Democracy and Participation
Evaluate the view that there is a participation crisis in the UK
For: Against:
AO1: Low turnout in elections AO1: Higher turnout in referendums
1945-1992 - average turnout above 75% 2014 scottish referendum act - 85%
Hasn’t been over 70% since 2016 EU referendum - 72%
2019 - 67.3% AO2: Shows that participation depends
2024 - lowest sincere 2001 at 59.7% on the subject matter
2015 election People are willing to take part in
- turnout of 66.1% significant political issues
conservative votes were 36.9% Not necessarily a crisis if important
- which meant 24.4% of country voted issues have greater legitimacy
for conservative AO3: Can conclude is not a participation
AO2: Shows that less people are taking crisis as voter turnout isn’t always low
part in formalised political participation
Raises doubts on legitimacy if there's
not high enough of a turnout
AO3: Can conclude is a participation
crisis as decline in voter turnouts in
elections
AO1:Overall Decreased membership of AO1: Membership has actually been a
political parties rise in smaller parties
2022 - Labour, Conservatives > 300,000 SNP - 104,000 Green - 54,000
and 109,000 compared to being in 2015 - 29.4% of vote went to parties not
millions pre 2000s Lab, Cons, Lib Dem
AO2: Shows people are identify less Reform has over 200,000 members
with a political party, partisan AO2: Shows people have found parties
dealignment suited to their politics more
Crisis comes in as parties become more Increase in pluralism means politics is
reliant on donors > policies could favour more widespread > leads to more
towards them floating voters
AO3: Can conclude is a participation AO3: Can conclude isn't a participation
crisis as less people are members of crisis as people have greater choice to
political parties choose from
AO1: Voter disengagement due to lack AO1: People participate in different ways
of trust in politicians - pressure groups, protests, E-petitions
2019 audit political engagement stated: Stop the War Coalition 2003:
Partygate huge demonstrations with 750,000
50% of people don't care about politics people to protest against Tony Blair
72% of people say that governing needs invading Iraq and his support of America
improvement invading Iraq
AO2: Shows participation crisis as 2024 - Saturday marches for Palestine,
politicians actions disengage people reaching up to 250,000 people
from contributing to politics leading to AO2: Doesn’t show participation crisis
lower turnouts - apathy as people take on non formalised ways
AO3: Can conclude is a participation of participation, especially if protesting
crisis as politicians actions have strayed against actions of politicians. More ways
, people away from engaging > none of to influence politics, is helpful for those
them they can trust who also can’t vote
AO3: can conclude isn't a participation
crisis as people influence politics in a
variety of ways
Evaluate the view that the franchise should not be extended beyond it’s current
requirements for general elections in the UK (30)
Franchise - referring to the right to vote
Current - Individuals over the age of 18, prisoners can’t vote,
For: Against:
AO1: Franchise shouldn’t be extended to 16 AO1: Franchise should extend to 16 year
year olds as they don’t have the necessary olds, 16 year olds make can make
life experience and lack the maturity to vote significant life decisisons e.g joining the
> Proven in Niko Omilana running for army, leaving school and should therefore
London Mayor and in 11 constituencies have a say in their futures, have increased
in 2024 election political awareness due to social media
> Secured 49,000 votes in London Mayor > Increased tuition fees in 2024 would’ve
election, beating 20 serious candidates been an issue 16 year olds could’ve had
> Record increase of online searched of a say in
Niko Omilana by 70% during election > International youth led Fridays for
campaign Future campaign
AO2: Shows that the franchise shouldn’t be > 89% of 16-17 year olds registered to
extended to 16 year olds as they lack the vote in the 2014 Scottish referendum, a
maturity to make a serious, educated vote higher turnout than 18-24 year olds > led
AO3: Can conclude that franchise shouldn’t to 16 year olds getting the vote in
be extended as 16 year olds currently lack Scotland
the political awareness to vote AO2: Shows that the franchise should be
extended to 16 year olds as they have
proven to be politically engaged and have
the ability to participate politically in informal
ways, therefore should give them the power
to participate formally
AO3: Can conclude that the franchise
should be extended as 16 year should have
a say in their futures
AO1: Prisoners forfeit their right to vote AO1: Prisoners should have the right to
when committing a crime, and shouldn’t vote as voting is a fundamental right that
have a say in the criminal justice system shouldn’t be removed
> Liberty and Howard League for penal > ECoHR ruled UK blanket ban on all
reform have argued for prisoner voting, serving prisoners voting went against
but only managed to get it debated once Convention of HR 2005 - present. - UK
in commons in 2011 but it gained cross- made policy changes. The UK had to
party condemnation with 234 MPs voting justify depature from universal suffrage.
against > Scotland allows prisoners with a max
AO2: Shows that reform has been 12 month sentence to still register and
unsuccessful and unpopular across parties, vote
shouldn’t have influence in the law if they AO2: Shows that those with pettier less
decide to break it serious crimes are not alientated from
AO3: Can conclude that the franchise society, allowed to maintain civic
Evaluate the view that there is a participation crisis in the UK
For: Against:
AO1: Low turnout in elections AO1: Higher turnout in referendums
1945-1992 - average turnout above 75% 2014 scottish referendum act - 85%
Hasn’t been over 70% since 2016 EU referendum - 72%
2019 - 67.3% AO2: Shows that participation depends
2024 - lowest sincere 2001 at 59.7% on the subject matter
2015 election People are willing to take part in
- turnout of 66.1% significant political issues
conservative votes were 36.9% Not necessarily a crisis if important
- which meant 24.4% of country voted issues have greater legitimacy
for conservative AO3: Can conclude is not a participation
AO2: Shows that less people are taking crisis as voter turnout isn’t always low
part in formalised political participation
Raises doubts on legitimacy if there's
not high enough of a turnout
AO3: Can conclude is a participation
crisis as decline in voter turnouts in
elections
AO1:Overall Decreased membership of AO1: Membership has actually been a
political parties rise in smaller parties
2022 - Labour, Conservatives > 300,000 SNP - 104,000 Green - 54,000
and 109,000 compared to being in 2015 - 29.4% of vote went to parties not
millions pre 2000s Lab, Cons, Lib Dem
AO2: Shows people are identify less Reform has over 200,000 members
with a political party, partisan AO2: Shows people have found parties
dealignment suited to their politics more
Crisis comes in as parties become more Increase in pluralism means politics is
reliant on donors > policies could favour more widespread > leads to more
towards them floating voters
AO3: Can conclude is a participation AO3: Can conclude isn't a participation
crisis as less people are members of crisis as people have greater choice to
political parties choose from
AO1: Voter disengagement due to lack AO1: People participate in different ways
of trust in politicians - pressure groups, protests, E-petitions
2019 audit political engagement stated: Stop the War Coalition 2003:
Partygate huge demonstrations with 750,000
50% of people don't care about politics people to protest against Tony Blair
72% of people say that governing needs invading Iraq and his support of America
improvement invading Iraq
AO2: Shows participation crisis as 2024 - Saturday marches for Palestine,
politicians actions disengage people reaching up to 250,000 people
from contributing to politics leading to AO2: Doesn’t show participation crisis
lower turnouts - apathy as people take on non formalised ways
AO3: Can conclude is a participation of participation, especially if protesting
crisis as politicians actions have strayed against actions of politicians. More ways
, people away from engaging > none of to influence politics, is helpful for those
them they can trust who also can’t vote
AO3: can conclude isn't a participation
crisis as people influence politics in a
variety of ways
Evaluate the view that the franchise should not be extended beyond it’s current
requirements for general elections in the UK (30)
Franchise - referring to the right to vote
Current - Individuals over the age of 18, prisoners can’t vote,
For: Against:
AO1: Franchise shouldn’t be extended to 16 AO1: Franchise should extend to 16 year
year olds as they don’t have the necessary olds, 16 year olds make can make
life experience and lack the maturity to vote significant life decisisons e.g joining the
> Proven in Niko Omilana running for army, leaving school and should therefore
London Mayor and in 11 constituencies have a say in their futures, have increased
in 2024 election political awareness due to social media
> Secured 49,000 votes in London Mayor > Increased tuition fees in 2024 would’ve
election, beating 20 serious candidates been an issue 16 year olds could’ve had
> Record increase of online searched of a say in
Niko Omilana by 70% during election > International youth led Fridays for
campaign Future campaign
AO2: Shows that the franchise shouldn’t be > 89% of 16-17 year olds registered to
extended to 16 year olds as they lack the vote in the 2014 Scottish referendum, a
maturity to make a serious, educated vote higher turnout than 18-24 year olds > led
AO3: Can conclude that franchise shouldn’t to 16 year olds getting the vote in
be extended as 16 year olds currently lack Scotland
the political awareness to vote AO2: Shows that the franchise should be
extended to 16 year olds as they have
proven to be politically engaged and have
the ability to participate politically in informal
ways, therefore should give them the power
to participate formally
AO3: Can conclude that the franchise
should be extended as 16 year should have
a say in their futures
AO1: Prisoners forfeit their right to vote AO1: Prisoners should have the right to
when committing a crime, and shouldn’t vote as voting is a fundamental right that
have a say in the criminal justice system shouldn’t be removed
> Liberty and Howard League for penal > ECoHR ruled UK blanket ban on all
reform have argued for prisoner voting, serving prisoners voting went against
but only managed to get it debated once Convention of HR 2005 - present. - UK
in commons in 2011 but it gained cross- made policy changes. The UK had to
party condemnation with 234 MPs voting justify depature from universal suffrage.
against > Scotland allows prisoners with a max
AO2: Shows that reform has been 12 month sentence to still register and
unsuccessful and unpopular across parties, vote
shouldn’t have influence in the law if they AO2: Shows that those with pettier less
decide to break it serious crimes are not alientated from
AO3: Can conclude that the franchise society, allowed to maintain civic
