AS Politics. Unit 1 Booklet 1: Democracy and Participation. Powerpoints Handouts

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1 AS Politics Unit 1 Booklet 1: Democracy and Participation Powerpoints Handouts

2 Politics An Introduction AS Outline 50% Unit 1 People and Politics 50% Unit 2 Governing the UK Edexcel AS Politics An overview of unit 1 and 2... Unit 1 - People and politics You have 4 topic areas in unit 1, these are: 1. Democracy & Political Participation 2. Party Politics and Ideas 3. Elections 4. Pressure Groups Unit 1 teaching will be from Sept to Dec followed by a unit 1 mock exam. Unit 2 - Governing the UK You also have 4 topic areas in unit 2, these are: 1. The Constitution 2. Parliament 3. The Prime Minister & Cabinet 4. Judges and Civil Liberties Unit teaching will be from Jan to April followed by a unit 2 mock exam. Study tip

3 Unit 1 People & Politics Democracy & Political Participation Electoral Systems Party Policy and Ideas Pressure Groups Assessment You are assessed at the end of your first year: You will sit two exams, they will be: Each worth 50% of your overall As grade and 25% of your overall A2 grade Worth 80 marks in total each Each will be 1 hour 20 minutes long Unit 1 exam For unit 1 you will have to answer 2 questions related to the 4 topic areas. Each question will have 3 parts - a 5 mark component a 10 mark component and a 25 mark essay. Unit 2 exam Unit 2 is structured differently. You have 2 sections. The first section is a source based question, with the option of answering 1 question from 2. This will have 5, 10 and 25 mark components. The second section will be a 40 mark extended essay, you have to choose 1 from a choice of 2. All 4 topics will come up and can appear in any section. What you have Organise folders now! to do Keep newspaper articles in four sections Pick a book and start reading

4 Rules! Must do Homework on time No phones allowed Attendance and Lateness

5 Democracy Government People Democracy Definition 1. Government of the people Government that originates from the people - people are the ultimate source of legislation. The people are sovereign. Government that is sensitive to the people 2. Government by the people People participate in political affairs Being active in political parties Often called participatory politics. 3. Government for the people Government for the interest of the people not personal interests.

6 Representative Democracy Types of Democracy There are 2 types of democracy: - Direct Democracy - Representative democracy Britain s Representative Democracy Britain s representative democracy can be summarised as follows: 1. Citizens elect individuals to represent them in a legislature (British Parliament) 2. In the UK this usually means these individuals belong to a party. 3. MPs (representatives) are not simply delegates 4. Will make decisions based upon their own opinions and judgements, consulting generally

7 your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgement, and he betrays you if he sacrifices it to your opinion Total 650 Seats/MPs 29,692 Votes cast 65% electorate Seats won Change since 2005 To form a government = 650 / 2 +1 = 326

8 What are the advantages and disadvantages of Britain s representative democracy? Advantages and Disadvantages of Representative Democracy Advantages Elected reps are better educated/articulate Access to relevant research - form opinions Allows parliament to make difficult decisions Allows joined-up government Disadvantages Long terms in office - unaccountable between elections Delegates for parties toeing the line and the Whips system Limits popular participation Elitism - e.g. expenses scandal Lack of choice between parties Party system Voter apathy

9 Democracy & Political Participation Direct Democracy

10 Referendums Representative democracies can become distant. Referendums are employed as a form of direct democracy within a representative democracy in order to widen participation. In recent history there have only been two UK national referendums membership of EEC (EU) and 2011 AV referendum. The Labour government after 1997 promised greater referendums on major issues. There have been since 1997 five regional referendums. But are referendums alien to our tradition? (Atlee). Parliament is sovereign, representative democracy Assessment of Referendums Topic - how are topics decided? without initiatives, governments will control the topics Wording - Why is wording important? Timing - when to have referendums Funding - direct and indirect funding Turnout Referendums on the government not the issue Complexity of the issues But... Entrenches fundamental issues Resolves disputes Prevents bad decisions Mayoral Referendums There have been over 30 mayoral elections Turnout has been as low as 10% and as high as 64% Congestion charges 2005 Edinburgh % no 2008 Manchester % no

11 Initiatives, recalls and other forms Read the book and find out about initiatives and recalls Find out about citizen juries Find out about directly elected mayors and police commissioners Read article on e-petitions To what extent is more direct democray good for UK democracy?

12 Political Participation Is there a problem with partcipation in elections? Political Participation since ww2

13 Political Participation since ww2

14 Other Elections London Mayoral % London Mayoral % Welsh Assembly % AV Referrendum - 42%

15 Turnout around the world Iran - 85% India % USA % South Africa % Party membership Party membership EU

16 Non-Party membership Actual and potential particpation No. of political actions

17 Political Participation Engagement with formal processes and institutions of Democracy in decline since 1960 s. Party memberships have been falling - 1/4 of 1964 levels. Turnout for general elections remain low. 78.7% in % in In young people this is even lower. Turnout in local elections and mayoral elections lower (London mayoral elections 34.43% in 2000) Is this apathy?. The Facts: def. Political Apathy a state of indifference towards the political process, political institutions and politicians... and the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. Political Participation Other forms on the increase More single issue led campaigns on the increase such as anti-war, rural interests, airport expansion, environment. Direct action Vs Political Participation. while voting is waning, alternative forms of political expression... are all on the rise. Noreena Hertz - Independent Researchers found 2.5 million people had taken part in a demonstration (pre 2003), 22 million signed a petition. So is it apathy?

18 Solving the Political Participation problem Power Inquiry Politics/ Politicians Voter Solutions to the political participation problem 2 sets of proposals a. making it easier to vote through technology/postal voting etc. b. deeper issues about British politics (systemic issues)

19 Solutions to the political participation problem - Voting/Voters Compulsory voting Reducing voting age More use of postal/internet voting Citizenship Classes and education Solutions to the political participation problem - Politics/Politicians Resolving the flaws in UK democracy More direct democracy (participatory) Electoral system Modernising institutions (HoL etc) Lack of ideology - centre ground - change politics Localism / decentralisation Why does political participation matter? Is it really a problem? Natural problem due to change in societies. Undermines legitimacy of political institutions Brings governing parties mandate into question Labour won with 24% of total electorate May impact on the quality and effectiveness of government In the 2001 General Election only 3 out of every 5 electors bothered to vote. The turnout of 59 per cent was the lowest for any General Election since 1918, and as that was a year when many electors were still returning from military service in Europe, the 2001 turnout can be considered the worst on record. For the first time since 1923 the number who did not vote was greater than the number that voted for the winning party. Electoral Reform Society

20 So why are voters disengaged? 1. Disenfranchisement - When groups are excluded from the political process directly or indirectly through no representation. 2. Ideology - Parties no longer endorse strong political ideology but seek the safe centre. 3. Corruption and scandal - plays a part in projecting a bad image of politics. Big interests. 4. Breaking manifesto promises. 5. Party Politics (Party System) - MPs often vote on Party lines rather than the interests of their constituents. (Party Whips). Yaa boo Politics. 6. Anachronisms - Parliament and process seems foreign and outdated. 7. Electoral System - First past the post Essay Assess the measures proposed to increase political partcipation in Britain 25 Explain the solutions to the political participation problem [10]

21 Explain the solutions to the political participation problem [10] a. What is Direct Democracy b. Explain three ways the power inquiry recommends to enhance democratic participation c. Assess the various measures other than electoral reform that have been suggested to improve democracy in the UK