Democracy

A political system based on the idea that government should serve the interests of the people.

the extent to which a government has the right to rule and exercise power.

Power= the ability to make someone do something that they would not do of their own free will e.g. Coercion – the use of force to achieve ends – the military

• Authority = the right to exercise power (based on the consent of those being ruled) e.g. - Legal/rational HoC & Traditional – HOL

• Referendums (‘Yes’ answers)
• High turnout
• Free, fair and regular elections
• Lack of dissent
• Displays of public support

• Legitimate: 
• House of Commons is elected
• Government elected with mandate to govern
• House of Lords has traditional authority and political influence is widely recognised

• Not Legitimate:
• Electoral system unfair and distorts political representation (FPTP)
• Every government elected has only achieved the minority of the popular vote
• House of Lords members are not elected and so do not have the people’s consent

• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy

The people themselves directly make the important decisions which affect them The people are directly consulted on political decisions Action taken by the people shapes political decisions (via protests, e-petitions, strikes)

E-petitions: 10,000+ = written statement in response – forces government to be accountable

100,000+ = eligible for House of Commons debate

• Purest form of democracy
• Disperses power widely among population

Decisions may be more accepted  

Increases democracy as it increases participation

• Direct democracy = tyranny of the majority
• Many decisions may be too complex for the people to understand
• Can create emotional rather than rational responses from the people
• Undermines the role of elected representatives

• The people elect representatives from different political parties to form an assembly which
• These representatives form an assembly which reflects the will of the people
• Representatives govern in the interests of all sections of society

Delegation – follow very closely the wishes of those who elected the representative

Burkean representation – use their own judgement rather than follow the exact wishes of their electors or party


Parliamentary representation – representatives should strike a balance between their own judgement, the wishes of their electors and the policies of their political party

• There are free elections to representative assemblies
• There government rule ‘for the people’

Political associations and pressure groups operate freely and represent various causes, believes and interest groups

The rule of law