This document discusses democracy and political participation in the UK. It defines democracy as rule by the people and explains the difference between direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on policies, and representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to enact laws. The UK uses a representative system. The document examines factors that influence political participation like voter turnout, examines criticisms of UK democracy, and discusses ways to potentially enhance participation.

1. DEMOCRACY

2. learning objectives
• Define democracy and explain the forms it can take.
• Explain the difference between direct democracy and
representative (or indirect) democracy.
• Understand how citizens can participate in politics in
the UK effectively.
• Understand the system of democracy in the UK.

3. learning objectives
• Explain attempts to enhance democracy and
participation in the UK and analyse their success.
• Understand the role referendums play in the UK
politics.

4. what is democracy?

5. Democracy
Democracy is ‘rule by the people’ or ‘people power’. The
term has its origin in the Greek word dēmokratia – a union
of dēmos (meaning ‘people’) and kratos (meaning ‘power’.

6. Direct democracy
Under a direct model of democracy, citizens are afforded
a direct input into the policy-making process. In western
democracies, a degree of direct democracy is often
achieved through the use of referendums, where citizens
are given the opportunity to vote on whether a specific
proposal is adopted or rejected.

7. Representative democracy
In a representative (or indirect democracy), citizens elect
representatives who enact laws on their behalf. Under the
representative model there is no obligation on the part of
those elected to seek further approval from citizens before
they introduce new policies. Representatives are held
accountable through the ballot box at the next election.

8. Is direct democracy compatible with
representative democracy?

9. yes
Elected representatives often enjoy lengthy terms in
office (up to 5 years in the case of UK MPs). Referendums
and recalls make them more directly accountable
between elections, thereby enhancing representative
democracy.

10. yes
Many MPs simply toe the party line and do as the whips
tell them, rather than thinking for themselves and/or
representing the interests of their constituents.
Incorporating elements of direct democracy would
remind representatives of who they were elected to
serve.

11. no
Those elected to office are given a mandate to act on
behalf of voters, along the lines set out in their election
manifestos. Representative democracy should not feel
pressured into going back to the people in order to seek
approval for specific policies.

12. n0
Elected representatives are often better informed than
the general public. They have access to relevant
research and are able to educate themselves on the
merits and demerits of a particular course of action
before casting their vote in parliament. It is nonsensical
to leave key decisions to the broader public.

13. no
Representative democracy allows parliament to
implement policies that are necessary but unpopular –
the kinds of things that would not secure support if put
to a public ballot.

14. yes
Conventional representative democracy limits the
opportunities for meaningful participation between
elections. It is also said to contribute to political apathy.
Wider use of referendums and more ‘direct’ tools may
simulate participation and public debate; thus
reinvigorating representative democracy.

15. yes
Traditional representative democracy has a tendency
towards elitism. Direct democracy has the potential to
allow people to participate on a level playing field.

16. no
Representative government allows for ‘joined-up
government’ where individual policies are decided not in
isolation but with full consideration of potential knock-
on effects for other areas of policy. Wider use of
referendums would undermine joined-up government.

17. referendums

18. Referendum
A vote on a single issue put to a public ballot by the
government of the day. Referendums offer degree of
direct democracy. They are generally framed in form of
a simple ‘yes/no’ question.

19. Do referendums enhance democracy?

20. yes
Referendums offer a more direct form of democracy. They
encourage participation by allowing citizens to have a
real input into key decisions that matter to them.

21. no
Referendums are inconsistent with representative
democracy and undermine the doctrine of parliamentary
sovereignty.

22. yes
They provide a way of focusing or renewing the mandate
on a particular issue or legitimising major constitutional
changes.

23. no
They can result in a ‘tyranny of the majority’ or even a
tyranny of a very organised minority, when turnout is
low.

24. yes
they can prevent dangerous decisions within political
parties over controversial issues. This prevents
governments from collapsing and thereby provides
greater continuity in government.xt

25. no
Excessive use of referendums can result in voter fatigue
and declining turnout.
Most issues are too complicated to be considered into
simple ‘yes/no’ question.

26. yes
They could be used to provide a clear and final answer
where parliament is deadlocked.

27. no
Different levels of funding and media access between
‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps might mean that the referendum is not
played out on a level playing field.

28. yes
They can provide a means by which tricky moral questions
are resolved.

29. no
Governments can schedule referendums and phrase
questions in a way that makes a favourable result more
likely.

30. no
Decisions are not always considered final. Governments
sometimes go back again and again until they get the
result they want.

31. why are referendums controversial in
the uk?

32. Topic
uk government holds referendums only when they are
relatively certain of securing the outcome they desire –
or where they have direct interest in going to the people.

33. Wording
the questions are often worded in a way as to encourage a
positive response. the Electoral Commission was granted
the authority to comment on the ineligibility of questions
posed in all future referendums under the Political
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).

34. Timing
Even when referendums are offered – and they are
offered rarely in the UK – those scheduling them
routinely delay them until such time they think they are
most likely to secure their desired outcome.

35. Funding
this has been more of an issue in the past. now Under the
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000),
referendums in the UK are state funded, with the ‘yes’ and
‘no’ campaigns each receiving £600,000 public grant

36. Turnout
turnout at UK referendums is often very low, bringing
into question whether they should be held at all.

37. participation

38. Political participation
range of ways in which citizens can involve themselves in
the political process. it can be broadly categorised into
its electoral and non-electoral forms.

39. Franchise
the right to vote as established by parliamentary
statute. The vast majority of adult UK citizens have the
right to vote.

40. Electoral participation
Those who are eligible and registered to vote in a given
election are referred to collectively as the electorate.

41. differential turnout
Where the national turnout figure recorded at a given
election masks differences in turnout by constituency or
region.

42. What factors might account for variable
turnout?

43. Type of election
Voters are more likely to turn out to vote when they
value the institutions to which individuals are seeking to
be elected. This may account for the relatively low levels
of turnout witnessed at local elections.

44. Political apathy or disengagement
Increasing numbers of voters are coming to the
conclusion that elections make little difference,
particularly where the main UK political parties were
seen to be converging ideologically.

45. ‘Hapathy’
A proportion of those who abstain do so because they are
happy with the status quo and do not, therefore, feel the
need to cast a ballot.

46. The relative value of a vote
those living in safe seats may feel that there is little
point in their voting because the result is already a
forgone conclusion. Those in marginal seats may be more
likely yo turn out and cast a ballot.

47. The electoral system in operation
Some voters may be more inclined to cast a ballot where
they think that their vote will be counted. Some argue
that turnout would be higher at UK general elections if
they were contested under a proportional electoral
system as opposed to a ‘winner-takes-all’ system such as
first-past-the-post.

48. The role of the mass media
Intense media coverage can have the effect of simulating
turnout in a particular election or constituency,
particularly where polling published in media appears to
suggest that the contest is close and every vote might
matter.

49. Non-electoral participation
other forms of political participation than electra
turnout.

50. Canvassing and leafleting
Large numbers of volunteers are mobilised at grassroots
level in support of the party’s election campaign.

51. Organising election events and
fundraising activities
Most election campaigns are funded locally, the major
exception being those in marginal constituencies at
general elections.

52. Staffing campaign offices
during elections a number of staff are employed in the
prospective MPs office and help with the election
campaign.

53. in what other ways can you get involved
in politics?

54. Writing to one’s elected representatives or
meeting with them in person
Constituents may write to their MP asking for advice or
support in relation to a particular problem, or seek to
meet the MP in person.

55. Having an ongoing membership of and/or
involvement in a political party
While the memberships of the main UK political parties
have fallen significantly in recent years, such
organisations still provide a significant avenue for
political participation.

56. Engaging in political protest or organised
pressure group activity
As party membership have fallen, so involvement in
pressure group activity of all shades has risen.

57. is there a participation crisis in the uk?

58. Participation crisis
The view that declining levels of political participation in
the UK threaten to undermine its democratic systems.

60. turnout varies considerably according to
variables such as:
• age
• gender
• social class
• ethnicity

61. reasons behind the participation
crisis
• a move away from traditional forms of participation
• Declining party membership
• The rise of consumer campaigns

62. Does political participation matter?

63. yes
On a simple level participation clearly matters because
low levels of political participation undermine the
legitimacy of political institutions and processes. In the
case of low electoral turnout, it brings the governing
party’s mandate into question.

64. Tackling the issue of low turnout
government could employ various initiatives to tackle
low turnout at elections.

65. Compulsory voting
Many countries require eligible voters not only to
register to vote (as in the case in the UK) but also to cast
a ballot on election day.

66. Reducing the voting age
it could reduce the voting age from 18 to 16. however,
Younger voters are statistically less likely to cast a
ballot than those who are older.

67. Is the UK democratic?

68. A critique of UK democracy
• the use of the first-past-the-post system at general elections
• the failure to properly reform parliament
• low levels of voter turnout and widespread disillusionment
with other traditional forms of participation, such as
membership of political parties and mainstream pressure groups
• the rise of (often extreme) single-issue pressure groups, and
groups that seek to destabilise or even overthrow the state

69. A critique of UK democracy
• the absence of a complete separation of powers and the
tendency towards executive dominance
• the transfer of government power away from elected
bodies, particularly local government, towards unelected
quangos and free-standing agencies
• the absence of a properly drafted bill of rights
incorporated within a codified and entrenched constitution