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Two forms of democracy - Representative democracy

5 important questions on Two forms of democracy - Representative democracy

Explain representative democracy in terms of accountability?

Accountability is essential if representatives are to act responsibly and in the interests of the people. It is at election time that accountability is most striking. Both individual representatives such MPs in the uk and the government as a whole are held accountable when the people go to the polls.

What do opposition parties do during the election?

During the election , campaighn and opposition parties will higlight the shortcommings of the government and will offer their own alternatives. At the same time the government will seek to explain and justify what it has done in an effort to be re elected.

Explain representative democracy in terms of party representation

All modern democracies are characterised by the existence of political parties. all the members who are seeking and winning elections are members of political parties. It is unusual in modern democracy to find indicual representatives who do not belong to a political party. Paties state their politics, and at election times these are called manifestos. This means that members of the party who are seeking to be to be elected will camphaighn in the basis this later means that eht are representing their parties and the voters understand they are.

Explain functional representation in terms of being a feature of representative democracy?

This is where elected representatives will not only represent their consistency or region but they also represent social groups. for example those who support and are supported with trade unions will pursue the cause of group workers. This function can apply to social groups such as the elderly, those with disabilities, members of the LGBT . Of course groups like his are represented outside the parliamentary system , but functional representation can still flourish within elected legislative bodies.