Page text
tn E N E W DeE MO € RA Gay
A generation ago millions gave their lives in a crusade to make the world safe
The Citizen
for democracy. The crusade ended in complete victory; democracy appeared trium-
phant everywhere. And then something went wrong. Elation and enthusiasm gave
place to disillusionment and frustration. The men whom their country needed
and Government:
mom
became men without work; homes for heroes proved to be slum tenements;
hundreds of thousands of the country’s children remained below the poverty line. ny:
Within little more than twenty years of their triumph the crusaders of democracy
were facing disaster on the beaches of Dunkirk.
It need not and must not happen again. We have won another war. This time the
democracies must win the peace. The peacemakers of 1919 lost the peace for /
democracy because they failed to distinguish between the underlying principles of John Aj Hawgood
democracy and the outward forms in which it is clothed in a particular age. They
thought they could re-establish the principles by simply restoring the old
nineteenth-century forms. We are to-day paying the dismal price of their blunder.
This time we must see to it that twentieth-century democracy is tuned up to
With 17 pictorial charts in colour designed
twentieth-century conditions. We must recognise that scientific advance, hastened
by the Isotype Institute
by the stimulus of total war, has created new possibilities and evolved. new tech-
and 70 photographs
niques of social organisation and planning which carry revolutionary implications
for human society. Democracy will only live on and become once again a dynamic
force if it can boldly turn those techniques and discoveries to its own purposes,
using them to put an end to unemployment, insecurity and want, and to open up
new frontiers of human life and freedom.
This is a task which cannot be left to the statesman and the expert. It is the
individual responsibility of every citizen. The essence of a democratic community
is that its citizens should take an active part in its decisions; and this is more
imperative than ever in an age in which the state is everywhere extending the
range of its activity. Active citizenship is the indispensable condition of freedom
in a planned society.
But the citizen can only take an active part in the community if he is properly
informed about the choices and possibilities before it. To contribute to this body
of informed opinion, as a basis of social action, is the purpose of this series. It is
written and edited by experts who believe it to be their responsibility as citizens
to put their special knowledge before the widest possible public, using all the
- 4 MAR 198
modern techniques of presentation to give vividness to their subjects. It is written
primarily for the citizens of Great Britain, which, as the oldest of living demo-
cracies, has to-day a special responsibility to give leadership in’ working out the
Nicholson & Watson )London
pattern of the new democracy, But it is also written for the citizens of every
community who believe that democracy is the only valid principle upon which
“to run a modern society, and who mean to make it work.List of Pictorial Charts in Colour
Page
I The Extension of the Parliamentary Franchise
in Great Britain (1830-1930) 21
Ul Redistribution of Seats under the First Reform
Act, 1832 24-25
Wl Population in 1931 and Distribution of Seats
in 1935 28-29
IV Voting Record of the Larger Towns in England
and Wales, 1933-1937 32
Vv Electoral Apathy and Enthusiasm in Birming-
ham, Bradford and Barnsley, 1935 33
vi Votes Cast and M.P.s Elected, 1918-1945 37
VII Spheres of Activity of the Ordinary Citizen and
of his M.P. 40-41
Vill The Legislative Process in the U.S.A. and in
Britain 44-45
IX Local Government Areas: Worcestershire (a
Typical County) 65
x Chief Spheres of Activity of Local Councils in
Britain 69
XI The Working of a County Borough Council 72-713
XII The Local Government Hierarchy in Britain
(after 1929) and in Germany (1918-1933) 16-77
XII The Active Citizen in Urban and Rural Areas 97
XIV Trade Union Democracy: Controlled and
Autonomous Executives 100-101
XV__ Political ‘Pressure Groups’”” Old and New: The
Anti-Corn Law Campaign and the Beveridge
Plan 104-105
XVI How a Public Opinion Poll Works 108-109
XVII Education for Citizenship: Possible Channels 112Men Women
i ae rO0CUaNNC
_ Hfonnnnd oooonnonae
CHART Il
Redistribution of Seats under the First Ref m Act, 1832, in England and Wales
Seats in
Parliament, Parliament,
1830
Sa ON f " vO Each blue symbol
ts, ‘ : ) (AST MIDLANDS represents five seats
“WEST MIDLANDS iit y, vitit i wei EAST ANGLIA’
Population itt itt
;
1831 Census ey a ke
int ae ait HOME COUNTIES
oy i ‘
CORNWALL, DEVON 7] t { ALL rey : ;
Regions : " Each black symbol
red: predominantly urban and industrial iat wien | vie represents 100,000 people _
green: predominantly agricultural
grey: mixed SOUTHER YUNTIES
24 25CHART III
Population in 1931 | Distribution of Seats in 1935
tad NORTH COUNTRY
LANCASHIRE jamal
EAST MIDLANDS
oeaearaea ththth EAST ANGLIA
i ha
yl has
WEST MIDLANDS ghiglagly
METROPOLITAN LONDON
a
thi HOME
Peres duh“ COUNTIES
Gee hd aaa
CORNWALL, DEVON SOUTHERN COUNTIES
Each group of 5 symbols represents 500,000 people Fach blue symbol represents 5 seats in Parliament
NOTE—The Redistribution of 1832 (see pp. 24-25) had been most
inadequate, leaving London and Lancashire, for instance, grossly under-
ISOTYPE
- represented. In the twentieth century a more-even distribution has INSTITUTE
been achieved, and redistribution is in future to be more frequent.
28 29CHART IV
CHART V
Voting Record of the Larger Towns
Electoral Apathy and Enthusiasm
England and Wales
Reluctant Voting Eager Voting
tee Elections, 1935 Sin,
Voti :
. Less than half of voters More than half of voters ~
used their votes used their votes
AA ecccce wpa AAAAAAA SANT
Ahee eoccee
AAcoe eccee "_AAAMAAAAA i
AAceo eocoee
AAMAMAAMAALAAA tt
AAc6oe eooee
River Trent in Parliamentary General Election, 1935
Ss
wnoten
SF AAAAAAAAAAAA SY
mis AAAAAAAAAAAAA Sf
nh
morior MANAARAAAAAAAAAA ft
SEASIDE
Eath man symbol represents 1 among 20 entitled to vote.
Red: Voters, Black: Non—Voters
The squares under the names of the towns indicate the number of inhabitants
Each square stands for 100,00 persons
Each triangle stands for one town of 200,000 and more inhabitants NOTE—The Chart on the left (which excludes the London area from con-
Each circle stands for one town of 50,000 to 200,000 inhabitants ae sideration) shows that voting is worse in the largest than in the medium-sized
Average voting, Parliamentary and Local, 1933-1937 INSTITUTE towns, worse in the South than in the North, and worst of all in seaside
resorts, north and south. The Chart on the right analyses the question in
more detail. Birmingham’s record was little better in 1945 than in 1935.
32
33CHART VI
Votes Cast sa es P.s Elected
rvatives Liberals Labou
8 “pene gee a0
bbbbhd
dhe
192 RRR EY iy
23 Read 9% an
bbbbbd
bh
bobbed
bbb bh
2 ‘Threat iy
129 Wee VY vite
PIT Tirry wl
bbbhb | hhh
a Wiatee fi
1935 Peeey ¥ ett
bbbbbbbe
&
bbbbhh
b= hh
ws oe ORR REE
in symbol represents 1 among
10 voters and each sitting symbol 1 among 10 M.P.s sve
37CHART VII
Spheres of Activity of the Ordinary Citken and of His MP.
Channels through which their influence can be exerted
ae i
Questions in the House
Personal _ visits
Speaking in debates
Voting in divisions
Party Meetings
Citizen organisation
Trade Union, etc. } Work on Committees
Co-operative Society
Personal contact with Ministers
ne ae
.
Voluntary political,
social and religious societies, etc.
,
Red arrows: personal contacts between citizen and M.R
Black arrows: indirect contacts between citizen and M.P re
Rea bae . .
Blue arrows: M.P.’s activities in Parliament
ISOTYPE
INSTITUT
40 . 41CHART VIII
The Legislative Process in the U.S.A. The Legislative Process in Britain
House of Representatives Senate or President House of Commons House of. Lords Crown
or Senate House of Representatives
Sezer
es:
reseee9
rejected
rejected
rejected or passed a
Introduction
referred back
Veto or Assen
or repasse
after 1 year
dropped orf} passea over President's Vet
by 2/3 majorities of both Houses
or repassed
NOTE—There is provision for joint committees of House and Senate NOTE—for certain important Bills the whole House is the **Committee’’.
to-resolve differences and to work out ‘‘agreed’’ measures. Technically a Bill can become Law without the Lords’ assent ‘‘in the second
succeeding session’’ after its first introduction._ CHART 1X
Local Government Areas:
Worcestershire |
3
4
5 :
6 Halesowen 10 Bromsgrove 18 Martley
7 Kidderminster 11 Malvern 19 Pershore
8 Oldbury 12 Redditch ; 20 Tenbury
9 Stourbridge 13. Stourport-on- Severn 21 Upton-on-Severn
Rural Districts alone are divided into Civil Parishes : &
IRSHYUTECHART X-
Chief Spheres of Activity
of Local Councils
County County
Borough
mT
Inance Finance
Public Publ. Health
Health|
Public
a=
xri> vz
ac 2.65 one Ej 8 Assistance
Housing
Primary Primary
Education Education
Secondar ~< Secondary
Education Education
( Public (Publ. Libr.)
Libraries )
Highways
(Public
= = a J FA S fr) Ea Transport|
a4 a <3
(Gas|
service)
A
(Electrici
service}
ewerage
Fire Fire
Service| Service
Town Town & Count!
Planning Planning
Names without brackets: mandatory duties and powers
Names in brackets: optional or adoptive powers
————> indicates delegation of powers from county fo lesser areas i
° sb oepe. : ISOTYPE!
@ indicates county responsibility in lesser areas INSTITUT
69CHART XI
Cemetery
Seco rarages.
|
a ge Ge OIG
T Gere MG TGok 0%
BH
rial
Local Government Electors : | :
fil
ISOTYPE
: INSTITUTE
red areas: committee blue areas: departments blue lines: services NOTE—The names indicate the functions rather than the actual titles
red symbols: elected blue symbols: appointed ; of committees, which vary from Council to Council.CHART XII
The Local Government Hierarchy
in Britain (after 1929) in Germany (1918-1933)
State Reich
Government
Land (exc. Prussia) Prussia Freie Reichsstadt
Minister of Interior
.
Minister of Interior Oberbiirgermeister
Borough Borough
a Provinz
Ober président.
Chairman (Lord) Chairman * Landeshauptmann
Mayor
Regierungsbezirk Regierungsbezirk
Regierungs:
prdsident
Municipal Urban Rural
Town District Borough District District Stadtkreis Landkreis Stadtkreis Landkreis
Landrat
Mayor Chairman Chairman . Chairmen : Oberbiirgermeister ie uae a i
Parishes Stadtgemeinde Landgemeinde Stadtgemeinde Landgemeinde
blue figures: elected councils
black figures: presiding officers i
on area: where appointed locally
Chairman Burgermeister Ortsvorsteher Burgermeister Ortsvorsteher
outside areai where appointed by higher authority
corel
INSTITUTE!
sonegh
INSTITUTE!
76 ad.CHART XIll
The Active Citizen in Urban and Rural
Offices and Influences open to him Areas
red ; urban
sOryPE
green: rural INSTITUTE
97CHART XIV
Trade Union Democracy:
Trade Union with Controlled Executive Trade Union with Autonomous Executive
policy control
FINAL APPEALS COURT APPEALS COMMITTEE
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Rules Revision
Committee
Ssoletien i P cneai gece | | | Biennial
CK$¥K{KK Cu i i
National Officials
. \ « i Conference |
All other \ ele age
National Officials
Divisional Committees National Trade Group
and Officials Committees
Area
District Committees
Committees
and Officials
Shop Steward
Se = Trade Group Area
Committees
Area Meetings|
All Full-Time
ae—eSs,
<a aa
a Local Branch Hee
cinameransancniamaraine 30 eT pracraanats
Blue lines: elections Outline arrows: direction of policy control
Red lines: appointments
100CHART XV
Old Political ‘Pressure Groups” New Political ‘‘ Pressure Groups”
Campaign for and against repeal of the Corn Laws Campaign for and against Beveridge Social Security Plans
REPEAL OF NATIONAL INSURANCE
CORN LAWS ACTS 1946
1846
Association:
Association
Experience of Working of Corn Laws, 1. scale, etc.,of agricultural distres , Experience of existing National Insurance, Pensions,and Public Assistance system
104‘CHART XVI
’ How a Public Opinion Poll Works
Selecting the cross-section to be interviewed is all important
Occupation The Nation: A good sample A bad sample
agriculture, 2) i}
: se HHA
co init
coo ibaa
Residence
— «inna nnd
Roman Catholic
if neti
- Income Level
over £500 a year \
£250-500 a year eSvr || |
under £250 a year
GE CC CLEULLCLLG
Each unit represents
5 per ent. of the’ population
| Each unit represents
5 per cent. of the pers: questioned
The Answers to a given Question from the Nation:
from a good sample from a bad sample
vrs QUOD DboDoDoo OOOO )= OOo
x» Saas SoRR
DON’T KNOW ~
answers
| Each unit represents 5 per cent. of the answers rem
INSTITUTE
NOTE—The four colours represent four selected cross-sections of a — NOTE—The good sample corresponds in proportions and visual outline
whole Nation. There are, of course, many other possible cross-sections. to the national cross-section on the opposite page. The bad sample bears
no relation to it and therefore produces a misleading poll.
108 109CHART XVII.
Education for Citizenship
possible channels
Adult Education
libraries _.
Government
Publications,
Hansard oe @
Family|
Voting. |
Liability to
act as a
i
ay Catia witness or
Local Parliament, a juryman.,
Debating Club
Military
Service.
Work.
Public meetings,
i |
Lectures
Trade Union
Co-operative
Society
Friendly Society \
raf Ss 2
°
rand Broadcasting
112 : |
: ,No text on this page.
The Planning Officer with his blue-prints
Villages can be found in England to-day in which one family
still completely dominates both the economic and the political
life of the community. They may own almost every house and
all the agricultural land in the parish—having bought up neigh-
bouring farms during the inter-war depression from families which
had tilled them since Agincourt or earlier—they may control the
local saw-mill, laundry, waterworks, garage, and many another
enterprise; nine-tenths of all the people in the village (and many
in the surrounding villages) work for them; they are the patrons
of the living; the lady from the big house is President and dictator
of the Women’s Institute, and the agent’s wife or daughter its
secretary and her willing slave; the young squire is on both the
Parish and the Rural District Council, while his farm-manager
is Chairman of the former and his lawyer in the nearby town of
the latter. The older villagers are obsequious, the younger ones
resentful, but none are in a position to stand up to the all-
pervasive influence of the big house. In appearance theirs may
be a model village, but as far as local government is concerned
they are still living in the eighteenth century. Economic rather
than social pressure from the dominating family (for it may not
be an eminent county family at all) permits it to have its way,
and it demands that the village shall have its life ordered for it
and not answer back. Such a situation is too strong for the
85 
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