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Key words Flashcards

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1
Q

Absolute Monarchy

A

A form of government where the monarch wields unrestricted political power

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2
Q

Abstention

A

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

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3
Q

Access Point

A

Term used for the various people and places that pressure groups target to apply pressure for their desired changes

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4
Q

Accountability

A

In a Parliamentary government, this is the principle that ministers have an obligation to explain or justify their actions to Parliament

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5
Q

Additional member system

A

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

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6
Q

Administrative devolution

A

Pre-1999 form of devolution, in which power was centralised, but Scottish and Welsh Offices managed many domestic policy areas in Scotland and Wales

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7
Q

Adversary politics

A

A means of increasing female representation in Parliament by requiring constituency parties to choose between exclusively female candidates

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8
Q

Alternative vote +

A

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

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9
Q

Alternative vote

A

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

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10
Q

Authoritative works

A

Name given to texts written by constitutional theorists that have no legal authority but are considered indispensable guides to the UK Constitution

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11
Q

Authority

A

Someone’s widely recognised right to exercise power

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12
Q

Backbench Business Committee

A

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

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13
Q

Backbench MPs

A

MPs that do not hold a ministerial, or shadow ministerial, position

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14
Q

Ballot Bills

A

A type of private members’ bill - the names of 20 MPs are drawn at the start of each parliamentary year, and given priority to timetable their bill

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15
Q

Bandwagon effect

A

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

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16
Q

Bicameralism

A

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

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17
Q

Bilateral meetings

A

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

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18
Q

Bill of Rights (1689)

A

This transferred constitutional supremacy from the monarchy to Parliament, establishing the concept of Parliamentary sovereignty

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19
Q

Boomerang effect

A

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

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20
Q

Bureaucracy

A

A term meaning ‘rule by officials’, often used to refer to the civil servants who implement government policy

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21
Q

By-elections

A

Elections to fill positions that become vacant before the next general election is due to be held

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22
Q

Cabinet committees

A

Small groups of cabinet ministers, established by the Prime Minister, which meet regularly to discuss a particular policy area and make decisions

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23
Q

Cabinet government

A

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

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24
Q

Cabinet Office

A

Government department, with over 2,000 civil servants, responsible for supporting the Prime Minister, Deputy PM, Cabinet and Cabinet Committees

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25
Cabinet reshuffle
The term used when the prime minister changes the composition of ministers in the cabinet
26
Cabinet Secretary
The most senior civil servant in the country - provides policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet
27
Catch-all parties
Term used for pressure groups that aim to promote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the group’s members
28
Centralisation
Where central government takes over some of the functions of local authorities, limiting the financial and political decisions they can make
29
Checks and balances
Where each branch of government can limit the powers of the others, preventing a single branch from becoming too powerful
30
Cheque book members
The basic rights and freedoms that citizens benefit from under the law, protecting citizens from arbitrary government intrusion into their lives
31
Civil rights
The basic rights to be free from unequal treatment or discrimination based on certain protected characteristics (like gender, race, disability etc)
32
Civil servants
Permanent staff, employed by government departments to support ministers with administrative work and provide neutral advice and expertise
33
Civil service anonymity
Feature of the civil service that means they are not often seen in the public limelight, as ministers will defend the department's policies in public
34
Civil service confidentiality
Feature of the civil service that means that the advice given to ministers is private, and that civil servants must sign the Official Secrets Act
35
Civil service neutrality
The constitutional principle that civil servants must give advice and expertise that is free from ideological judgement or political views
36
Civil service permanence
Feature of the civil service that means that, unlike government ministers, civil servants do not change with a change of government
37
Class dealignment
The term that refers to the increasing breakdown of the link between class and voting behaviour
38
Classic Liberalism
The form of liberalism that focuses on negative liberty - the freedom from intrusion and obstruction from others
39
Clause Four
Derisive term used to describe political action on social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement or awareness
40
Co-decision
A legislative procedure introduced by the 1992 Maastricht Treaty - requires the Council of the EU and European Parliament to approve new legislation
41
Co-operation
A legislative procedure, repealed by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, which allowed the Council of the EU to overrule the EU Parliament with a unanimous vote
42
Codified constitution
A constitution that is collected and written on a single document
43
Collective responsibility
Convention that ministers must publicly support Cabinet decisions or resign, and that all ministers should resign following a vote of no confidence
44
Common law
The body of law that is based on custom, usage, and judicial decisions made in legal cases over time
45
Compulsory voting
An enforceable system where voter turnout is increased by fining those who do not vote
46
Consensus politics
Where there is widespread agreement between the major political parties on particular issues, rather than strong ideological conflict
47
Consent
A non-legislative procedure where the European Parliament holds a simple majority vote - used to approve new member states and international agreements
48
Conservatism
More of a state of mind than an ideology, this term refers to those who largely believe in tradition, order, hierarchy, authority, and property etc.
49
Constituency
A geographical territory that elects a member to represent it in a legislative body
50
Constitution
The name given to the fundamental rules outlining how a state is to be governed
51
Constitutional monarchy
Act that enhanced judicial independence by establishing a Supreme Court, and reforming the appointments process and role of the Lord Chancellor
52
Constitutionalism
The belief that the power of the government should be derived from, and limited by, fundamental laws
53
Consultation (EU)
A legislative procedure where the Council is not legally obliged to take into account the European Parliament's opinion - used less often since 1986
54
Consultation (UK)
Where the government invites pressure groups to submit responses to proposed legislation, possibly after publishing a white or green paper
55
Conventions
Informal rules and customs that are not legally enforceable but are widely respected and considered to be a fundamental part of the UK Constitution
56
Core executive
The theory that power within the executive is dispersed across a network of key individuals, offices, departments and agencies, relying on cooperation
57
Core insiders
Pressure groups that work closely and regularly with the government across a broad range of issues
58
Corporatism
Broad term used when governments work closely with pressure group elites, particularly business groups, to make important decisions without the voters
59
Council of the European Union
Part of the EU's bicameral legislature - meets in 10 different 'configurations' for different policy areas - attended by relevant national ministers
60
Council tax
A local tax funding local authorities introduced in 1993, which is based upon property value, with higher taxes paid on more valuable properties
61
County councils
Top level in a two-tier authority, responsible for education, transport, planning, fire and public safety, social services, libraries, waste management
62
D’Hondt method
A mathematic formula used in proportional systems that divides the number of votes each party has, by the number of seats they have already won, + 1
63
Declaration of incompatibility
The Human Rights Act allows judges to issue a declaration of incompatibility when laws do not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights
64
Deepened integration
A form of EU integration in which member states to agree to greater political and economic union
65
Delegate model
Model of representation that states that MPs should act on the instructions of their constituents
66
Democratic deficit
The argument that as few EU decision makers are elected, there is insufficient accountability to citizens and national parliaments
67
Democratic socialists
Those who argue that capitalism must be abolished and private property must be replaced by new systems of common ownership
68
Descriptive representation
The idea that legislatures should contain a diverse range of representatives, who reflect the varying social characteristics and groups of the people
69
Devolution
The transfer of certain political powers from central government, to subnational governments, which remain subordinate and do not share sovereignty
70
Differential turnout
Term used to refer to the varying levels of electoral participation across different regions and social groups
71
Direct action
The use of violent or non-violent protest to immediately achieve political or social aims, rather than going through traditional, official channels
72
Direct democracy
A political system where the people themselves make key political decisions
73
Directives
A form of EU law that sets out particular aims, but gives EU member states the flexibility to pass their own laws that will achieve these goals
74
Directly elected mayors
A reform first introduced in London in 2000, and since adopted by other local authorities, to create a directly elected executive to lead the council `
75
Disapply the law
Action taken by the Supreme Court if it finds a UK law to conflict with EU law
76
District councils
Lower level in a two-tier authority, responsible for rubbish collection, recycling, council tax collection, housing, planning applications
77
Division
A vote in Parliament
78
Doctrine of direct effect
The principle that EU law does not need the approval of Parliament
79
Doctrine of Supremacy
Doctrine that all EU laws are supreme over conflicting UK laws
80
Dominant ideology model
This model argues that voters are influenced by the ideology of powerful and wealthy elites, who shape the national debate, particularly in the media
81
Double majority rule
Qualified majority rule introduced in the Council in 2014 - a majority requires 55% of member states, representing at least 65% of the EU population

Politics (4 decks)

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