Ap Comp Gov Britain Ids

Front 1

Devolution

Back 1

process of passing power away from central authority

Front 2

David Cameron

Back 2

Conservative leader in election of 2010, formed coalition with Lib Dems to win election and became PM

Front 3

Labour Party

Back 3

conflict between practicality and ideology, called for unilateral disarmament, favored increased benefits for children with no funding, could not maintain power, pushed Clause 4(socialization of healthcare), called for gov to control "Commanding Heights," nationalization of major British owned businesses. New Labour- Tony Blair, Third Way

Front 4

Conservative Party

Back 4

Seen as upper class, seen as natural ruling party, ruled until 1997- John Major lost to Tony Blair, scandals, lack of innovation, Thatcher and Major pushed privatization and deregulation

Front 5

Nick Clegg

Back 5

Ran for Lib Dems in 2010 elections, formed coalition with Conservatives and became Deputy PM, became first Lib Dem to answer for the PM during question hour

Front 6

Monarchy

Back 6

selection-hereditary, head of State, selects PM if no clear choice, power exercised through ministers, greatest power is public opinion, may summon or dissolve Parliament, meets foreign dignitaries

Front 7

Third Way

Back 7

"mutual obligation," devolution, London's devolution, reform the House of Lords, Tony Blair's platform for the New Labour Party

Front 8

Prime Minister

Back 8

king in parliament, head of government, can dismiss ministers, direct foreign affairs, has emergency powers, top of political ladder, majority leader, question hour, number 10 downing street residence and office complex, pass legislation and treaties

Front 9

TUC

Back 9

trade union congress, tied to Labour, interest group, 90% of Britain's blue collar workers are members, directs labour- not individual unions, 95% of campaign contributions go to labour, used strikes in 1970s to lead to the downfall of conservative govs

Front 10

gradualism

Back 10

political change comes about slowly, also called evolutionary

Front 11

privatization

Back 11

transfer of business from public to private- government to private ownership, increased under Tony Blair, supported by Thatcher

Front 12

Party Discipline

Back 12

vote of no confidence, the government can be changed

Front 13

Frontbenchers

Back 13

more respected, older members of Parliament- more experience, sit at the front

Front 14

Cabinet

Back 14

part of British gov along with the PM, majority and shadow cabinet, not a legal body, based on need and understanding, members may be drawn from both houses, initiates, controls, and implements legislation, monarch is excluded from discussions, collective responsibility, cabinet is censored for 30 years

Front 15

Backbenchers

Back 15

more junior members of parliament, more likely to say stupid stuff, sit further back

Front 16

CBI

Back 16

interest group, confederation of business industry, 150+ national employees, formed 1965, "voice of british business," has more power as a financial institution, leadership is linked to the Conservative Party

Front 17

Thatcherism

Back 17

traditional values, self-reliance, consumer choice, reduced government involvement, strong defense, free market, strong supporter of the US, supported privatization

Front 18

Alliance

Back 18

2010 coalition between Conservatives and Lib Dems, 1988 merging of Social Democrats with Liberal Party to create Lib Dems

Front 19

Multi-Party System

Back 19

multiple parties, though there are 2 main parties

Front 20

Unwritten Constitution

Back 20

no official document for British Constitution, conventions- accepted practices/customs

Front 21

White Paper

Back 21

official government report

Front 22

Liberal Democrats

Back 22

social justice, social liberties, welfare state, decentralization of power, similar to US libertarians, socially liberal and economically conservative, liberal party merged with social democrats in 1988

Front 23

Northern Ireland

Back 23

aka Ulster, Protestants more numerous than Catholics, Irish Republican Army are terrorists that want to rejoin the Republic of Ireland, administrative capital is Belfast, 18 MPs, Good Friday agreement 1998- power sharing between Catholics and Protestants, N Ireland assembly has 108 members

Front 24

Whitehall

Back 24

where all the ministries are located, civil service

Front 25

collective responsibility

Back 25

in Cabinet, members of the Cabinet must support all gov decisions publicly, vote of no confidence causes the whole government to step down because they are all responsible

Front 26

first-past-the-post

Back 26

single member districts, winner take all, whoever gets the most votes wins, majority not necessary, plurality of votes, more centered- less ideological