Revision:Edexcel AS Politics Module 1

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REFERENDUMS

Asks the public to express a view on a specific issue of public policy.

For

1. Direct democracy
2. Encourages Participation
3. Check on elective dictatorships
4. Educates
5. Provides Answers (Wales?)
6. Unites divided parties (EEC)
7. Deals with flaws in mandate theory
8. Moral issues (death penalty?)
9. Legitimises constitutional change (changing rules of the game)
10. Entrenchment (People have spoken, good thing? Or bad thing?)

Against

1. Inconsistent with representative democracy (undermining sovereignty)
2. Issues too complex for Yes/No (House of Lords)
3. People will vote on government record not issue
4. Government only hold when they will win
5. Lack of information (people are stupid)
6. Media influence (direct influence theory)
7. Apathy (only ¼ of people voted in London – No legitimacy)
8. Too close (Wales only 50.1%)
9. Merging two questions (Mayor + council of London)

• People like them
• Politicians lack trust from public (2nd least trusted job)
• Constitutional issues are at top of political agenda
• Parties are divided

Possible referenda

• PR for Westminster,
• Euro,
• House of Lords reforms

Lessons

• Low turnout gives referendums no legitimacy (Wales + London)
• One sided nature (government timing – Wales 1 week after Scotland)
• Which issues? – Important constitutional issues
• Who defines important? Devolution? HoL? Euro? EU Constitution?

Elections

We live in a representative democracy – elections are vital to choose representative.

Elections must be/have:

• Universal Franchise
• Secret Ballot
• Time limit on office
• Freedom to make parties
• Contests in all constituencies
• Fair campaigns governed by rules

Functions of Elections

• Recruiting politicians
• Making a government (Hung parliament?)
• Providing representation (mandate!)
• Deter unpopular policy decisions (Iraq? Innovator leaders?)
• Educating voters
• Legitimacy (PR?)
• Accountability (PR?)

Electoral Commission

• Sorts boundaries every 10-15 years
• Independent – chaired by speaker of the HoC
• Consults all Major Parties
• Equal Size of constituencies
  1. Local Government boundaries
  2. .Geographical considerations (Rivers etc.)
  3. Sparse populated areas (too much area for 1 MP)
  4. Sense of Community

1/3 of seats varied from average by 15000 in 1983!

Too many MPs in Scotland/Wales – 19more – sorted now to some extent, but still not perfect

Calling of elections

Governments call elections when they have the best chance of winning (economic, budget, opinion polls, HoC majority, By-election results)

2001 was delayed due to the foot and mouth crisis

Fixed Term

For

• Fairness to all parties
• Certainty for parties/electorate
• Greater certainty for firms/businesses
• In line with Germany/Holland etc.

Against

• Inflexibility of political system
• Weak / unstable government (1992) – Coalitions?
• Long election campaigns (boredom)
• Non-fixed encourages good opposition throughout

Voting Behaviour

Class

Traditionally working class voted Labour and middle class voted conservative.

However, if this had been the case Labour would have been in power always between 1945-1970 – Why was this not the case?

• Fear of socialism
• Tories presented stronger leaders (authoritarian working class)
• Aspiration vote

Still class was an important factor because 2/3 of people in 1945-1970 vote for their ‘natural class party’

Move toward Class dealignment

• In 70’s and 80’s less than 50% votes for natural party
• Working classes attracted by tax cuts
• Big tent strategy for New Labour

Causes of class dealignment

• Social changes (Mixed class households, less TU membership 27%, more in higher education)
• Party dealignment
• Occupational structure (manufacturing to service economy)
• Production/Consumption cleavages
• Fragmented working class interest – different ambitions

2001

• 50% of working class voted for Labour
• 38% of middle class voted for Conservative
• 36% of middle class voted for Labour (MUCH CLOSER!!)
• Labour won support from middle classes
• In ‘AB’ Labour closed gap to 7%
• Labour ahead by 4% in C1
• Centre ground of labour alienated some traditional support

2005

??

Regional Voting

• Traditionally Labour is strong in the North and inner cities
• Traditionally Tories are strong in the shires

• Class differences (more working class in North)
• Cultural differences (normal voting patterns)
• Economic circumstances (North much poorer)
• Support for third parties (Lab too left so vote Liberal)

2001

• Labour support fell in the traditional heartlands
• Conservative grew mostly all round but not enough (cept Scotland)
• Liberal democrats gained support almost everywhere

2005

??

Age

• Traditionally it is found that Younger people vote Labour while older voter Conservative. This is a traditional stereotype that the young are idealistic and vote for a ‘lefty’ party rather than the ‘nasty’ right wing type

2001

• Labour won in all age categories except 65+
• Liberal democrats remained fairly steady
• Wider appeal of Labour, idealistic young wanting better for all, big tent

2005

Gender

Women are generally said to be more Conservatively inclined

This does not happen anymore with gender voting being split equally between the two major parties.

• Labour have more pro-women polices (women shortlists/Blair’s Babes)
• Focus on NHS, childcare etc.
• More women in work so less want of the ‘family’ policies of the Conservatives

Black/Asian

• Mainly working class so vote Labour
• Labour more liberal on Asylum/race/immigration policy
• Labour gained 76% of the Black/Asian vote in 2001

Partisan Alignment

• Fewer people feel ‘strongly attached’ – more volatile in voting patterns
• Short-term factors of personal gain more important
• More floating/tactical voting
• 8.5million changed mind in 1997 campaign
• Natural support for the 2 major parties declined (disillusioned)

Why this Partisan dealignment?

• Class dealignment (moving away from traditional class norms has in turn moved people away from a particular party)
• Generation of young people
• Higher education in population, more educated on voting so make choice based on issues
• Media offering the views of many parties – educating role

Issue Voting

• Voting on the matters of today (consumer like)
• More information about the issues in the media
• Leaders play a bigger role rather than parties (Labour better policies in 1992 but conservative leader liked more)

To issue vote the electorate must be

• Aware (media)
• Opinionated (education)
• See difference (the lacking difference was a cause for low turnout)
• Sailent (people care, IRAQ)
• Think governments can make a difference (hence no LD vote)

Labour were popular on most important issues and won in 2001

Economic factors – unemployment, inflation, money, growth, taxes, and public services all are a major reason people vote for parties. If people feel they have money and the country is doing well they want to see that continue

Comments

These notes are aimed at people studying for Edexcel A Level Politics, module 1.

Originally submitted by cor on TSR Forums. They are slightly incomplete with the final parts of the module missing.