In a democracy the people participate in the decision-making process in several ways. You may have already voted in a school election, or even been elected as a representative for your form / school. Many people also showed their support for the Make Poverty History campaign in 2005 by wearing a wristband.
There are many other ways that a citizen can participate in the political process. They include;
- Signing a petition
- Writing a letter / Sending an E-mail to an MP
- Joining a pressure group
- Joining a political party
Democracy means rule by the people, and Britain is a good example of a democratic society. Almost all countries in Europe and the Americas are democratic. However, several countries in Africa and Asia are undemocratic, such as North Korea and Zimbabwe. They are more commonly known as dictatorships.
You will need to state and explain what makes a country democratic. There are four main factors to consider;
- Free and fair elections in which everyone is entitled to vote
- The government is held to account by elected representatives
- People hold a series of civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and association
- Society consists of several conflicting beliefs, such as pro-animal testing and those who campaign against testing on animals. The existence of many different demands and beliefs is an essential element of a democracy
In a democracy, all citizens should take an active role in politics. However in the UK political participation is dominated by white, middle-aged, middle-class men. The young, women and ethnic minorities are less likely to participate in politics. These groups are also underrepresented in the House of Commons. For example, barely 1 in 5 MPs are women.
Many people also feel disillusioned with the political process. This is because;
- They think that politicians just say what they want the people to hear, rather than saying what they would actually do if elected
- Certain groups are underrepresented and often therefore feel that their views are being ignored. For example, very few MPs are under the age of 30.
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