A Level Politics - Types of Direct Democracy
Referendums The public votes on a single issue in a majoritarian form of democracy. The side that receives more than 50% of the vote wins outright. Why are they used and how might they be criticised? These give the public a say in how the government handles important topics. Referendums, on the other hand, threaten representative democracy's essential ideals by granting people direct power. When they've been utilised? Referendum on Scottish independence (2014) The referendum on the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union (2016) Electronic Petition If 100,000 people sign a petition on the government's website, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons. This isn't to say that legislation will have to be enacted. What are the reasons for their use and how may they be criticised? Parliament has been forced to interact with a variety of problems that the public cares deeply about as a result of e petitions. However, some e-petitions have been criticised for not understanding how UK democracy works, such as two votes of no confidence in Jeremy Hunt when he was health secretary. When have they been used? All youngsters should be vaccinated against meningitis B. A second referendum on the UK's membership in the European Union is being planned. Exercises in consultation These can be set up when governing bodies wish to see how their proposed policies would be received. What are the reasons for their use and how may they be criticised? These are a vital tool to engage the public in discussions about topics that directly impact them. Because this is a consultation exercise, what the public thinks isn't legally binding, and the exercise's effectiveness will be determined by how representative the poll is. When have they been used? The communities that would be impacted by Heathrow expansion and the HS2 rail link have been consulted. Open primaries A small number of constituencies have chosen to pick parliamentary candidates through open primaries, in which the public votes directly on who should be elected. What are the reasons for their use and how may they be criticised? People who participate in open primaries have a direct say in who will run for political office. This is a long-standing feature of American democracy, allowing people from opposing political parties, such as Donald Trump, to be elected. Whether or not this is a good thing is a point of contention. When have they been used? Sarah Wollaston, an independent MP, was elected as the Conservative candidate for Totnes in 2009 after winning an open primary. The leadership of political parties is elected. All of the major political parties now enable their members to vote on who will be their party's leader. This is a crucial power since it has the potential to determine who becomes Prime Minister. Supporters say that this holds the party's leadership accountable to the entire membership. This is a particularly compelling argument in the Labour Party, which regards itself as both a political party and a popular movement. Critics argue that it gives activists too much power, claiming that they are often more radical than the electorate. When have they been used? Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party in 2015, receiving 59.5 percent of the vote from party members. In 2016, he was re-elected with the backing of 61.8 percent of the party's members. The 2015 Members of Parliament Act Why are they used and how might they be criticised? Constituents have the ability to force a by-election. A petition signed by 10% of an MP's constituents can force a by-election if the MP has been imprisoned, suspended from the House of Commons by the Committee of Standards, or convicted of making false expenses claims. When they've been utilised Ian Paisley Junior narrowly avoided a revocation petition in 2018. He was removed from the House of Commons for failing to declare two family vacations paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Only 9.4 percent of his constituents signed the petition, however.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2022
Categories
All
|