The Workings of Parliamentary Democracy: Glossary

Question 1

Backbench MP:

Answer 1

A Member of Parliament who is not a minister or shadow minister.

Question 2

Bi-cameral:

Answer 2

A legislature consisting of two chambers or houses.

Question 3

Bill:

Answer 3

A proposed law presented to a legislature for consideration.

Question 4

Collective Responsibility:

Answer 4

The principle that all members of the Cabinet must publicly support government policy.

Question 4

Bill Committees:

Answer 4

A group of backbenchers that scrutinise a particular Bill as it passes through the Commons.

Question 5

Common Law:

Answer 5

Law based on judicial precedent rather than statutes.

Question 6

Constitutional Monarchy:

Answer 6

A system of government in which the monarch’s power is limited by a constitution.

Question 7

Conventions:

Answer 7

Unwritten rules and traditions that guide the operation of the British Constitution.

Question 8

Crossbenchers:

Answer 8

Peers in the House of Lords who are not affiliated to a political party.

Question 9

Early Day Motions:

Answer 9

Formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons, often used to raise awareness of an issue.

Question 10

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR):

Answer 10

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR): An international treaty protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe.

Question 11

Executive:

Answer 11

The branch of government responsible for implementing laws and policies, typically headed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Question 12

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP):

Answer 12

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins.

Question 13

Green Paper:

Answer 13

A preliminary report of government proposals that is published to stimulate discussion.

Question 14

Guillotine:

Answer 14

A procedure to limit the time for debate on a bill in Parliament.

Question 15

Hansard:

Answer 15

The official record of parliamentary debates.

Question 16

Hereditary Peers:

Answer 16

Members of the House of Lords whose title is inherited.

Question 17

House of Commons:

Answer 17

The lower house of the UK Parliament, consisting of elected Members of Parliament (MPs).

Question 18

House of Lords:

Answer 18

The upper house of the UK Parliament, consisting of unelected members.

Question 19

Human Rights Act 1998:

Answer 19

UK legislation incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.

Question 20

Individual Ministerial Responsibility:

Answer 20

The principle that ministers are accountable for the actions of their departments and should resign if serious errors are made.

Question 21

Judiciary:

Answer 21

The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying the law, consisting of courts and judges.

Question 22

King’s Speech:

Answer 22

A speech given by the monarch at the start of each parliamentary session, outlining the government’s legislative agenda.

Question 23

Legislature:

Answer 23

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of Parliament.

Question 24

Life Peers:

Answer 24

Members of the House of Lords who are appointed for their lifetime.

Question 25

Lords Spiritual:

Answer 25

Senior clergy of the Church of England who are members of the House of Lords.

Question 26

Magna Carta:

Answer 26

A historic document establishing the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law.

Question 27

Money Bill:

Answer 27

A bill relating to taxation or government expenditure.

Question 28

Parliamentary Sovereignty:

Answer 28

The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK.

Question 29

Private Members’ Bill:

Answer 29

A bill introduced by an individual MP who is not a government minister.

Question 30

Privy Purse:

Answer 30

Personal pots of money for the King (Duchy of Lancaster estate) and the Prince of Wales (Duchy of Cornwall estate)

Question 31

Royal Assent:

Answer 31

The monarch's formal approval of a bill, making it law.

Question 32

Royal Prerogative:

Answer 32

Powers traditionally held by the monarch but now exercised by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Question 33

Select Committees:

Answer 33

Committees of MPs that scrutinise the work of government departments.

Question 34

Separation of Powers:

Answer 34

The division of governmental power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Question 35

Sovereign Grant:

Answer 35

Funding provided to the monarch by the government, based on a percentage of Crown Estate revenues.

Question 36

Speaker:

Answer 36

The presiding officer of the House of Commons, responsible for maintaining order during debates.

Question 37

Treaties:

Answer 37

Formal international agreements.

Question 38

Unwritten Constitution:

Answer 38

A constitution that is not codified in a single document, but is comprised of statutes, common law, conventions, and treatises.

Question 39

Whips:

Answer 39

Party officials responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring that MPs vote according to the party line.

Question 40

White Paper:

Answer 40

A government document setting out detailed proposals for future legislation.