What was the turnout at the 1950 general election, and why is it significant?

It was 83.9 per cent, the highest of the post-war period, and it is the benchmark against which later declines in turnout are measured.

Which post-war general election recorded the lowest turnout, and what was it?

The 2001 general election, at 59.4 per cent, the lowest since 1918.

What has happened to general election turnout since 2001?

It recovered from 59.4 per cent in 2001 through 61.4 in 2005, 65.1 in 2010 and 66.4 in 2015 to a post-2001 peak of 68.8 per cent in 2017, then fell to 67.3 per cent in 2019 and about 60 per cent in 2024, so it remains below post-war levels.

Why is turnout at local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections a particular concern?

It is routinely far lower than at general elections, sometimes below a third of electors, which weakens the mandate of the bodies elected.

Why does an age gap in turnout matter for policy?

Parties have an incentive to design policies for the groups most likely to vote, so the priorities of older voters tend to be better protected than those of the young.

AQA A-Level Politics 7152

The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution

Topic overview Codified and Uncodified Constitutions The Rule of Law and Parliamentary Sovereignty Magna Carta and the Early Constitution The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 Individual and Collective Rights Constitutional Change since 1997 and Codification

The Structure and Role of Parliament

Topic overview The Two Chambers and Parliamentary Privilege The Passage of a Public Bill Burke and the Models of Representation The Roles of MPs and Peers Scrutiny of the Executive and PMQs Select Committees, the Opposition and Parliament's Influence

The Prime Minister and Cabinet

Topic overview The Core Executive and the Prime Minister's Powers Policy Making and the Limits of Prime Ministerial Power Ministerial Responsibility Accountability in Practice and Crichel Down

The UK Judiciary

Topic overview Judicial Independence and Impartiality The Constitutional Reform Act, Separation of Powers and Appointments The UK Supreme Court and the Grounds of Judicial Review Judicial Review and the Miller Cases

Devolution

Topic overview Devolution, Federalism and the Scottish Parliament Scotland and Wales since Devolution Northern Ireland and Power-Sharing The West Lothian Question and English Devolution The Barnett Formula, Sewel and the Impact of Devolution

Democracy and Participation

Topic overview Democracy, Legitimacy and Direct Democracy Direct and Representative Democracy Compared The Reform Acts of 1832 to 1884 and the Chartists Suffragists and Suffragettes Who Can Vote Today, and Votes at 16 Forms of Political Participation Turnout, Apathy and Proposals for Reform Partisan and Class Dealignment

Elections and Referendums

Topic overview Majoritarian and Proportional Systems The Additional Member System, STV and Other Systems The 1945 and 1979 General Elections The 1997 and 2010 General Elections Models of Voting Behaviour Leadership, Manifestos, Campaigns and the Media The Nature and Use of Referendums Regulating Referendums, and the Case For and Against

Political Parties in the UK

Topic overview Party Functions and the Conservative Party Labour: Origins, Clause IV and Structure The Liberal Democrats Party Funding and Short Money Funding Controversies, the Media and Electoral Outcomes Two-Party, Multi-Party and Dominant-Party Systems Minor Parties in UK Politics

Pressure Groups in the UK

Topic overview What Pressure Groups Are Outsider Groups, Methods and Influence Pluralism and the Democratic Balance Sheet Think Tanks, Lobbying and the Media

The UK and the European Union

Topic overview The Institutions of the European Union EU Aims and the Four Freedoms The Impact of the EU on the UK

The Constitutional Framework of US Government

Topic overview The Nature of the US Constitution Checks and Balances and Constitutional Principles Federalism and the Division of Powers Coercive Federalism and Federal-State Disputes Amending the Constitution Informal Constitutional Change and the Rights Amendments

Congress

Topic overview The Composition of Congress The Powers of Each Chamber, Leadership and Elections How a Bill Passes Congress The Power of the Purse, Oversight and Representation

The US Presidency

Topic overview The Sources of Presidential Power Signing Statements, Pardons and Informal Powers Congressional Checks on the President Term Limits, the Press and Other Constraints The US Cabinet, EXOP and the Bureaucracy The Imperial and Imperilled Presidency

The US Supreme Court

Topic overview The Composition and Tenure of the Court How a Case Reaches the Supreme Court Judicial Review and Guardian of the Constitution The Debate over the Court's Power The Warren Court and Landmark Rulings Later Landmark Rulings and Court Eras

US Elections and Direct Democracy

Topic overview Congressional Elections and Electoral College Votes The Electoral College The Invisible Primary, Primaries and Caucuses Super Tuesday, Momentum and Delegates What Decides a US Election Campaign Finance Regulation Party Coalitions and Voting Behaviour Realignment, Dealignment, Split-Ticket Voting and Turnout Direct Democracy at State Level

Political Parties in the USA

Topic overview The Ideologies of the Two Main Parties Party Traditions and Organisation Polarisation and Ideological Sorting Factionalism and the Decline or Renewal Debate Two-Party Dominance and Ballot Access Third Parties and the Spoiler Role

Pressure Groups in the USA

Topic overview Pressure Groups and Political Pluralism Think Tanks, Lobbying and Group Methods PACs and Super PACs The Revolving Door, Iron Triangles and Group Power

Civil Rights in the USA

Topic overview Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and the Bill of Rights Entrenchment, Incorporation and the Rights Amendments Landmark Rights Rulings and the Supreme Court The Civil Rights Movement Rights Groups and the Courts Contested Rights Issues Today

Comparative Politics: Theoretical Approaches

Topic overview Structural, Rational and Cultural Approaches

Constitutions and Legislatures Compared

Topic overview The Two Constitutions Compared Devolution and Federalism Compared Parliament and Congress: Powers and Chambers Committees, Scrutiny and Control of Money

The Executives Compared

Topic overview Prime Minister and President: Office, Tenure and Cabinet Executive Power over Courts, Officials and Abroad

The Judiciaries Compared

Topic overview The Two Supreme Courts: Appointment, Tenure and Powers Judicial Impact, Activism and Restraint

Electoral and Party Systems Compared

Topic overview Electing Legislatures and Executives Compared Campaign Finance, Direct Democracy and Voting Compared Party Systems and Third-Party Barriers Party Organisation and Unity Compared Minor Parties and the Ideological Spectrum

Pressure Groups Compared

Topic overview Access Points and Group Power Compared Group Methods and Targets Compared

Civil Rights Compared

Topic overview How Rights Are Protected in Each Country Security, Guns and Reforming the Rights Framework

Liberalism

Topic overview The Individual and Individualism Limited Government and Foundational Equality Classical Liberalism and the Night-Watchman State Modern Liberalism and the Continuity Debate Locke and Mill Rawls, Wollstonecraft and Friedan

Conservatism

Topic overview Human Imperfection in Conservative Thought Organic Society and Paternalism Traditional, One-Nation and New Right Conservatism The New Right: Neo-Liberalism and Neo-Conservatism Hobbes, Burke and Oakeshott Rand and Nozick

Socialism

Topic overview Common Humanity, Equality and Social Class Alienation, Common Ownership and Social Justice The Vanguard Party, Gradualism and Social Democracy Revolutionary Socialism and Social Democracy Compared Marx, Engels and Luxemburg Webb, Crosland and Giddens

NationalismIdeology

Topic overview The Nation, the State and Self-Determination Views of the Nation and Economic Nationalism Minority Nationalism State Nationalism and Nation-Building Types of Nationalism Rousseau and Herder Mazzini, Garvey and Maurras

FeminismIdeology

Topic overview Sex, Gender and Patriarchy Feminist Views of the State Liberal and Radical Feminism Socialist, Difference and Post-Feminism Perkins Gilman and de Beauvoir Millett, Rowbotham and hooks

MulticulturalismIdeology

Topic overview Multiculturalism and the Politics of Recognition Assimilation, Integration and the Melting Pot Integration and Segregation Interculturalism and Civic Integration Berlin and Kymlicka Taylor and Parekh Modood: Multiculturalism and Citizenship

AnarchismIdeology

Topic overview The Anarchist Case against the State Propaganda by the Deed and the Charge of Chaos Individualist and Collectivist Anarchism Stirner and Bakunin Goldman, Kropotkin and Proudhon

EcologismIdeology

Topic overview Ecologism, Environmentalism and Ecocentrism Sustainability and the Limits to Growth Light Greens and Dark Greens Green Consumerism, Technology and Greenwashing Leopold and Carson Schumacher, Merchant and Bookchin

Democracy and Participation

Turnout, Apathy and Proposals for Reform

2 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

Recall questions on the referendum that produced exceptional turnout, the meaning of hapathy, the effect of safe seats and the reforms proposed.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Numbers

Describe the age pattern in turnout at UK general elections.

Key term

Explain how safe seats can depress turnout.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What was the turnout at the 1950 general election, and why is it significant?
Model answer
It was 83.9 per cent, the highest of the post-war period, and it is the benchmark against which later declines in turnout are measured.
2
Which post-war general election recorded the lowest turnout, and what was it?
Model answer
The 2001 general election, at 59.4 per cent, the lowest since 1918.
3
What has happened to general election turnout since 2001?
Model answer
It recovered from 59.4 per cent in 2001 through 61.4 in 2005, 65.1 in 2010 and 66.4 in 2015 to a post-2001 peak of 68.8 per cent in 2017, then fell to 67.3 per cent in 2019 and about 60 per cent in 2024, so it remains below post-war levels.
4
Why is turnout at local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections a particular concern?
Model answer
It is routinely far lower than at general elections, sometimes below a third of electors, which weakens the mandate of the bodies elected.
5
Describe the age pattern in turnout at UK general elections.
Model answer
Turnout rises steadily with age, so voters over 65 are considerably more likely to vote than those aged 18 to 24.
6
Why does an age gap in turnout matter for policy?
Model answer
Parties have an incentive to design policies for the groups most likely to vote, so the priorities of older voters tend to be better protected than those of the young.

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The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution

The Structure and Role of Parliament

The Prime Minister and Cabinet

The UK Judiciary

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MinisterialCabinetParliamentary

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AA US court can strike down a hostile law using the constitution.

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CChange must come from persuading legislators.

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Veto means formal rejection of legislation.

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