Summary: (1.1) Current Systems Of Representative Democracy And Direct Democracy In The Uk

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• 1 (1.1) Current Systems of Representative Democracy and Direct Democracy in the UK

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• What majority is required for a candidate to sustain legitimacy?

  A candidate reaches the 61% majority via 2nd or 3rd preferences if necessary, so that legitimacy is sustained. Unfortunately, when it came to the 2011 referendum, most Tory and some Labour politicians campaigned against AV, resulting in a convincing defeat for the motion. 32.1% of voters supported the motion and 67.9% opposed it.

• What does the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system favor, and what example is given to illustrate this?

  The FPTP voting system favors a two-party dominance between the Labour and Conservative Party. For example, in the 2019 general election, the Labour Party got 29% of the vote and 262 seats, whereas the Liberal Democrats only got 12% of the vote but got 20% fewer seats. FPTP disadvantages smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats.

• What do reformers argue is hindering democracy in the UK?

  Reformers argue that politicians could be the factor hindering democracy in the UK by their unwillingness to promote serious change or reform of our electoral system since it’s against their interests to do so. Fundamentally, there has been a growing 'democratic deficit' in recent years, mainly due to low political participation.

• What are some arguments for a democratic deficit in the UK?

  Arguments for a democratic deficit in the UK include:
  

  • Politicians held in low esteem.
  • Outdated parliamentary system.
  • Expenses scandal showing loss of duty.
  • Low voter turnout, e.g., 59.4% in 2001.
  • Disillusionment with the political system.
  • Low influence of citizens in politics.
  • Government legitimacy questioned.

• How does the FPTP system affect voter behavior and election outcomes according to the text?

  FPTP leads to tactical voting, where people vote for parties they don't prefer to stop parties they like even less from getting power. It increases the number of wasted votes, which do not help elect a candidate. In 2019, 15.7 million votes were wasted, and the election would have had the same result if these votes stayed home.

• What guarantees the human rights and freedoms of citizens in the country mentioned?

  Citizens of this country have their human rights and freedoms guaranteed under the rule of law. Evidence of this can be found in the 1998 Human Rights Act and 2010 Equality Act, as well as Britain's continued membership of the European Court of Human Rights.

• What examples illustrate low voter turnout in the UK?

  Examples of low voter turnout in the UK include:
  

  • 2001 general election turnout of 59.4%.
  • Scottish independence referendum (84.6% turnout).
  • 2011 AV referendum with 42.2% turnout.
  • Local referendums often lower.
  • Directly elected mayor referendum (2002) with 100% turnout.

• What conclusion does the text draw about the FPTP system's impact on democracy?

  The text concludes that the FPTP system undermines democracy as it creates disproportionate outcomes in general elections. This is a flaw in democratic processes. The democratic deficit also contributes to voter apathy as voters assume their vote is wasted if they vote for a minority party or in a safe seat area.

• What are the effects of referendums and initiatives on voter control and participation?

  Referendums and initiatives give voters more control over legislation but are undermined by low turnout and tyranny of the majority and wealthy interests. This suggests that while they offer a direct way for voters to influence legislation, the effectiveness is limited by participation rates and external influences.

• What reforms are being made to make the country more democratic and fair?

  Reforms are taking place to develop the country to be more democratic and fair. This includes Labour's 1997 pledge to increase the use of referendums and even David Cameron's backing of e-petitions and increased devolution of powers to Scotland and the regions as a result of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.