Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Citizenship

A

Being a citizen of a country and being vested with the right and responsibilities of that state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Common law

A

Law made by the decisions of judges over the years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Criminal law

A

Law which deals with individuals who break the law, and which punishes offenders because they have broken laws that parliament has stated we must all obey

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Democracy

A

A system of government, where citizens are able to vote in regular and fair elections for representatives, who will make laws and decisions on their behalf

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Executive

A

The branch of the government, which is responsible for putting laws or decisions into effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

EU (European Union)

A

An economic and political union between a number of European countries, who work closely together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

First past the post

A

The voting system used in the UK to elect members of some local councils and members of parliament, whereby the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Coalition

A

An agreement between political parties to form a government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Direct democracy

A

Where the people decide on the policy directly, for example through a vote or referendum on each issue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

General election

A

When the citizens of a country vote to elect a new government. A general election in the UK usually happens once every 5 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Government

A

The individuals who have been elected to run the state, led by the prime minister (PM) in the uk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Houses of commons

A

An elected body currently consisting of 650 members of parliament. It is the lower house of parliament and meets in the Palace of Westminster

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Houses of lords

A

The upper house of parliament, meeting in the Palace of Westminster. It comprises of life peers and hereditary peers, who scrutinise the bills approved by the House of Commons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Human rights

A

Basic rights and freedoms which all people are entitled to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Interest group

A

An organisation which tries to influence the government to adopt certain policies on a particular issue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Judiciary

A

Branch of the state that is responsible for enforcing the law. It comprises judges and other legal officials.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Juries

A

A group of local people who are chosen randomly to make a decision in a legal case.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Legislature

A

The law making body of the state ie the Parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Lobbying

A

A person or group of people meeting or taking action (eg writing letters, demonstrating, petitioning) to try to persuade a politician to take up their cause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Local government

A

A system of government that operates at a local level providing services to its community.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

LOCALISM

A

When people in a particular local area are able to make decisions about policies which affect their local area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Media = a means of communication

A

Mass media: television, radio, printed media which can reach a large number of people.
New media: the internet and social media

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Migration

A

The movement of people between different countries

24
Q

Monarchy

A

A form of government in which a king or queen reigns as the head of a state. The UK is a constitutional monarchy.

25
Q

Multiple identities

A

When an individual is able to assume a range of different identities. These identities may clash

26
Q

Multiculturalism

A

The co-existence of different ethnic races, cultures or religions

27
Q

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)

A

An international military defence organisation comprising of different club who work together to try and settle disputes amongst nations

28
Q

NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)

A

A non-profit, voluntary group of citizens who work on a local, national or international level to achieve an aim. They are not controlled by a government, but will often work closely with them. An example of an NGO is save the the children

29
Q

Parliament

A

The institution of government in the UK. It comprises of three parts parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch.

30
Q

Petition

A

A formal, written request, usually signed by many people, which appeals to the authorities to bring change in regard to a particular issue

31
Q

Petition

A

A formal, written request, usually signed by many people, which appeals to the authorities to bring about change in regard to a particular issue

32
Q

Police

A

An official state organisation which is responsible for maintaining public order by preventing and detecting crime

33
Q

Pressure group

A

An organised group of people who take action together to try to bring about change regarding a specific issue.

34
Q

Prime Minister (PM)

A

The head of a government

35
Q

Public spending

A

The money spent by the state

36
Q

Referendum

A

A general vote by the electorate on a single issue which has been referred to them for a direct decision. It is a form of direct democracy.

37
Q

Responsibilities

A

A duty that we are expected to do as a citizen of a country

38
Q

Rights

A

A right is something we are entitled to by law

39
Q

Sentencing

A

The process of giving a punishment to a person guilty in a court case.

40
Q

Society

A

The people living together in an ordered community.

41
Q

Taxation

A

The way in which the government finances some of its spending by imposing charges on citizens and corporations

42
Q

Trade unions

A

A group of workers in the same trade or profession who have joined together to protect their rights.

43
Q

UN (United Nations)

A

An international organisation comprising of most countries in the world which aims to promote peace, security and international cooperation. The UK is a permanent member of the security council with the ability to veto any decisions

44
Q

Volunteering

A

When one person gives their own time to help others without being paid.

45
Q

Voter apathy

A

When a lot of people decide not to vote in an election

46
Q

WTO (World Trade Organisation)

A

An international organisation which deals with the global rules of trade between nations.

47
Q

Active citizen

A

Someone with the knowledge, skills and understanding to participate fully in society and the ability to bring about change.

48
Q

How can you be an active citizen?

A

Formal action = joining political parties, participating in votes, running for election
Informal action = supporting campaigns, participating in protests and demonstrations

49
Q

How can citizens bring about change?

A

.Join a pressure group and help them to campaign for change

.join a political party and help them campaign to gain power (this could be at local level if or national level)

.stand for election either for a political party

.campaign sign a petition, go on a march, write letters

.Lobby for example meet with your local MP to persuade them to take action on a cause you are campaigning about

50
Q

Direct action

A

Campaigning which includes nonviolent or violent activities which target people, groups or property which are often seen as offensive to the protester

51
Q

Indirect action

A

Campaigning that can include support for a group signing petitions lobbying on behalf of a pressure group

52
Q

Ways of taking action

A

LOBBYING: a person or group of people meeting or taking action to try and persuade a politician to take up their cause

PETITION: a formal, written request, usually signed by many people, which appeals to the authorities to bring about change in regard to a particular issue

E-PETITION: A online form of collecting signature and names in support of an action. Can collect a large number of names very quickly

CAMPAIGNING: actions or events organised by an individual or a group if people to achieve an aim

DEMONSTRATION: a public meeting or march protesting against a specific issue.

PARTICIPATION: to take part in something.

LEAFLETTING: the distribution of printed materials to raise awareness of an issue or cause

BOYCOTTING: refusing to buy a product or use a companies services as a form of protest against the companies practices

TRADE UNION ACTION: Organisations for workers. Trade unions organise actions, campaigns and lobby on behalf of workers rights and interests

FUNDRAISING: raising money to support a charity or organisation

53
Q

Pressure groups:

A

Groups of citizens who join together to bring about change on an issue they believe is important

Insider group - a pressure group working with those in power eg British medical association (BMA)

Outside group - pressure group which has no real contact with those in power eg fathers4justice

Tactics used by pressure groups:
Petitions, lobbying, boycotts, leaflets, demonstrations eg marches
Social media, celebrity support, media promotion

54
Q

Target group

A

The people/organisations that a pressure group is trying to influence they have the power to bring about change eg local mp

55
Q

What makes a successful campaign

A

.Cause attracts public/media interest
. Lots of people support the cause/belong to the pressure group
.finance available to support cause
.media actively supports cause
.methods used get attention/promote the cause
.status of the group -insider or outsider group

56
Q

Recent campaigns

A

Jamie Oliver’s ‘sugar tax’ campaign -Tv programme on impact of sugar on diet appeared on various Tv programmes to get his message out, set up online petition, lobbied the government. Government has announced plans to introduce a ‘sugar tax’ on sugary drinks in 2018

Junior doctor protest-Junior doctors are currently taking strike action because they disagree with the change in contract the government are forcing on them. Their basic pay would go up BUT extra pay received for unsociable hours is to be removed, as well as guaranteed pay increase given for the length of time in the job