What are the functions of elections?

Agenda:
• What types of elections do we have in the UK and what
does ‘being democratic’ entail?

• What are the democratic functions of elections and how

successfully are these achieved?

• Do elections enhance or hinder democracy?

Types of UK Election and Democracy
3 main elections in the UK:
• General elections: elections for Parliaments; all seats in the House of
Commons come up for re-elections; every 5 years.
• Devolved assembly elections: elections to the Scottish parliament, the
Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Fixed-term
elections that take place every 4 years.
• Local elections: district, borough and county councils. Includes the GLA,
London Mayor and mayoral elections. Take place every 4 to 5 years.

Elections’ role in a democracy:

- Form governments
- Ensure representation
- Enable participation and uphold legitimacy
- Educate the electorate
 What are the key measures of a
democracy? (6 mins)
Read p.4.
1. Write down the 5 key principles of a democracy.
2. Start to write down which of these aims the UK is
successful and unsuccessful in.

STRETCH: Most successful aim? Least successful aim?

Explain your answers.
What are the functions of elections?
• Get into 2 groups. Take 1 section of the table each.

• For each section, write down how elections in the UK

successfully achieve this functions, areas in which they are
unsuccessful and then make a mini-judgement: overall, how
successfully is this function achieved in UK politics?

• Use pp. 94-6.

Functions: Successful: Unsuccessful: Overall, successful or
unsuccessful (Out of 10)?
Explain your judgement

Forming
governments

Representatio
n

Participation
and
legitimacy

Education
 Functions of elections
• Elections let a geographical area have a representative to speak on behalf of the community living in the area.
• Political parties nominate candidates for election and help to fund them. In return they expect the candidates to
be loyal to the party if they are successfully elected.
• Elections let people select a government. In the UK, the government is not directly elected but is chosen
indirectly through elections to Parliament. In Parliament the party which wins the most seats usually forms the
government.
• Elections give people a choice. Voting in an election lets citizens express a preference for a particular set of
policies, based on manifestos published by parties.
• An election gives a mandate to a government. This means it gives legitimacy to the government’s attempts to
carry out its manifesto (a list of policy aims).
• Elections give politicians the authority to act on others’ behalf. This can either be an MP acting on behalf of their
constituency, or the government acting on behalf of the country.
• Elections hold politicians accountable for their role as a representative, and they also hold the government to
account for its management of the country. If voters are unhappy, they will remove representatives from office.
• Elections also educate. As parties must campaign for votes, citizens become informed of the major issues
concerning the country or local area.
Do elections enhance or
hinder democracy?

Vote and
debate: hinder
or enhance?