how democratic is the uk?. what is democracy? democracy means ‘rule by the people’ or ‘people...
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How democratic is the UK?
How democratic is the UK?
What is democracy?
• Democracy means ‘rule by the people’ or ‘people
power’.
• The term has its origins in the Greek word dēmokratia; a
union of dēmos (meaning ‘the people’) and kratos
(meaning ‘power’).
• Democratic systems of government give citizens a say in
choosing the politicians, and in some cases even the
policies, that will shape their everyday lives.
How democratic is the UK?
What forms can democracy take?
• Pluralist democracy
• Liberal democracy
• Representative democracy vs direct democracy
How democratic is the UK?
Representative vs direct
Representative democracy Direct democracy
Citizens elect representatives who
enact laws on their behalf.
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.
Citizens are afforded a direct input
into the policy-making process.
Seen in its purest form in ancient
Athens.
In Western democracies a degree of
direct democracy is often achieved
through the use of devices such as
referendums and recalls.
How democratic is the UK?
Representative democracy in the UK
Edmund Burke summed up what many see as the essence of
representative democracy: ‘Your representative owes you not
his industry only but his judgement…and he betrays you if he
sacrifices it to your opinion.’
This Burkean view is that citizens elect individuals to represent
them in a legislature and that such individuals are expected to
represent the interests of their constituents until the following
election.
Crucially, however, they are not simply delegates sent with
specific instructions or orders to follow.
How democratic is the UK?
The main features of UK democracy
• The existence of multi-level government where policies can
be developed and implemented by those best placed to
understand the needs of the people.
• A system of free and fair elections, incorporating a wide
franchise and operating under a secret ballot.
• The protection of basic rights and liberties under the rule of
law.
• The existence of a wide range of political parties and
pressure groups, providing numerous avenues for political
participation and representation.
How democratic is the UK?
Criticisms of democracy in the UK
• The use of the first-past-the-post system at general elections.
• The failure to properly reform Parliament.
• Low turnout and widespread disillusionment with traditional forms of
participation.
• The rise of (often extreme) single-issue groups.
• The absence of a proper separation of powers and the tendency towards
executive dominance.
• The transfer of government power away from elected bodies towards
unelected agencies.
• The absence of a properly drafted bill of rights incorporated within a
codified and entrenched constitution
How democratic is the UK?
Is UK democracy in crisis?
‘Yes’
The UK experienced historically low levels of turnout at the 2001 and 2005 General
Elections.
Lords Reform stalled after 1998 and significant reforms to the House of Commons
have failed to materialise.
There has been an erosion of civil liberties since the attacks in the USA on 9/11
(2001) and London on 7/7 (2005).
Trust in politicians has declined in the wake of a series of scandals.
How democratic is the UK?
Is UK democracy in crisis?
‘No’
The removal of all but 92 of the 759 hereditary Peers.
A better separation of powers in the wake of the Constitutional Reform Act (2005).
The passage of the Human Rights Act (1998) and Freedom of Information Act (2000).
Devolution and directly elected mayors.
The increased use of referendums.
How democratic is the UK?
How might UK democracy be enhanced?
• Through policies designed to encourage higher rates of
turnout.
• The wider use of referendums and adoption of the system of
recalls used in many US states.
• Extending the programme of devolution and revising plans for
English regional government.
• Extending experiments in e-democracy.
• Making use of citizens’ juries and citizens’ assemblies in the
decision-making process.
How democratic is the UK?
How can turnout be improved?
• By making it easier to vote:• Encouraging a greater take-up of postal voting.• Extending text voting and web-based voting.• Simplifying voter registration.
• By making voting compulsory, as is the case in Australia
• By lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 (though low turnout
among first-time voters might mean that this does not improve
the national turnout figure).
How democratic is the UK?
What is a recall?
• A device that allows citizens to initiate a
referendum to remove their elected representative
before the end of their term in office.
• Normally permitted only where there is evidence of
corruption or incompetence.
• Used in a number of US States — most notably
California.
How democratic is the UK?
2010 manifestos on recalls
‘A Conservative
government will
introduce a power of
‘recall’ to allow
electors to kick out
MPs, a power that will
be triggered by serious
wrongdoing.’
Conservative Labour LibDem
‘MPs who are found
responsible for
financial misconduct
will be subject to a
right of recall if
Parliament itself has
failed to act against
them.’
‘We will give you the right
to sack MPs who have
broken the rules. We
would introduce a recall
system so that
constituents could force a
by-election for any MP
found responsible for
serious wrongdoing.’
How democratic is the UK?
What is a citizens’ jury?
• A citizens’ jury is a panel of citizens that hears
evidence and delivers their verdict on a government
proposal.
• Citizens’ juries are used widely in countries such as
the USA and Germany.
• Citizens’ juries were championed by the prime
minister Gordon Brown in 2007.
• Such juries do not have final say on a given policy.
How democratic is the UK?
What is a citizens’ assembly?
A citizens’ assembly (or convention) is similar to a citizens’ jury
in that it looks to involve a cross-section of the population in
the policy-making process
Where assemblies differ from juries is:• they involve a lot more people (hundreds or thousands as
opposed to tens)• they are often given more power to decide upon a particular
course of action, which can subsequently be put to a public
vote through a referendum
How democratic is the UK?
Conclusions
• The UK system is ‘evolutionary’ as opposed to
‘revolutionary’.
• It appears to be undergoing a period of sustained
challenge and change.
• All three main UK parties appear committed to
rebalancing democracy in favour of ‘the people’, by
giving citizens a greater input into the decisions that
affect them.