS free elections fair elections protection of rights and liberties Evaluate the extent to which the UK is a pluralist democracy. - ANS equality and rights based culture electorate can hold MPs to account pressure groups etc Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis'. - ANS turnout party membership e-democracy and joining of pressure groups Evaluate the extent to which lowering th...