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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Democracy & non-democratic states

How often Democracy & non-democratic states comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

OL Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Democracy & non-democratic states, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Democracy & non-democratic states.

(a)Which is a key feature of a democratic state?
  1. One party with a guaranteed leading role
  2. Free and fair elections with rival parties
  3. Courts controlled by the government
(b)What does 'tyranny of the majority' mean as a criticism of democracy?
  1. Leaders ignore election results
  2. Minorities block every government decision
  3. Majorities may override minority rights
(c)In an absolute monarchy, how is the executive usually selected?
  1. Hereditary succession in a royal family
  2. A parliament that can remove the ruler
  3. A free vote of the whole population
Show the answers

(a) Free and fair elections with rival parties

(b) Majorities may override minority rights

(c) Hereditary succession in a royal family

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Democracy & non-democratic states.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1l, Q3a
2024Q1i, Q6
2023Not asked
2022Q1o
2021Q1d
2019Not asked
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Democracy & non-democratic states questions

Democracy & non-democratic states, 3 marks

What does 'illiberal democracy' describe?

  1. A state that holds no elections
  2. A state where every law goes to referendum
  3. Elections held while rights and courts are weakened
Show the answer

Elections held while rights and courts are weakened

A government can win real elections yet curb the press, courts and opposition. Critics argue this shows voting alone does not make a full democracy.

Democracy & non-democratic states, 3 marks

Why is 'short-termism' made as a criticism of democracy?

  1. Voters can never remove leaders between elections
  2. Leaders favour quick wins before the next election
  3. Terms of office are far too long for voters to judge
Show the answer

Leaders favour quick wins before the next election

Critics argue that the election cycle discourages long-term policies (pensions, climate) whose benefits come after the next vote.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1h
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q8
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Democracy & non-democratic states questions

Democracy & non-democratic states, 2 marks

In which type of democracy do citizens elect people to make decisions for them?

  1. Direct democracy
  2. Absolute monarchy
  3. Representative democracy
Show the answer

Representative democracy

In a representative democracy like Ireland, voters elect TDs to decide for them. In direct democracy citizens vote on issues themselves, as they do in an Irish referendum.

Democracy & non-democratic states, 2 marks

Which is a feature of a non-democratic state?

  1. An independent judiciary that can overrule rulers
  2. Opposition parties are banned or controlled
  3. Regular elections that are free and fair
Show the answer

Opposition parties are banned or controlled

Non-democratic states, such as one-party states or absolute monarchies, limit opposition, control the media and do not let citizens freely choose or remove their leaders.

Democracy & non-democratic states, 2 marks

What is an absolute monarchy?

  1. A state where a king or queen holds unlimited power
  2. A state where the monarch's role is only ceremonial
  3. A state where elected councils make all decisions
Show the answer

A state where a king or queen holds unlimited power

In an absolute monarchy the ruler is not limited by a constitution or elections. Where the monarch's role is only ceremonial, it is a constitutional monarchy.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society