the ekklesia (people’s assembly) in greece. any citizen aged 20 or above could attend meetings and...
TRANSCRIPT
The Ekklesia (People’s Assembly) in Greece. Any citizen aged 20 or above could attend meetings and speak to members of the Assembly. The Assembly met 40 times a year. Do you think this early system of government was more democratic than the system that exists in the UK today?
Should MPs be Should MPs be delegatesdelegates or or
representativesrepresentatives??To understand and evaluate To understand and evaluate
the differences between the differences between representative and direct representative and direct
democracydemocracy
Aims
Your taskYour task
Read p.60 and list the reasons why Read p.60 and list the reasons why ‘direct democracy’ as practised in ‘direct democracy’ as practised in Ancient Greece was seen to be Ancient Greece was seen to be impractical in later centuriesimpractical in later centuries
Decline of direct Decline of direct democracydemocracy
Direct democracy was practised in Direct democracy was practised in small city-states in Ancient Greece, small city-states in Ancient Greece, 40,000 citizens40,000 citizens
Later centuries afraid of ‘people power’Later centuries afraid of ‘people power’ Thomas Paine, ‘Rights of Man’ (1791), Thomas Paine, ‘Rights of Man’ (1791),
thought Athenian democracy possible thought Athenian democracy possible only in small communitiesonly in small communities
Modern societies combine mix of direct Modern societies combine mix of direct & indirect democracy& indirect democracy
Thomas Paine
Your taskYour task
Read p.61-2 and complete a chart similar Read p.61-2 and complete a chart similar to the one below:to the one below:
Examples of direct Examples of direct democracydemocracy
Examples of indirect Examples of indirect democracydemocracy
Direct democracyDirect democracy
Involves people power or self-Involves people power or self-governmentgovernment
Referendums – especially common in Referendums – especially common in decentralised states, e.g. Switzerlanddecentralised states, e.g. Switzerland
Town meetings, e.g. New EnglandTown meetings, e.g. New England Use of internet voting or experimental Use of internet voting or experimental
voting e.g. via TV or mobile phonevoting e.g. via TV or mobile phone
Indirect democracyIndirect democracy
Direct democracy impractical in large modern Direct democracy impractical in large modern states states
UK relies on indirect or representative UK relies on indirect or representative democracydemocracy
646 MPs in HoC represent the interests of 44 646 MPs in HoC represent the interests of 44 million registered votersmillion registered voters
Representatives are freely elected by Representatives are freely elected by constituentsconstituents
MPs represent views of constituents – NOT MPs represent views of constituents – NOT delegatesdelegates
MPs are socially representativeMPs are socially representative
Your taskYour task
Read p.62-3 and take notes on these Read p.62-3 and take notes on these pointspoints
Edmund Burke’s view on the role of Edmund Burke’s view on the role of an MPan MP
2 models of representation2 models of representation
Burke’s view of MPsBurke’s view of MPs
MPs not delegates (‘mouthpieces’), MPs not delegates (‘mouthpieces’), but Members of Parliamentbut Members of Parliament
Represented issues of interests to Represented issues of interests to the whole nation – not just their the whole nation – not just their constituentsconstituents
Use their own judgementUse their own judgementWe
rock!
2 views of parliamentary 2 views of parliamentary representationrepresentation
MPs are elected representatives, MPs are elected representatives, who act and speak on behalf of who act and speak on behalf of constituents, but use their own constituents, but use their own discretion in votes and debates in discretion in votes and debates in ParliamentParliament
MPs are delegates, mouthpieces for MPs are delegates, mouthpieces for the views of members of their the views of members of their constituency, regardless of their own constituency, regardless of their own viewsviews
DiscussionDiscussion
You are part of a political focus group. You are part of a political focus group. Discuss the following points:Discuss the following points:
Town meetings in the UK should be Town meetings in the UK should be organised on the US modelorganised on the US model
MPs should act more as delegatesMPs should act more as delegates Referendums should be held more Referendums should be held more
frequentlyfrequently There should be a referendum on There should be a referendum on
Europe Europe