Definitions (Ch 1+2)

Question 1

Politics

Answer 1

Achieving and exercising positions of power

Question 2

Power

Answer 2

The ability to do something

Question 3

Authority

Answer 3

The right to take a course of action

Question 4

Democracy

Answer 4

People get a say in decisions that are made

Question 5

Representative Democracy

Answer 5

Citizens elect representatives to formulate legislation on their behalf

Question 6

Liberal Democracy

Answer 6

Free and fair elections, with a belief in key rights and responsibilities

Question 7

Totalitarian Democracy

Answer 7

Citizens can vote, but only for candidates within the ruling party

Question 8

Majoritarian Democracy

Answer 8

Government is based on the views of the majority

Question 9

Consensual Democracy

Answer 9

Conscious effort to include all groups - especially minorities

Question 10

Parliamentary Democracy

Answer 10

Executive is drawn from, and is accountable for, legislature

Question 11

Consultative Democracy

Answer 11

A traditional representative democracy that incorporates elements of direct democracy (referendums, initiatives)

Question 12

Pluralist Democray

Answer 12

Encourages participation, with free and fair elections

Question 13

Direct Democracy

Answer 13

Everybody can vote in every decision

Question 14

Referendum

Answer 14

A vote by the electorate on a single (important) issue that is posed to them by the government

Question 15

Initiative

Answer 15

A vote by the electorate on a single issue that they bring forward to the government

Question 16

Political Participation

Answer 16

Any activity that shapes, affects, or involves the political sphere

Question 17

Electoral Participation

Answer 17

Participation by voting in elections and referendums

Question 18

Non-electoral Participation

Answer 18

Any participation that doesn’t include voting (canvassing, protest, staffing campaign offices)

Question 19

Canvassing

Answer 19

Travelling door-to-door to win political support

Question 20

Turnout

Answer 20

The percentage of the electorate who vote in an election

Question 21

E-Democracy

Answer 21

Using computers, smartphones and media to aid voting process

Question 22

Citizen’s Jury

Answer 22

A panel of citizens who deliver verdict on potential government policy

Question 23

Election

Answer 23

A competitive process where the electorate vote for individuals to fill roles

Question 24

Mandate

Answer 24

An official order to take a particular course of action from the authoritative power

Question 25

Representation

Answer 25

The process by which an individual(s) acts on behalf of a wider group

Question 26

Delegate

Answer 26

Representative who is bound by clear instructions

Question 27

Trustee

Answer 27

Representative who has responsibility for interests of constituents

Question 28

Constituency

Answer 28

Geographical territory for which representatives are chosen in an election

Question 29

Simple plurality

Answer 29

Most votes wins

Question 30

Proportional representation

Answer 30

Equal translation of votes into seats

Question 31

District magnitude

Answer 31

Number of representatives from each constituency

Question 32

First past the post

Answer 32

Plurality system used for UK general election

Question 33

Supplementary vote

Answer 33

Majoritarian system used to elect mayors

Question 34

Additional member system

Answer 34

A mixed system used for Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly elections

Question 35

Regional list

Answer 35

Proportional system used for European Parliament elections

Question 36

Single transferable vote

Answer 36

Proportional system used for Northern Ireland Assembly elections

Question 37

Wasted vote

Answer 37

A vote that has no impact on result (surplus vote for winning candidate in FPTP or for losing candidate in FPTP)

Question 38

Safe seat

Answer 38

A constituency that usually elects an MP from the same party comfortably

Question 39

Tactical voting

Answer 39

Knowing your preferred candidate won't win, so voting for the one most likely to defeat your least favoured candidate

Question 40

Minority government

Answer 40

Largest party forms a government without majority of seats, relying on support from opposition MPs

Question 41

Social class

Answer 41

A group defined by their social and economic status

Question 42

Partisanship

Answer 42

Having a strong attachment to a single political party

Question 43

Dealignment

Answer 43

Moving away from traditional class and partisan voting tendencies

Question 44

Rational choice model

Answer 44

People vote in pursuit of their own interests

Question 45

Valence issue

Answer 45

An issue which parties broadly agree on. The electorate decide who they trust more to deliver

Question 46

Apathy

Answer 46

Not voting as the individual is content with the status quo