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205 Cards in this Set

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Absolute monarchy

A form of government where the monarch wields unrestricted political power

Abstention

Term used to refer to the act of not voting in an election

Accountability

In a Parliamentary government, this is theprinciple that ministers have an obligation to explain or justify their actionsto Parliament

AMS

The electoral system used in elections for theScottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Greater London Assembly

Adversary Politics

Where there is great ideological conflict between the major political parties, with little agreement over particular political issues

AV+

An electoral system that has never been used inthe UK, but was devised and recommended by the 1997 Commission investigatingalternatives to FPTP

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

Asymmetrical devolution

Where the devolution of powers from central tosubnational governments is not uniform, and the powers devolved vary fromregion to region

Authoritative works

Name given to texts written by constitutionaltheorists that have no legal authority but are considered indispensable guidesto the UK Constitution

Backbench Business Committee

Created in 2010, this committee is allocated 35days in each session of Parliament, for scheduling debates on subjectssuggested by backbench MPs

Bandwagon effect

When voters chose to vote for the party that isleading in the polls

Barnett formula

This formula, based largely on population sizes,adjusts spending grants for Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland to reflect spendingchanges in England

Bicameralism

Term for legislatures that are divided into twochambers or houses - e.g. Parliament is divided into the House of Commons andHouse of Lords

Bilateral meetings

Meetings between two people, usually used to refer to meetings between the prime minister and a particular government minister

Bill of Rights (1689)

This transferred constitutional supremacy fromthe monarchy to Parliament, establishing the concept of Parliamentarysovereignty

Boomerang effect

When voters sympathise with, and decide to vote for, a party that is not performing well in the polls

Bureaucracy

A term meaning 'rule by officials', often usedto refer to the civil servants who implement government policy

Cabinet government

A system of government where the cabinet is the central collective decision making body of government

Cabinet reshuffle

The term used when the prime minister changesthe composition of ministers in the cabinet

Cabinet Secretary

The most senior civil servant in the country -provides policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Catch-all Parties

Political parties that attempt to have broadideological appeal to attract a wide membership and many centrist floatingvoters

Cause Groups

Term used for pressure groups that aim topromote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members

Centralisation

Where central government takes over some of thefunctions of local authorities, limiting the financial and political decisionsthey can make

Checks and balances

Where each branch of government can limit thepowers of the others, preventing a single branch from becoming too powerful

Civil liberties

The basic rights and freedoms that citizensbenefit from under the law, protecting citizens from arbitrary governmentintrusion into their lives

Civil servants

Permanent staff, employed by governmentdepartments to support ministers with administrative work and provide neutraladvice and expertise

Civil service neutrality

The constitutional principle that civil servants must give advice and expertise that is free from ideological judgement or political views

Classic Liberalism

The form of liberalism that focuses on negativeliberty - the freedom from intrusion and obstruction from others

Clause Four

Controversial clause of the Labour Partyconstitution that originally called for "the common ownership of the meansof production"

Clicktivism

Derisive term used to describe political actionon social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement orawareness

Closed party list

The electoral system used for EuropeanParliament elections in England, Scotland and Wales

Codified constitution

A constitution that is collected and written ona single document

Collective responsibility

Convention that ministers must publicly supportCabinet decisions or resign, and that all ministers should resign following avote of no confidence

Common law

The body of law that is based on custom, usage,and judicial decisions made in legal cases over time

Compulsory voting

An enforceable system where voter turnout isincreased by fining those who do not vote

Consensus politics

Where there is widespread agreement between themajor political parties on particular issues, rather than strong ideologicalconflict (Blair/Cameron)

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.

Constituency

A geographical territory that elects a member torepresent it in a legislative body

Constitutionalism

The belief that the power of the governmentshould be derived from, and limited by, fundamental laws

Conventions

Informal rules and customs that are not legallyenforceable but are widely respected and considered to be a fundamental part ofthe UK Constitution

Core insiders

Pressure groups that work closely and regularlywith the government across a broad range of issues

Corporatism

Broad term used when governments work closelywith pressure group elites, particularly business groups, to make importantdecisions without the voters

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

Delegate Representation model

Model of representation that states that MPsshould act on the instructions of their constituentsaccountability to citizens and nationalparliaments

Devolution

The transfer of certain political powers from central government, to subnational governments, which remain subordinate and do not share sovereignty

Differential turnout

Term used to refer to the varying levels ofelectoral participation across different regions and social groups

Direct action

The use of violent or non-violent protest toimmediately achieve political or social aims, rather than going throughtraditional, official channels

Direct democracy

A political system where the people themselvesmake key political decisions

Division

A vote in Parliament

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

E-democracy

Online methods of political participation

E-petitions

An online means of triggering a governmentresponse or debate in Parliament

Election

Name given to the competitive process in whichthe electorate vote for select individuals to fill particular posts

Elective dictatorship

Term describing the UK's weak separation ofpowers and the government's dominance in Parliament

Electoral reform

The broad term used for changes to existingelectoral systems that aim to ensure that election results better reflect thewishes of the public

Electorate

The term used to describe the proportion of thepublic that is registered to vote

Elitism

The view that, despite the appearance of opencompetition, power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of powerfulindividuals and groups

Embourgeoisement

The idea that, as working class people becomemore middle class, their political interests and voting behaviour begins tochange

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

Entrenchment

Where the constitutional amendment process ismade purposely difficult - for example, requiring supermajority votes

European Convention on HumanRights

International treaty to protect human rightsacross Europe, enforced by the European Court of Human Rights

Executive agencies

Parts of Government departments that carry outexecutive functions, usually services, with a degree of autonomy fromministers, e.g. UK Border Agency

Executive branch

The branch of government responsible forpolicymaking, and for implementing the laws passed by the legislative branch

Elective Dictatorship

Terms used to describe a parliament dominated bya strong executive, which determines the legislative programme and passesvirtually all of its bills

Exit Polls

Surveys conducted at polling stations onelection day asking people how they just voted

Factionalism

The occurrence of splits within politicalparties, that happen when certain groups hold different views to the mainbeliefs of the party

Factortame case

1991 landmark case in which the High Court setaside the Merchant Shipping Act (1988) as it conflicted with EU fisheriesdirectives

Federal constitution

A system of government where sovereignty isdivided between central and regional bodies, each with their own separatespheres of power and authority

Financial devolution

Where devolved parliaments and assemblies are given the power to raise their own taxes, rather than relying upon grants transferred from Parliament

Fixed-term Parliaments Act (2011)

Law that requires elections to be held every 5years, early elections may only be held in special circumstances

Focus Group

A group of people assembled to give theiropinions on a political campaign or idea before it has been launched


Free Votes

A vote in Parliament where MPs and members ofthe Lords are not pressured to vote a certain way by party leaders

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

Fusion of Powers

A feature ofParliamentary democracies where members of the executive branch are alsomembers of the legislative branch

Government

Collective name for frontbench MPs who holdministerial positions

Greater London Authority

Top-tier administrative body for Greater London,consisting of a directly elected Mayor of London, and an elected 25-memberLondon Assembly

Hapathy

When voters abstain from voting because they arecontent with the way things are

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)

Human Rights Act (1999)

Act of Parliament that incorporated the EuropeanConvention on Human Rights into UK law, making it enforceable in UK courts

Hung Parliament

Term used when no single party wins an overallmajority in the House of Commons

Hybrid Systems

Electoral systems that combine elements ofsimple plurality or majoritarian systems, with elements of proportional systems(AV)

Hyperpluralism

Term used when there are so many groupsobjecting to the government's plans that it struggles to function effectively

Ideological outsiders

Pressure groups with radical aims that rejectthe existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working withinits formal procedures

Ideology

A coherent set of ideas and beliefs about the world that drives political action, and shapes how you see the world's problems

Individual ministerial responsibility

The constitutional convention that ministers areresponsible, and will be held accountable, for their own, and theirdepartment's, conduct

Insider Groups

Term used for pressure groups that aim topromote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members

Intergovernmental relations

The relationship between different governments,for example, between the UK government and the devolved administrations

Judiciary

The term used to refer to UK courts and thejustices that reside over them

Keynesianism

The theory that economic depressions can beavoided by managing demand, with governments raising capital and investing tostimulate the economy

Kitchen cabinet

Term used to describesmall, informal meetings between the Prime Minister and select ministers,advisors and officials (Blair)

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

Legal sovereignty

The power and authority to make, unmake andimplement laws

Legislative devolution

Post-1999 devolution, in which legislativepowers are transferred to new regional parliaments and assemblies, but centralgovernment retains sovereignty

Legitimacy

The term used to describe the extent to which astate or its government can be considered to have the right to exercise power

Leveson Inquiry

Inquiry into the behaviour of the British pressfollowing the revelations of the News of the World’s phone hacking scandal

Liaison committee

Committee that includes the chairs of all selectcommittees and questions the prime minister on public policy twice a year

Liberal democracy

A form of representative democracy characterisedby protected individual rights and freedoms, the rule of law, and a governmentlimited by a constitution

Liberalism

An ideology that stresses individual freedom,reason, tolerance, equality of opportunity, and government by consent, limitedby a constitution

Life Peers

Members of the House of Lords who have beenappointed by the Prime Minister, under powers granted by a 1958 Act ofParliament

Life Tenure

Where a job is permanently held until retirement, and the post holder cannot be sacked or removed except under specific circumstances

Lobbyist

Someone who, for a fee, attempts to influencegovernment policy and legislation on behalf of another individual or group

Majoritarian system

An electoral system where the winning candidatemust secure an absolute majority of the vote

Mandate

When a party has the authority to carry out itsmanifesto, usually gained by winning an election

Manifesto

The document put forward by a political party,outlining their policy programme at an election

Marginal seat

Term used to describe a constituency in whichthe winner of the last election only narrowly beat the second place candidate

Mass Media

The name given to a collection of media outlets that reach a large audience through a variety of communication methods

Meritocracy

Where positions of power are awarded based ontalent and ability, rather than political views or party affiliation -associated with the civil service

Minister of State

Government ministers who are junior tosecretaries of state, and do not usually sit in the cabinet

Minority government

A government formed by a party that lacks amajority of seats

Modern / New Liberalism

The form of liberalism that focuses on positiveliberty - the freedom to choose from a wide range of opportunities and realiseyour potential

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

Multi-level governance

Where decision making powers are divided across supranational, national and subnational institutions

Nationalism

An ideology that stresses the need for peoplewho share territory, history and culture, to be able to govern themselves, asan independent state

Nationalisation

The term used to describe the state takingownership of, and managing, a privately owned service or asset

New Labour

Name given to the leadership of the Labour Partyin the mid-1990s

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

One-Nation

A paternalistic form of conservatism that accepts greater stateintervention in order to overcome wealth divisions and protect the organicsociety

Open Government

The idea that the working of government shouldbe made more transparent, and easier for parliament and the public to see andscrutinise

Opinion polls

Surveys conducted prior to an election askingpeople who they intend to vote for

Opposition days

20 days, allocated per session in the House ofCommons, for the discussion of subjects chosen by opposition parties

Outsider groups

Pressure groups that are unable or unwilling towork with the government or Parliament, and focus their efforts on influencingpublic opinion

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

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

Parliament

An elected assembly, responsible for passinglegislation and granting the government the right to levy taxation

Parliamentary democracy

A representative democracy where the electedparliament holds all political authority and where the government is drawn fromparliament

Parliamentary government

A political system where the government is drawnfrom, and held accountable to, Parliament

Parliamentary rebellion

Where MPs vote against the party whip

Parliamentary scrutiny

Where MPs examine, and potentially challenge,the expenditure, administration and policies of the government

Parliamentary sovereignty

The constitutional principle that Parliament hassupreme legal authority, able to make or unmake any law, and unable to bind anyfuture Parliament

Participation crisis

Where political engagement is so poor that itthreatens to undermine democracy

Partisan alignment

Where voters strongly identify with a party andloyally support them in multiple elections

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

Party system

The term used to describe the number ofcompeting parties that have a realistic chance of gaining power, usuallyinfluenced by the electoral system

Party whips

MPs for Members of the House of Lords appointedto enforce discipline within the party, ensuring that members vote the waytheir party wants

Patronage

The power to appoint individuals to, and dismissthem from, important political positions

Pluralism

A view that power is, or should be, fragmentedand dispersed. Open competition creates a degree of balance, preventing theemergence of a powerful elite

Pluralist democracy

A democracy in which power is fragmented and dispersed.There is open and fair competition between pressure groups, with equalopportunity to influence

Political apathy

When the public has a lack of emotion, interestor concern about politics, leading to lower participation and engagement

Political participation

The term used to describe any action (formal orinformal) taken by citizens to influence the outcome of a political issue

Political Party

An organisation of people with similar politicalviews, who aim to gain political power by winning elections and forming agovernment

Political sovereignty

The location of real, exercisable, power andinfluence within the state, influenced by the accountability of Parliament tothe people

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

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

Post-war Consensus

Term used by historians to describe the period of broad consensus on themixed economy, welfare state, and Keynesian economics

Potential insiders

Pressure groups that are working to becomeinsiders groups, and just lack sufficient support and experience

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

Presidentialism

When a prime minister is seen as the mainspokesperson for the government, with their own source of advice and appearanceof separate authority

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

Primary legislative powers

The power to make new laws in the policy areasthat have been devolved from the UK Parliament

PM

The head of the UK Government, who is 'primusinter pares' (first among equals) in the Cabinet

PM Office

Senior civil servants and special advisers,based at 10 Downing Street, who give policy advice and support withcommunications

Prime Ministerial Cabinet

A system of government where the prime minister,rather than the cabinet, dominates policy making and the operation of thegovernment (Blair)

Private Member's Bill

Bills introduced by backbench MPs or members ofthe House of Lords, rather than by government ministers

Privitisation

Policy pursued by Margaret Thatcher to sellgovernment/ publicly owned assets with the aim of increasing competition,service, and efficiency

Proportional Systems

Electoral systems where the number of seats thata party wins closely matches their share of the vote

Protest Voting

Where voters spoil their ballot paper, submit ablank vote, or vote for a fringe/ ineligible candidate to express theirpolitical dissatisfaction

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

Referendum

A mechanism that allows the electorate to choosebetween alternative courses of action on a particular issue

Representative democracy

A political system where key political decisionsare taken by elected individuals, on behalf of the people

Responsible government

A government that is accountable for its actionsand policies, and is made to justify its decisions to Parliament (in the UK)

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

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

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

Safe seat

A constituency in which a particular party hassuch strong support that they are almost guaranteed victory

Salient issues

The political issues that voters consider to bethe most important in an election. For example, the economy, healthcare andcrime

Salisbury convention

The constitutional convention under which theHouse of Lords should not delay government bills that were included in theparty’s election manifesto

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

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

Secretary of State

Title usually held by Cabinet Ministers incharge of Government Departments

Sectional / interest groups

The term used for pressure groups that aim toprotect the interests of their members - membership of these groups is usuallyexclusive

Select committees

Permanent committees scrutinise the government and hold ministers accountable forspending, policies and administration

Separation of powers

A system of government that splits power intodifferent branches, preventing too much power being held by only a few people

Shadow Cabinet

Frontbench MPs selected by the leader of theofficial opposition party in the Commons, that presents itself as analternative government-in-waiting

Simple plurality system

An electoral system where the winner only needs a one more vote than the second placed candidate to win

STV

The electoral system used for Northern IrelandAssembly and Scottish local elections

Social movement

Informal networks of people and organisationswho support broadly similar goals that can often initially be seen as radical

Socialism

An ideology that believes in creating an equal,classless society, arguing that humans are social creatures who can achievemore working collectively

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

Spatial leadership

Theory that some prime ministers seek to putdistance between themselves and their party to gain public support

Spatial model

The theory that voters will support parties withpolicies that are closest in proximity to their own political positions

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.

Special advisers

Temporary and partisan appointments, made byministers, with the approval of the prime minister, to work alongside, assistand advise them

Specialist insiders

Pressure groups that tend to be consulted onparticular issues where their expertise is required

Spin doctor

A special adviser employed to give positive interpretationsof events to the media, and promote a positive party image

Strong government

Term commonly used to describe a government thatdominates legislature and take decisive action, implementing policies withoutexcessive obstruction

SV

An electoral system where voters pick twooptions on the ballot, stating their first and second choice only

Swing

Term used to describe the movement of votersfrom one party to another

Tactical voting

When voters decide to vote for their second choice candidate, as theirfirst choice has little chance of defeating their least preferred candidate

Tariffs

Taxes placed on imported goods that can help make domestic goods morecompetitive on price

Thatcherism

A more ideological form of conservatism that combines classicallyliberal economic policies with traditionally conservative social policies

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

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

The Jenkins Commission

The 1997 commission established to investigate alternatives toFirst-Past-The-Post

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

The Third Way

Terms often used to refer to New Labour's attempt to combine socialistsocial justice and Thatcherite economic efficiency

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

Turnout

The proportion of the registered electorate who vote in a given election

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

Tyranny of the minority

The concern that self-interested minority groups can pressure thegovernment to put their needs above the national interest

Uncodified constitution

Where the laws, rules and principles of a state are not collected in asingle document, and have a number of different sources

Unitary constitution

When sovereignty is concentrated in a central government that candistribute power to regional and local governments, but can ultimately overrulethem

Unitary state

A state where the central government is supreme, with ultimate authorityover any subnational institutions it chooses to devolve powers to

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

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

Westminster model

Form of government, associated with the UK, in which Parliament issovereign, the executive and legislative branches are fused, and power iscentralised