Unit 1 Past Questions. 5 mark Qs Define representative democracy.

Representative democracy is a form of indirect democracy in which professional politicians act for or on behalf of the people. This is typically expressed through a system of regular and democratic elections which enable politicians to be removed and made accountable. Popular participation is thus indirect and irregular. It is sometimes linked to the idea of government for the people.

Outline two functions of a general election.

general election is a full parliamentary election! in which all seats in the "ouse of #ommons come up for re$election. %eneral elections are the principle means through which governments are formed or replaced! based upon ma&ority control of the #ommons. They supply governments with the legitimacy needed to implement their policy programmes. They are crucial mechanism of representation and accountability! providing a link between government and the people. They are also a vehicle for political participation.

What is an electoral mandate?

mandate is a right to govern. n electoral mandate implies that this right is achieved through an electoral system. %overnments can carry out their legislative programme if they have the consent of voters to do so. The mandate also implies that governments stick to their manifesto commitments. It does not imply that a ma&ority of voters support the government. mandate provides a legitimacy and authority for a government to act.

Distinguish between power and authority.

Power relates to the ability to get someone or a group of people to do what you want them to do ' even if it is against their will. uthority implies the right to tell people what to do. Power might be based on the use of force. uthority may be based on tradition or the personality of a political leader.

Define a political party.

political party is a group of individuals who share a set of common political beliefs. Parties are bodies which mobilise support in order to achieve power. Political parties attempt to make coherent! the multitude of opinions that exist on various issues. Parties attempt to offer policy positions across a range of issues.

Outline two features of a political party.

Political parties are organisations whose members have broadly shared political or ideological beliefs! although! as broad churches the parties encompass divergent views as well. Parties are electoral machines that attempt to win or retain power by broadening their public support. They are thus organised to enable their messages to be communicated with the electorate. Parties have a party membership and activists who undertake most of the activities. Parties also develop policy programmes! usually across the full range of government policies! which they then publicise or campaign on! for example! through election manifestoes.

What is a pressure group?

pressure group is an organisation which seeks to influence public policy in relation to a particular issue. Pressure groups tend to have a narrow issue focus and are bound together by shared interests or a common cause.

Distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups

Promotional groups represent a specific cause! principle or ideal! connected with benefit to others or the larger society rather than the groups members. n example of such a group is (riends of the )arth! which is concerned with the environment. *ectional groups promote or protect the interest of their members+ these interests are usually material or economic. )xamples of such groups include trade union and some professional associations.

15 mark Qs What are the features of representative democracy in the UK?

Representative democracy involves electing individuals to govern on behalf of citi,ens and making them publicly accountable. The electoral system in the -. facilitates representative democracy because it is regular! competitive! free! fair and based on a universal franchise and political e/uality. Representation in the -. operates essentially through the doctrine of the mandate in which the winning party in a general election claims popular authority for carrying out its manifesto promises. *ome reference may be made to the rival interpretations of representation 0e.g. delegate versus representative theory1.

How does the Westminster electoral system differ from the other electoral systems used in the UK?
2estminster elections use the single$member plurality or first$past$the$post system. This is a single$plurality! non$preferential system! based on simple ma&ority being re/uired to win a seat in single$member constituencies. The other systems used are all designed to be more proportional in terms of the relationship between votes and seats. The variant of the additional member system used for elections to the *cottish Parliament! the 3ational ssembly of 2ales and the %4 gives voters two votes! one to elect a named candidate and the second to choose a party. The single transferable vote is used for a number of elections in 3orthern Ireland! including those for the devolved assembly. This system involves preferential voting in multi$member constituencies! a /uota that candidates must reach to become elected and the transfer of votes to enable second and third preferences to be taken into account if not sufficient candidates reach the /uota. The closed! regional party list system involves voting for a party rather than a specific candidate. The system is proportional and is used for electing -. members of the )uropean Parliament. The 4ondon 5ayor is elected on the basis of the supplementary vote! a variation of the alternative vote.

In what ways do elections differ from referendums?

referendum is a vote on a specific issue. %overnments present voters with a yes or no choice and are an example of direct democracy. Referendums may not be officially binding but may be so in reality. )lections are a means of electing representatives! the way governments are chosen and the manner in which is legitimated.

How does government acquire its legitimacy?

In 2estern democracies! governments ac/uire legitimacy from elections. The increasing use of referendums may also be used to legitimise particular policy decisions. %overnments may also activate consultation mechanisms with both parliament and the people in order to promote certain issues 0the issue of %reen Papers for example1. 6uring periods of political instability or in times of war! governments may seek to bypass the usual democratic devices! and use patriotism or arguments of national survival and external threats as the basis upon which they continue to govern 0general elections were effectively suspended for most of the *econd 2orld 2ar1.

What are the main functions of a political party?

Political parties are important for the recruitment of the political elite. They help maintain a dynamic political system and attempt to cope with political change. Political parties provide voters with choice and can provide the electorate with informed views on political issues. Political parties are essential at parliamentary level to ensure stable and durable government. Political parties are also essential vehicles for differing levels of political participation e.g. political party membership! activism and representation.

In what ways do political parties promote democracy?

Political parties seek to promote democracy though a variety of activities. They provide voters with a choice in the run up to elections! thus helping to make electoral choice clearer and more coherent. They are agents of popular participation! in that they allow the public to engage in political activism! stand for election and even hold public office. They help to educate and inform the electorate by publishing manifestoes and campaigning on issues. 5ost

importantly! they facilitate representation by serving as a channel of communication between government and the people carrying out! for example! a popular mandate! when in power.

What are the main types of pressure groups?

Promotional or cause groups represent a specific issue! such as (riends of the )arth and the environment! linked to the benefit of others or the wider society! whereas sectional or interest groups seek to promote or protect the interest of a specific group of people! the #7I would claim to promote the interests of all those involved in the manufacturing industry. Insider groups have privileged and formal access to government and exert influence! often out of the public eye. 8utsider groups are those unable to gain access to the ear of ministers and need to resort to influencing public opinion. %roups such as %reenpeace! resorting to stunts! and the activities of groups whose aims are at variance with the government of the day.

What methods do pressure groups employ to influence the political process?

The activities may relate to the type of pressure group being discussed. Insider groups operate through links between the group and government at different levels. Insider pressure groups may rely on formal or informal meetings with politicians or civil servants! lobbying Parliament or links to and influence exerted via political parties. 8utsider groups may resort to publicity stunts to highlight their views. %roups may organise meetings or demonstrations. %roups such as (riends of the )arth commission reports to give weight to their standpoints. 5anipulation of the media is also an important tool in getting a groups message across to the public.

30 mark Qs What are the advantages and disadvantages of representative democracy in the UK?
The advantages of representative democracy include that it ensures that it is a more realistic or practicable form of democracy+ that it allows for a division of labour in politics which relieves the public of the burden of day$to$day decision$making+ and that it allows government decisions to be made by professional politicians who have greater experience and are better informed than the general public. t the same time it ensures some level of popular participation and a high level of public accountability. Recent electoral developments! including the introduction of proportional systems have also strengthened representative democracy in *cotland and 2ales. Its disadvantages include that it permits only indirect and irregular popular participation! and can lead to politicians and governments seeming remote from the general public. This has been reflected in declining turnout levels in elections and declining party membership. 5oreover! women and minority groups are clearly under$ represented in representative bodies! and there is no means of forcing governments to keep their election mandates. The 2estminster electoral system also delivers disproportional outcomes.

What have been the effects of the use of proportional electoral system in the UK?
Proportional systems may be fairer for minority parties+ the %reens and -.IP both benefited from the use of the list system in the 9::: elections to the )uropean Parliament. These systems may also lead to more broad$based government. In both *cotland and! latterly! in 2ales the use of the additional member system has resulted in coalition governments+ it is difficult to maintain periods of single party governments that have no ma&ority of votes 02ales1. In 3orthern Ireland the use of the single transferable vote has enabled a divided community to have opposed and minority viewpoints fairly represented at constituency and provincial level. 8verall these systems have led to a close relationship between votes and seats.

To what extent do promote referendums promote democracy?

The fact that referendums have been used for virtually all the main constitutional changes since 9::;! suggests that they are becoming a convention that may act as a check on governments. Important constitutional changes deserve popular confirmation. The current political system means that %overnments are elected without popular support and there is a /uestion about the mandate that parties can rightly claim in such circumstances. There is an argument that votes take more of an interest on specific issues than in party politics and that

the use of referendum might lead to an upturn in political participation. Referendums may highlight the debate on a particular topic and lead to a better$educated electorate. )valuation will be taken into account in the disadvantages of referendums e.g. damage to parliamentary sovereignty.

How democratic is government in the UK?

rguments in favour of -. democracy include regular elections that are free and fair+ virtually everyone over 9< can vote in elections. Political parties are free to organise themselves and offer choice of representatives. )lected representatives are accountable through elections. %overnment is answerable to parliament for its actions. Recent electoral developments! including the introduction of proportional systems have also strengthened representative democracy in *cotland and 2ales. 6eclining turnout rates are a threat to the legitimacy of government and to our representative democracy. The electoral system for 2estminster elections continues to return parliaments that are unrepresentative of the wishes of the voter. Political parties have been slow in the encouragement of greater minority! ethnic and gender diversity in the "ouse of #ommons.

In what ways have the ideas of the abour !arty changed in recent years?
4abour claims to have come to terms with the economic and social changes of the past twenty years. There is less attachment to old preoccupations such as =#lause > socialism?! preferring instead wealth creation and private sector partnerships. Traditionally! 4abour placed great faith in the state to deliver both economic and social progress. It talked with the language of e/uality! more recently the party prefers ideas associated with opportunity. 4abour still stresses the importance of welfare services but it supports welfare reform and particularly welfare to work. It re&ects punitive taxation to pay for this investment! instead relying on the so$called third way combining social compassion and economic efficiency. 4abour in power has however redistributed wealth from richer to poorer families in the last five years! which means there are still some similarities. The party also favours constitutional reform and is broadly pro$)uropean.

How effective are political parties in promoting democracy in the UK?

Political parties have been regarded as essential to the democratic system for many yearsm but criticisms and recent developments do indicate weaknesses. Political parties are connecting with fewer people+ party membership has been in long term decline 0in the case of the #onservatives! their membership is ageing at an alarming rate1. Turnout in elections is also falling! also suggesting that faith in political parties is less pronounced. The two$party system also restricts electoral choice and distorts representation. In these circumstances! parties are finding it harder to fulfil some of their key roles. It may be argued that pressure groups rather than political parties are more likely to achieve change. 6espite recent improvements! political parties still fail to reflect the society they seek to represent! with women and minority groups remaining under$represented at the grassroots and in leadership positions. The party machines are often seen as a democratic hindrance! especially in Parliament when the influence of party whips is often seen as too great. rguments that political parties do promote democracy to be included.

To what extent have pressure groups become more important in recent years?

It could be argued that pressure groups are now more appropriate mechanisms for mobilising public opinion. There has been a growth in both the si,e and number of pressure groups in recent years. %roup membership has been increasing at a time when political parties have been declining in si,e. This increase in salience comes at a time when conventional politics! as represented by the political parties! is in a state of crisis. Increased transnationalism and supranationalism has led to pressure groups being used to lobby the appropriate decision$ making bodies. gainst this! it may be argued that groups do not appear to be any more effective than before! and the decline in conventional politics is what is really being witnessed. The failure of the fuel protests! firefighters union and! despite its si,e! the inefficiency of the anti$war movement points to limits of pressure group influence.

Why are some pressure groups more successful than others?

The relationship of a pressure group to government is likely to make significant difference! and insider groups can be at a great advantage in this respect. This is not constant! however!

and the status of a group may change over time. large membership can be important! since decision making might be influenced if %overnment feels it cannot ignore the views of a large section of the country. large si,e does not ensure power! however. The unions remained large in the 9:<@s! but exerted little power. Richer pressure groups can afford to fund their causes more effectively. They may also be able to employ experts in public relations! marketing and communication! which may also enhance their power and success. This ability to control economic resources may give pressure groups decisive influence! accounting for the power of business interests! particularly in a globalised economy. Pressure groups that are in tune with the mood of the people are likely to hold sway over policy! particularly after dramatic events. The *nowdrop appeal formed after the massacre of 6unblane proved to be influential in influencing public opinion and government policy. The ability to cause ma&or disruption is also an important factor! as seen by the actions of the lorry drivers in their protest over fuel prices in the autumn of A@@@. %roups going with the national grain 0R*P# 1 more likely to succeed than others 0animal liberation1. Pressure groups that cannot exert this sort of power are unlikely to have much influence.