POLITICS NOTES – UNIT 1
Constituency - normally of equal size (between 60-80,000 voters) there are 650
constituencies in the UK, each represented by a member of parliament (MP)
Majority of people in the UK support either Labour or Conservative, Scotland mainly
support SNP
Metropolitan area = Town/city
These areas tend to support Labour
For political parties to win a ‘parliamentary seat’ they must get the highest number
of votes in a constituency
650 constituency’s = 650 seats in parliament
Political parties need 326 seats (one more than half) to win a majority and therefore
form a government after an election
MPs represent the constituency in the house of commons and represents the interests
of their political party in HOC (vote for legislation/pass bills)
The cabinet – The highest tier of government, known as the executive, containing
secretary of state. The head of the cabinet is the Prime Minister
Chancellor – in charge of fiscal policy which includes tax rates, finances, the
budget/spending, the economy
DEMOCRACY IN POLITICS
Democracy - rule by the people
Autocracy – Rule by oneself, rule by one person (North Korea)
Monarchy – Rule by a hereditary autocrat (Thailand)
Anarchy – Rule by none (after French revolution)
Gerioerachy – Rule by elders (tribes, aboriginals)
Parliament is three parts; House of commons (elected MPs), House of Lords (not
democratically elected, selected for expertise), Monarchy (mainly ceremonial)
Representative democracy
Individuals elected a person/party to act on their behalf.
- Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
- All adult citizens have the right to vote for representatives
- Citizens pass their authority to representatives
- Elections for representatives are free + fair
Direct democracy
Least common type of democracy in the world, started in Greece
,Functioned through refendums (public vote on legislation, often yes or no question i.e.,
should same sex marriage be legal or Scottish independence)
Switzerland’s direct democracy
Residents vote 4 times a year on average
Every 4 years the people elect 246 members of the national parliament. The parliament
has two chambers: the house of represntives and the senate.
People can overturn laws by parliament by launching a referendum if they collect 50,000
signatures in 100 days
People’s initiative allows people to make alterations to the swiss constitutions. To do
this 100,000 signatures have to be collected in 18 months.
Advantages-
Power in descion making for the people
Disadvantage -
Makes decision making slower
Democracy + participation key terms
Participation crisis – lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens relating to
the political process like not voting or joining/becoming member of political parties.
Lobbyists – Paid by clients to try and influence the government and/or MPs or HOL
members to act in the interests of these clients particularly where legislation is under
consideration.
Legitimacy – Rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held
agreements such as governments right to rule following an election or a monarchs
succession based on agreed rules.
Direct Democracy – All individuals express their opinions themselves and not
representatives acting on their behalf. (referendums)
Pluralist democracy – A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a
result of the integrity of various idea + contrasting arguments from compelling groups +
organizations i.e., minor political parties, HOC, pressure groups.
Representative Democracy – A modern form of democracy through which an individual
selects a person/political party to act on their behalf to exercise a political choice
Think Tanks – body of experts brought together to collectively focus on certain topics, to
investigate and offer solutions to complicated social/economic/political issue
Franchise/suffrage – refers to the ability to vote in public elections
, Democratic deficit – A flaw in the democratic process where descions are taken by
people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input.
Bicameral – A legislative body with two chambers (house of commons and lords)
Reform – means to gradually and peacefully change a perceived
House of lords
Around 800 members, until 1999 most of these members where hereditary peers, the lords
act of 1999 reduced these peers to 92 now most of the peers are made up by life peers
(appointed by PM or appointments commission). There are 26 ‘spiritual peers’ who are high
ranking members of the Church of England.
Monarch
Technically part of parliament as they are head of state. Their role is to officially appoint a
government by ‘choosing’ a PM. They also open and dismiss parliament and are the final
stage of passing a bill.
Reform
to gradually and peacefully change a perceived deficiency
Electoral reform society
Is a pressure group to increase participation to ensure a fully representative democracy.
The voting system – FPTP
UKIP and the green party are punished by the FPTP system as they have a high number of
votes but there are widely distributed across the country and not concentrated enough to
win a majority in more than one constituency.
Case for reform
Positive democratic features of UK system:
- Devolved governments, enables more decisions to be taken closer to the local
people.
- Independent Judiciary, separate from the other branches of government, upholds
the law + protects a wide range of personal freedoms
- Free media, challenges gov policy + exposes politicians
- Wide range of political parties + pressure groups
- Free + fair elections
Constituency - normally of equal size (between 60-80,000 voters) there are 650
constituencies in the UK, each represented by a member of parliament (MP)
Majority of people in the UK support either Labour or Conservative, Scotland mainly
support SNP
Metropolitan area = Town/city
These areas tend to support Labour
For political parties to win a ‘parliamentary seat’ they must get the highest number
of votes in a constituency
650 constituency’s = 650 seats in parliament
Political parties need 326 seats (one more than half) to win a majority and therefore
form a government after an election
MPs represent the constituency in the house of commons and represents the interests
of their political party in HOC (vote for legislation/pass bills)
The cabinet – The highest tier of government, known as the executive, containing
secretary of state. The head of the cabinet is the Prime Minister
Chancellor – in charge of fiscal policy which includes tax rates, finances, the
budget/spending, the economy
DEMOCRACY IN POLITICS
Democracy - rule by the people
Autocracy – Rule by oneself, rule by one person (North Korea)
Monarchy – Rule by a hereditary autocrat (Thailand)
Anarchy – Rule by none (after French revolution)
Gerioerachy – Rule by elders (tribes, aboriginals)
Parliament is three parts; House of commons (elected MPs), House of Lords (not
democratically elected, selected for expertise), Monarchy (mainly ceremonial)
Representative democracy
Individuals elected a person/party to act on their behalf.
- Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
- All adult citizens have the right to vote for representatives
- Citizens pass their authority to representatives
- Elections for representatives are free + fair
Direct democracy
Least common type of democracy in the world, started in Greece
,Functioned through refendums (public vote on legislation, often yes or no question i.e.,
should same sex marriage be legal or Scottish independence)
Switzerland’s direct democracy
Residents vote 4 times a year on average
Every 4 years the people elect 246 members of the national parliament. The parliament
has two chambers: the house of represntives and the senate.
People can overturn laws by parliament by launching a referendum if they collect 50,000
signatures in 100 days
People’s initiative allows people to make alterations to the swiss constitutions. To do
this 100,000 signatures have to be collected in 18 months.
Advantages-
Power in descion making for the people
Disadvantage -
Makes decision making slower
Democracy + participation key terms
Participation crisis – lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens relating to
the political process like not voting or joining/becoming member of political parties.
Lobbyists – Paid by clients to try and influence the government and/or MPs or HOL
members to act in the interests of these clients particularly where legislation is under
consideration.
Legitimacy – Rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held
agreements such as governments right to rule following an election or a monarchs
succession based on agreed rules.
Direct Democracy – All individuals express their opinions themselves and not
representatives acting on their behalf. (referendums)
Pluralist democracy – A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a
result of the integrity of various idea + contrasting arguments from compelling groups +
organizations i.e., minor political parties, HOC, pressure groups.
Representative Democracy – A modern form of democracy through which an individual
selects a person/political party to act on their behalf to exercise a political choice
Think Tanks – body of experts brought together to collectively focus on certain topics, to
investigate and offer solutions to complicated social/economic/political issue
Franchise/suffrage – refers to the ability to vote in public elections
, Democratic deficit – A flaw in the democratic process where descions are taken by
people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input.
Bicameral – A legislative body with two chambers (house of commons and lords)
Reform – means to gradually and peacefully change a perceived
House of lords
Around 800 members, until 1999 most of these members where hereditary peers, the lords
act of 1999 reduced these peers to 92 now most of the peers are made up by life peers
(appointed by PM or appointments commission). There are 26 ‘spiritual peers’ who are high
ranking members of the Church of England.
Monarch
Technically part of parliament as they are head of state. Their role is to officially appoint a
government by ‘choosing’ a PM. They also open and dismiss parliament and are the final
stage of passing a bill.
Reform
to gradually and peacefully change a perceived deficiency
Electoral reform society
Is a pressure group to increase participation to ensure a fully representative democracy.
The voting system – FPTP
UKIP and the green party are punished by the FPTP system as they have a high number of
votes but there are widely distributed across the country and not concentrated enough to
win a majority in more than one constituency.
Case for reform
Positive democratic features of UK system:
- Devolved governments, enables more decisions to be taken closer to the local
people.
- Independent Judiciary, separate from the other branches of government, upholds
the law + protects a wide range of personal freedoms
- Free media, challenges gov policy + exposes politicians
- Wide range of political parties + pressure groups
- Free + fair elections
