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205 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Absolute monarchy |
A form of government where the monarch wields unrestricted political power |
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Abstention |
Term used to refer to the act of not voting in an election |
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Accountability |
In a Parliamentary government, this is theprinciple that ministers have an obligation to explain or justify their actionsto Parliament |
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AMS |
The electoral system used in elections for theScottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Greater London Assembly |
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Adversary Politics |
Where there is great ideological conflict between the major political parties, with little agreement over particular political issues |
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AV+ |
An electoral system that has never been used inthe UK, but was devised and recommended by the 1997 Commission investigatingalternatives to FPTP |
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AV |
System used in the UK for the Labour party andLib Dem leadership elections, and in by-elections to replace hereditary peersin the House of Lords |
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Asymmetrical devolution |
Where the devolution of powers from central tosubnational governments is not uniform, and the powers devolved vary fromregion to region |
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Authoritative works |
Name given to texts written by constitutionaltheorists that have no legal authority but are considered indispensable guidesto the UK Constitution |
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Backbench Business Committee |
Created in 2010, this committee is allocated 35days in each session of Parliament, for scheduling debates on subjectssuggested by backbench MPs |
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Bandwagon effect |
When voters chose to vote for the party that isleading in the polls |
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Barnett formula |
This formula, based largely on population sizes,adjusts spending grants for Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland to reflect spendingchanges in England |
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Bicameralism |
Term for legislatures that are divided into twochambers or houses - e.g. Parliament is divided into the House of Commons andHouse of Lords |
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Bilateral meetings |
Meetings between two people, usually used to refer to meetings between the prime minister and a particular government minister |
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Bill of Rights (1689) |
This transferred constitutional supremacy fromthe monarchy to Parliament, establishing the concept of Parliamentarysovereignty |
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Boomerang effect |
When voters sympathise with, and decide to vote for, a party that is not performing well in the polls |
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Bureaucracy |
A term meaning 'rule by officials', often usedto refer to the civil servants who implement government policy |
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Cabinet government |
A system of government where the cabinet is the central collective decision making body of government |
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Cabinet reshuffle |
The term used when the prime minister changesthe composition of ministers in the cabinet |
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Cabinet Secretary |
The most senior civil servant in the country -provides policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
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Catch-all Parties |
Political parties that attempt to have broadideological appeal to attract a wide membership and many centrist floatingvoters |
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Cause Groups |
Term used for pressure groups that aim topromote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members |
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Centralisation |
Where central government takes over some of thefunctions of local authorities, limiting the financial and political decisionsthey can make |
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Checks and balances |
Where each branch of government can limit thepowers of the others, preventing a single branch from becoming too powerful |
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Civil liberties |
The basic rights and freedoms that citizensbenefit from under the law, protecting citizens from arbitrary governmentintrusion into their lives |
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Civil servants |
Permanent staff, employed by governmentdepartments to support ministers with administrative work and provide neutraladvice and expertise |
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Civil service neutrality |
The constitutional principle that civil servants must give advice and expertise that is free from ideological judgement or political views |
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Classic Liberalism |
The form of liberalism that focuses on negativeliberty - the freedom from intrusion and obstruction from others |
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Clause Four |
Controversial clause of the Labour Partyconstitution that originally called for "the common ownership of the meansof production" |
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Clicktivism |
Derisive term used to describe political actionon social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement orawareness |
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Closed party list |
The electoral system used for EuropeanParliament elections in England, Scotland and Wales |
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Codified constitution |
A constitution that is collected and written ona single document |
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Collective responsibility |
Convention that ministers must publicly supportCabinet decisions or resign, and that all ministers should resign following avote of no confidence |
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Common law |
The body of law that is based on custom, usage,and judicial decisions made in legal cases over time |
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Compulsory voting |
An enforceable system where voter turnout isincreased by fining those who do not vote |
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Consensus politics |
Where there is widespread agreement between themajor political parties on particular issues, rather than strong ideologicalconflict (Blair/Cameron) |
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Conservatism |
More of a state of mind than an ideology, thisterm refers to those who largely believe in tradition, order, hierarchy,authority, and property etc. |
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Constituency |
A geographical territory that elects a member torepresent it in a legislative body |
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Constitutionalism |
The belief that the power of the governmentshould be derived from, and limited by, fundamental laws |
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Conventions |
Informal rules and customs that are not legallyenforceable but are widely respected and considered to be a fundamental part ofthe UK Constitution |
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Core insiders |
Pressure groups that work closely and regularlywith the government across a broad range of issues |
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Corporatism |
Broad term used when governments work closelywith pressure group elites, particularly business groups, to make importantdecisions without the voters |
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D’Hondt method |
A mathematic formula used in proportionalsystems that divides the number of votes each party has, by the number of seatsthey have already won, + 1 |
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Delegate Representation model |
Model of representation that states that MPsshould act on the instructions of their constituentsaccountability to citizens and nationalparliaments |
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Devolution |
The transfer of certain political powers from central government, to subnational governments, which remain subordinate and do not share sovereignty |
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Differential turnout |
Term used to refer to the varying levels ofelectoral participation across different regions and social groups |
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Direct action |
The use of violent or non-violent protest toimmediately achieve political or social aims, rather than going throughtraditional, official channels |
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Direct democracy |
A political system where the people themselvesmake key political decisions |
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Division |
A vote in Parliament |
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Dominant ideology model |
This model argues thatvoters are influenced by the ideology of powerful and wealthy elites, who shapethe national debate, particularly in the media |
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E-democracy |
Online methods of political participation |
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E-petitions |
An online means of triggering a governmentresponse or debate in Parliament |
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Election |
Name given to the competitive process in whichthe electorate vote for select individuals to fill particular posts |
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Elective dictatorship |
Term describing the UK's weak separation ofpowers and the government's dominance in Parliament |
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Electoral reform |
The broad term used for changes to existingelectoral systems that aim to ensure that election results better reflect thewishes of the public |
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Electorate |
The term used to describe the proportion of thepublic that is registered to vote |
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Elitism |
The view that, despite the appearance of opencompetition, power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of powerfulindividuals and groups |
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Embourgeoisement |
The idea that, as working class people becomemore middle class, their political interests and voting behaviour begins tochange |
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English Votes for English Laws |
A procedure, launched in 2015, giving GrandCommittees of English, or English and Welsh MPs, the chance to veto billsrelating to just England, or England and Wales |
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Entrenchment |
Where the constitutional amendment process ismade purposely difficult - for example, requiring supermajority votes |
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European Convention on HumanRights |
International treaty to protect human rightsacross Europe, enforced by the European Court of Human Rights |
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Executive agencies |
Parts of Government departments that carry outexecutive functions, usually services, with a degree of autonomy fromministers, e.g. UK Border Agency |
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Executive branch |
The branch of government responsible forpolicymaking, and for implementing the laws passed by the legislative branch |
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Elective Dictatorship |
Terms used to describe a parliament dominated bya strong executive, which determines the legislative programme and passesvirtually all of its bills |
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Exit Polls |
Surveys conducted at polling stations onelection day asking people how they just voted |
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Factionalism |
The occurrence of splits within politicalparties, that happen when certain groups hold different views to the mainbeliefs of the party |
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Factortame case |
1991 landmark case in which the High Court setaside the Merchant Shipping Act (1988) as it conflicted with EU fisheriesdirectives |
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Federal constitution |
A system of government where sovereignty isdivided between central and regional bodies, each with their own separatespheres of power and authority |
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Financial devolution |
Where devolved parliaments and assemblies are given the power to raise their own taxes, rather than relying upon grants transferred from Parliament |
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Fixed-term Parliaments Act (2011)
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Law that requires elections to be held every 5years, early elections may only be held in special circumstances |
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Focus Group |
A group of people assembled to give theiropinions on a political campaign or idea before it has been launched |
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Free Votes |
A vote in Parliament where MPs and members ofthe Lords are not pressured to vote a certain way by party leaders |
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Freedom of Info Act (2000) |
Law that gives a general right of access to recorded information held bymore than 100,000 public bodies in England, Wales and N. Ireland |
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Fusion of Powers |
A feature ofParliamentary democracies where members of the executive branch are alsomembers of the legislative branch |
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Government |
Collective name for frontbench MPs who holdministerial positions |
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Greater London Authority |
Top-tier administrative body for Greater London,consisting of a directly elected Mayor of London, and an elected 25-memberLondon Assembly |
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Hapathy |
When voters abstain from voting because they arecontent with the way things are |
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Hereditary peers |
Name given to peers who inherited their titleand membership in the House of Lords. All but 92 were removed by the House ofLords Act (1999) |
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Human Rights Act (1999)
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Act of Parliament that incorporated the EuropeanConvention on Human Rights into UK law, making it enforceable in UK courts |
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Hung Parliament |
Term used when no single party wins an overallmajority in the House of Commons |
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Hybrid Systems |
Electoral systems that combine elements ofsimple plurality or majoritarian systems, with elements of proportional systems(AV) |
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Hyperpluralism |
Term used when there are so many groupsobjecting to the government's plans that it struggles to function effectively |
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Ideological outsiders |
Pressure groups with radical aims that rejectthe existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working withinits formal procedures |
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Ideology |
A coherent set of ideas and beliefs about the world that drives political action, and shapes how you see the world's problems |
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Individual ministerial responsibility |
The constitutional convention that ministers areresponsible, and will be held accountable, for their own, and theirdepartment's, conduct |
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Insider Groups |
Term used for pressure groups that aim topromote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members |
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Intergovernmental relations |
The relationship between different governments,for example, between the UK government and the devolved administrations |
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Judiciary |
The term used to refer to UK courts and thejustices that reside over them |
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Keynesianism |
The theory that economic depressions can beavoided by managing demand, with governments raising capital and investing tostimulate the economy |
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Kitchen cabinet |
Term used to describesmall, informal meetings between the Prime Minister and select ministers,advisors and officials (Blair) |
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Legal justice |
Term to describe all citizens are being treatedequally and fairly under the law - the law is applied fairly and all trials andhearings conducted fairly |
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Legal sovereignty |
The power and authority to make, unmake andimplement laws |
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Legislative devolution |
Post-1999 devolution, in which legislativepowers are transferred to new regional parliaments and assemblies, but centralgovernment retains sovereignty |
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Legitimacy |
The term used to describe the extent to which astate or its government can be considered to have the right to exercise power |
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Leveson Inquiry |
Inquiry into the behaviour of the British pressfollowing the revelations of the News of the World’s phone hacking scandal |
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Liaison committee |
Committee that includes the chairs of all selectcommittees and questions the prime minister on public policy twice a year
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Liberal democracy |
A form of representative democracy characterisedby protected individual rights and freedoms, the rule of law, and a governmentlimited by a constitution |
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Liberalism |
An ideology that stresses individual freedom,reason, tolerance, equality of opportunity, and government by consent, limitedby a constitution |
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Life Peers |
Members of the House of Lords who have beenappointed by the Prime Minister, under powers granted by a 1958 Act ofParliament
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Life Tenure |
Where a job is permanently held until retirement, and the post holder cannot be sacked or removed except under specific circumstances |
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Lobbyist |
Someone who, for a fee, attempts to influencegovernment policy and legislation on behalf of another individual or group |
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Majoritarian system |
An electoral system where the winning candidatemust secure an absolute majority of the vote |
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Mandate |
When a party has the authority to carry out itsmanifesto, usually gained by winning an election |
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Manifesto |
The document put forward by a political party,outlining their policy programme at an election |
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Marginal seat |
Term used to describe a constituency in whichthe winner of the last election only narrowly beat the second place candidate |
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Mass Media |
The name given to a collection of media outlets that reach a large audience through a variety of communication methods |
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Meritocracy |
Where positions of power are awarded based ontalent and ability, rather than political views or party affiliation -associated with the civil service |
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Minister of State |
Government ministers who are junior tosecretaries of state, and do not usually sit in the cabinet |
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Minority government |
A government formed by a party that lacks amajority of seats |
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Modern / New Liberalism |
The form of liberalism that focuses on positiveliberty - the freedom to choose from a wide range of opportunities and realiseyour potential |
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Motion of No Confidence |
A parliamentary motion, which, if passed,requires the government to resign, parliament to be dissolved, and a generalelection to be held |
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Multi-level governance |
Where decision making powers are divided across supranational, national and subnational institutions |
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Nationalism |
An ideology that stresses the need for peoplewho share territory, history and culture, to be able to govern themselves, asan independent state |
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Nationalisation |
The term used to describe the state takingownership of, and managing, a privately owned service or asset |
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New Labour |
Name given to the leadership of the Labour Partyin the mid-1990s |
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Non-ministerial departments |
Government departments that do not have theirown minister, and are instead usually headed by a statutory board, e.g. FoodStandards Agency, OFSTED |
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One-Nation |
A paternalistic form of conservatism that accepts greater stateintervention in order to overcome wealth divisions and protect the organicsociety |
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Open Government |
The idea that the working of government shouldbe made more transparent, and easier for parliament and the public to see andscrutinise |
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Opinion polls
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Surveys conducted prior to an election askingpeople who they intend to vote for |
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Opposition days |
20 days, allocated per session in the House ofCommons, for the discussion of subjects chosen by opposition parties |
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Outsider groups |
Pressure groups that are unable or unwilling towork with the government or Parliament, and focus their efforts on influencingpublic opinion |
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Parliament Act (1911) |
Landmark Act that removed the right of the Lords to veto money bills,and limited their ability to block other bills to just 2 years |
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Parliament Act (1949) |
Landmark Act that reduced the House of Lords'power to block bills from the House of Commons from 2 years to 1 year |
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Parliament |
An elected assembly, responsible for passinglegislation and granting the government the right to levy taxation |
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Parliamentary democracy |
A representative democracy where the electedparliament holds all political authority and where the government is drawn fromparliament |
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Parliamentary government |
A political system where the government is drawnfrom, and held accountable to, Parliament |
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Parliamentary rebellion |
Where MPs vote against the party whip |
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Parliamentary scrutiny |
Where MPs examine, and potentially challenge,the expenditure, administration and policies of the government |
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Parliamentary sovereignty |
The constitutional principle that Parliament hassupreme legal authority, able to make or unmake any law, and unable to bind anyfuture Parliament |
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Participation crisis |
Where political engagement is so poor that itthreatens to undermine democracy |
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Partisan alignment |
Where voters strongly identify with a party andloyally support them in multiple elections |
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Partisan dealignment |
The term used to refer to the breakdown in thestrong links that once saw voters loyally voting for the same party electionafter election |
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Party system |
The term used to describe the number ofcompeting parties that have a realistic chance of gaining power, usuallyinfluenced by the electoral system |
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Party whips |
MPs for Members of the House of Lords appointedto enforce discipline within the party, ensuring that members vote the waytheir party wants |
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Patronage |
The power to appoint individuals to, and dismissthem from, important political positions |
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Pluralism |
A view that power is, or should be, fragmentedand dispersed. Open competition creates a degree of balance, preventing theemergence of a powerful elite |
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Pluralist democracy |
A democracy in which power is fragmented and dispersed.There is open and fair competition between pressure groups, with equalopportunity to influence |
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Political apathy |
When the public has a lack of emotion, interestor concern about politics, leading to lower participation and engagement |
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Political participation |
The term used to describe any action (formal orinformal) taken by citizens to influence the outcome of a political issue |
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Political Party |
An organisation of people with similar politicalviews, who aim to gain political power by winning elections and forming agovernment |
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Political sovereignty |
The location of real, exercisable, power andinfluence within the state, influenced by the accountability of Parliament tothe people |
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Poll Tax |
Commonly used name for the 1990 'Community Charge',a new local tax that charged everyone the same rate, regardless of the size orvalue of their home |
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Popular sovereignty |
The principle that government is created by, andsubject to the will of, the people, who are the source of all political powerand authority |
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Post-war Consensus |
Term used by historians to describe the period of broad consensus on themixed economy, welfare state, and Keynesian economics |
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Potential insiders |
Pressure groups that are working to becomeinsiders groups, and just lack sufficient support and experience |
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Presidential democracy |
Where the head of government is also the head ofstate, and is directly elected to lead an executive branch that is separatefrom the legislature |
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Presidentialism |
When a prime minister is seen as the mainspokesperson for the government, with their own source of advice and appearanceof separate authority |
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Pressure group |
A group of like minded individuals who seek to influence the public and/or government policy and legislation for a particular cause or concern |
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Primary legislative powers |
The power to make new laws in the policy areasthat have been devolved from the UK Parliament |
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PM |
The head of the UK Government, who is 'primusinter pares' (first among equals) in the Cabinet |
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PM Office |
Senior civil servants and special advisers,based at 10 Downing Street, who give policy advice and support withcommunications |
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Prime Ministerial Cabinet |
A system of government where the prime minister,rather than the cabinet, dominates policy making and the operation of thegovernment (Blair) |
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Private Member's Bill |
Bills introduced by backbench MPs or members ofthe House of Lords, rather than by government ministers |
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Privitisation |
Policy pursued by Margaret Thatcher to sellgovernment/ publicly owned assets with the aim of increasing competition,service, and efficiency |
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Proportional Systems |
Electoral systems where the number of seats thata party wins closely matches their share of the vote |
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Protest Voting |
Where voters spoil their ballot paper, submit ablank vote, or vote for a fringe/ ineligible candidate to express theirpolitical dissatisfaction
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Rational Choice Model |
The voting model that argues that voters make aconscious, self-interested choice between the parties, based on a variety ofshort-term factors
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Referendum |
A mechanism that allows the electorate to choosebetween alternative courses of action on a particular issue |
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Representative democracy |
A political system where key political decisionsare taken by elected individuals, on behalf of the people |
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Responsible government |
A government that is accountable for its actionsand policies, and is made to justify its decisions to Parliament (in the UK)
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Royal Assent |
The monarch's approval that is necessary for a Bill to become an Act of Parliament - by convention, approval is always given, and is now a formality |
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Royal prerogative |
Powers once solely exercised by the monarchthat, by convention, are now used by, or on the advice of, the prime ministerand other government ministers |
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Rule of law |
the legal principle that all people,including the government, are subject to and accountable to the law, whichshould be fairly applied and enforced |
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Safe seat |
A constituency in which a particular party hassuch strong support that they are almost guaranteed victory |
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Salient issues |
The political issues that voters consider to bethe most important in an election. For example, the economy, healthcare andcrime |
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Salisbury convention |
The constitutional convention under which theHouse of Lords should not delay government bills that were included in theparty’s election manifesto |
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Scotland Act (2012) |
Act devolving: power to alter income tax by 10pin the £, stamp duty and landfill tax; powers over drugs, driving, and guns;power to borrow money |
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Scotland Act (2016) |
Act that devolves income tax rates and bands,air passenger duty, abortion law, welfare and asserts the permanence of theScottish Government and Parliament |
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Secretary of State |
Title usually held by Cabinet Ministers incharge of Government Departments |
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Sectional / interest groups |
The term used for pressure groups that aim toprotect the interests of their members - membership of these groups is usuallyexclusive |
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Select committees |
Permanent committees scrutinise the government and hold ministers accountable forspending, policies and administration |
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Separation of powers |
A system of government that splits power intodifferent branches, preventing too much power being held by only a few people |
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Shadow Cabinet |
Frontbench MPs selected by the leader of theofficial opposition party in the Commons, that presents itself as analternative government-in-waiting |
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Simple plurality system |
An electoral system where the winner only needs a one more vote than the second placed candidate to win |
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STV |
The electoral system used for Northern IrelandAssembly and Scottish local elections |
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Social movement |
Informal networks of people and organisationswho support broadly similar goals that can often initially be seen as radical |
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Socialism |
An ideology that believes in creating an equal,classless society, arguing that humans are social creatures who can achievemore working collectively |
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Sofa government |
Term associated with Tony Blair, who was said to prefer to discuss issues with individual minsters in No. 10 rather than hold full Cabinet meetings |
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Spatial leadership |
Theory that some prime ministers seek to putdistance between themselves and their party to gain public support |
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Spatial model |
The theory that voters will support parties withpolicies that are closest in proximity to their own political positions |
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Speaker of the House of Commons |
MP elected by fellow MPs to impartially chairdebates, keep order and call MPs to speak in the Commons chamber. John BercowMP. |
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Special advisers |
Temporary and partisan appointments, made byministers, with the approval of the prime minister, to work alongside, assistand advise them |
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Specialist insiders |
Pressure groups that tend to be consulted onparticular issues where their expertise is required |
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Spin doctor |
A special adviser employed to give positive interpretationsof events to the media, and promote a positive party image |
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Strong government |
Term commonly used to describe a government thatdominates legislature and take decisive action, implementing policies withoutexcessive obstruction |
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SV |
An electoral system where voters pick twooptions on the ballot, stating their first and second choice only |
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Swing |
Term used to describe the movement of votersfrom one party to another |
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Tactical voting |
When voters decide to vote for their second choice candidate, as theirfirst choice has little chance of defeating their least preferred candidate |
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Tariffs |
Taxes placed on imported goods that can help make domestic goods morecompetitive on price |
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Thatcherism |
A more ideological form of conservatism that combines classicallyliberal economic policies with traditionally conservative social policies |
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The Cabinet Manual |
A document created for the Civil Service in 2011 that usefully codifies and explains of the unwritten conventions and rules of government |
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The Cabinet |
Name for the most senior ministers, who discuss and make key decisions,alongside the Prime Minister, at the very top of the government hierarchy |
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The Jenkins Commission |
The 1997 commission established to investigate alternatives toFirst-Past-The-Post |
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The Quad |
Term used to refer to meetings of the PM, Deputy PM, Chancellor andChief Secretary to the Treasury during the 2010-15 coalition government |
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The Third Way |
Terms often used to refer to New Labour's attempt to combine socialistsocial justice and Thatcherite economic efficiency |
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Trustee model |
Model of representation proposed by Edmund Burke MP, stating than an MP,once elected, should freely use their own judgement when voting on issues |
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Turnout |
The proportion of the registered electorate who vote in a given election |
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Tyranny of the majority |
The concern that, in a majoritarian democracy, the interests of themajority will inevitably be considered above the interests of the minority |
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Tyranny of the minority |
The concern that self-interested minority groups can pressure thegovernment to put their needs above the national interest |
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Uncodified constitution |
Where the laws, rules and principles of a state are not collected in asingle document, and have a number of different sources |
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Unitary constitution |
When sovereignty is concentrated in a central government that candistribute power to regional and local governments, but can ultimately overrulethem |
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Unitary state |
A state where the central government is supreme, with ultimate authorityover any subnational institutions it chooses to devolve powers to |
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Wales Act (2014) |
Act that devolved stamp duty, business rates, and landfill tax to Wales,and allowed for a referendum to be held on whether to devolve income tax |
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West-Lothian Question |
Question raised during devolution debates of whether MPs from N.Ireland, Scotland and Wales, should be able to vote on matters only affectingEngland |
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Westminster model |
Form of government, associated with the UK, in which Parliament issovereign, the executive and legislative branches are fused, and power iscentralised |