VOTING People transfer power to elected officials through general elections, referendums, local council elections and more. General Election turnout in the UK has been known to be quite low, however, since the incredibly low turnout of 59% in 2001, it has begun to...
ELECTION TYPE The electorate are more likely to turnout for more important elections, e.g. General Elections. The 2015 General Election got a turnout of 66.1%. Local elections get a turnout of 31.1% on average and the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections got a...
TURNOUT Since compulsory voting was introduced to Australia in 1924, turnout has never dropped below 91%. This would increase the legitimacy of elected representatives as declining turnout undermines the democratic process, particularly in local by-elections, where...
ELECTION TURNOUT Low turnout at elections undermines the legitimacy of the results. Turnout at the 2015 General Election was 66.1%, far below the high levels of the 1970s, where it reached 78.8% in 1974. Of the 66.1% of the electorate that participated in 2015, only...
NATIONAL STATISTICS National statistics mask significant variation in participation in our political system. In the 2015 general election, people aged over 65 were almost twice as likely to vote than people under 24. Only 43% of 18-24-year olds voted, compared with...
COMPULSORY VOTING A system that fines people who do not vote, perhaps £20-£50 a time, would encourage more people to vote in elections and referendums. Since compulsory voting was introduced to Australia in 1924, turnout has never dropped below 91% - would increase...
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE Our government is drawn from Parliament and depends on the confidence of the House of Commons for survival. It is arguable that MPs have become increasingly assertive in defending what they believe to be in the best...
TURNOUT Turnout has declined, the Lords remains unelected, and MPs and peers are unrepresentative. Turnout at the 2015 General Election was just 66.1%, far below the high levels of the 1970s, (turnout reached 78.8% in 1974) - low turnout makes it harder for even a...
ENGAGEMENT Will engage more people in politics and increase participation. When they were allowed to vote in the 2014 Scottish Ref, more than 100,000 turned out and there was an overall turnout of 84%. Voting is a habit, and those who start young are more likely to...
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS You are only unable to vote if you are not a UK citizen, a member of the Lords, in prison or have been committed of illegal practices in an election in past 5 years. FTPA (2011) requires general elections to be held every five years on the...
PARLIAMENTARY What we have in the UK - Parliament stands as the highest form of authority - executive branch will be drawn from and accountable to reps in parliament. This means that parliament is sovereign – can counteract SC decisions, Gov is accountable to...
REPRESENTATION ACCOUNTABILITY PARTICIPATION
LEGITIMACY People are more likely to respect and follow decisions if they have been made by the whole population. It gives the law legitimacy. This is especially important in places like Northern Ireland in 1998 where they needed strong support for the Good Friday...
SUFFRAGETTES The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) Founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia, in 1903. Frustrated by the slow pace of change of the NUWSS – used violent and illegal protest methods to draw attention to the cause and...
SC This was begun by the legal challenges of John Hirst and, following the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Hirst v UK (2005), which declared that the blanket ban on all prisoners was a violation of their human rights. Other groups, such as the...