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

What is the difference between direct and indirect democracy? Which is better for democracy?

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