Knowledge check lesson 1 Answers

1 What are the main types of democracy?

Answer·

• direct

• · representative

• · liberal

• · majoritarian

• pluralist

2 What is the role of direct democracy in the UK political system?

Answer

• informs decisions of representatives though consultation and citizen's juries

• increases participation

• allows for public education and debate

• confers greater legitimacy on constitutional decisions

• Acts to entrench constitutional changes

• Limits the power of governments

3 Why is democracy important?

Answer

• allows people to participate

• bonds society together- in a social contract

• limits the power of governments- holds governments individually and collectively to account

• provides representation of society-pluralism

• allows individual freedoms (liberal democracy)

• gives government the right (authority to govern)

• gives government decisions and laws legitimacy

• 4 How does representative democracy operate in the UK?

Answer

• regular elections.

• Single member constituencies

• Political Parties with party membership and party manifestoes

• pressure group membership

• a variety of elected bodies

5 What are the problems with UK democracy?

Answer

• A participation Crisis?

• declining turnout

• decline in party membership

• Selective and irregular use of referendums

• social media and media distorting debates

• Unfair voting system

• Unelected Lords and Head of State- The democratic deficit

• Asymmetric devolution - the West Lothian question

• Executive dominance- 'elective dictatorship'

6 How and why should UK democracy be reformed?

• electoral reform, to remove the flaws of FPTP

• parliamentary reform, to remove unelected elements and make it more powerful in relation to the government

• English devolution, to solve the problem of unequal (asymmetric) representation

• Constitutional reform to limit the dominance of government