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keywords Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

democracy

A

a system where power is held by ‘the people’

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2
Q

direct democracy

A

a system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue

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3
Q

representative democracy

A

a system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf

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4
Q

constitution

A

a set of principles, which may be unwritten or unwritten establishing distribution of power, limits of government, rights of citizens and rules to amend the constitution itself

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5
Q

the enlightenment

A

a wide ranging philosophical, cultural and scientific movement that took place in 18th century europe

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6
Q

demagogues

A

they were popular and good speakers which won people over

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7
Q

manifesto

A

a list of promises a party make and say they will do

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8
Q

first-past-the-post system

A

whoever gets the most votes wins (doesn’t have to be over 50%)

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9
Q

liberal democracy

A

widespread vote and everyones interests are taken into account

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10
Q

majoritarian democracy

A

desires of the majority are the prime things considered

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11
Q

parliamentary democracy

A

parliament is sovereign and executive is elected from it

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12
Q

presidential democracy

A

executive is elected separate from legislative body

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13
Q

pluralist democracy

A

idea that there is competition between different groups who represent different concerns.

power is evenly/widely spread across society and government

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14
Q

functions of democracy

A
  • representation
  • education
  • participation
  • accountability
  • legitimacy
  • power dispersal
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15
Q

magnacarta (1215)

A

first point a document states there are limits to a kings power

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16
Q

features of a codified Constitution

A
  • often formed after a particular point in a country’s history
  • contains rules for amending it
  • codification implies that constitutional rules are higher than others
  • gives/upholds citizen rights
  • provides a focus for national identification
  • citizens can easily access it
  • creates a 2 tier legal system
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17
Q

parliamentary sovereignty

A

It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK which can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.

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18
Q

rule of law

A

means that everyone is equal in terms of the law, also holds public officials acccountable for unlawful actions

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19
Q

the unitary state

A

when a state is highly centralised

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20
Q

parliamentary government

A

a political system in which government takes place through parliament and in which the executive and legislative branches are fused

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21
Q

sources of the uk constitution

A
  • authoritative works
  • convention
  • royal perogative
  • statute law
  • EU law
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22
Q

functions of elections

A
  • maintains democracy
  • electing government, PM’s & MP’s
  • accountability
  • legitimacy
  • elite recruitment
  • education to public
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23
Q

electoral commission

A

stop rule breaking and corruption as well as a free and impartial judiciary

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24
Q

elitists

A

think elections provide authority and stability for the political system, focus on governing

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25
democratic theorists
prioritise the role of the people in political processes
26
majoritarian system
an electoral system in which the winning candidate must achieve an absolute majority of votes cast in a single member constituency
27
plurality system
an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a single member constituency wins
28
minority mandate
MP has support of less than half of the voters in their constituency
29
majority mandate
MP has the support of more than half of voters in their constituency
30
separation of powers
idea that all the branches of a political system should be separate
31
supplementary vote
- voter records 2 preferences - if no one wins majority of 1st preferences, all but top 2 are eliminated - 2nd preferences are added to the top 2 candidates votes - the candidate with the highest total is elected
32
single transferable vote
- voting is preferential (numbers next to names)
33
additional member system
- elements of fptp and the list system | - electors cast 2 votes
34
neo-liberalism
capitalist view, free marketers
35
one nation tories
bigger state, higher tax, post war consensus, benefitting all classes, increase public spending
36
elections
a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.
37
referendums
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision
38
referendums
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision
39
local referendums
establish directly elected mayors, council tax increase, congestion charges, neighbourhood plans & parish polls
40
national Referendums
held for constitutional change, coalition agreements, political pressure & party management
41
impacts of referendums
- direct democracy - parliamentary sovereignty - representative democracy - constitutional convention
42
renaissance
- started in the 1400s - means 'rebirth' - people began to think rationally - people delved from religious views
43
enlightenment
- started in the 18th/19th century | - introduction of reason and logic, the questioning of dogma
44
dogma
an engraned belief or automatic assumption
45
state of nature
pre historic time period where there were small family bands of hunter gatherers
46
the harm principle
government should only act against a persons liberty if they are a danger to others
47
utilitarianism
the greatest good for the greatest number
48
transitional liberalism
bridge between classical liberalism and modern liberalism
49
ultra vires
latin term meaning 'beyond the powers' - when a government acts outside of their limit
50
judicial independence
means that judges themselves are free from political pressure
51
judicial neutrality
suggests that judges themselves are free from political bias
52
classical liberalism
- negative freedom - absence of restraint - minimal state - mechanist theory - equal rights
53
modern liberalism
- social justice - positive liberty - equality of opportunity - enabling state - moved towards socialism - beveridge report
54
neo liberalism
- founded by Friedrich Van Hayek - updated classical liberalism? - free people from state - reduce public spending
55
civil rights
rights of citizens to political and social freedom as well as equality e.g. gender & race rights
56
civil liberties
rights that are guaranteed in law | e.g. right to a fair trial
57
manifesto
a document of intentions a party sets out to achieve
58
mandate
the authority to carry out a policy written in the manifesto
59
solisbury doctrine
a document stating the House of Lords cannot oppose manifesto bills
60
5 roles of political parties
- representation - encouraging participation - recruitment - formulation (making policy) - provide stable government

politics (3 decks)

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