U.K./E.U. Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Backbenchers

A

Member of parliament (MP) who have no governmental office

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2
Q

Beveridge Report

A

Published during WWII, it suggested a social insurance program that made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pension, and other benefits, serving asa. Model for social welfare systems in many other countries

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3
Q

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

A

The national public broadcaster of the U.K.

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4
Q

Caucuses

A

A meeting of members of a political party or interest group to dusk is and make decisions about candidates, policies, and other official matters

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5
Q

Cabinet

A

Members of Parliament and ministers, each heads a major governing bureaucracy (advisory body)

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6
Q

Centralization

A

The degree to which power and authority and concentrated in a single central government or authority within a country

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7
Q

“Civic culture”

A

The attitudes, values, and beliefs of citizens in a given country regarding their political system and their roles and responsibilities as participants in that system

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8
Q

Clause 4 in Labour Constitution

A

The controversial clause in the Labour Party manifesto that called for nationalization of all British industry. This clause was limited by Party leader Tony Blair as part of his realignment to “new Labour” during the early 1990s

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9
Q

Collective Consensus

A

When major political parties or kept political actors in a country largely agree on fundamental political and economic issues

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10
Q

Collective Responsibility

A

All cabinet members must agree on policy decisions and that all will be responsible for the result

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11
Q

“Constitution of the Crown”

A

The “constitution” of Britain that evolved over time composed of:
1. Important documents
2. Common law
3. Tradition/customs

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12
Q

Cultural heterogeneity

A

Cultures and ethnic groups are mixed within a region

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13
Q

Democratic Unionist Party

A

Protestant Party in Northern Ireland that is for keeping Northern Ireland in the U.K.

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14
Q

Devolution

A

The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

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15
Q

Decentralization

A

The transfer of political power and decision-making authority from a central or national government to subnational entities; may involve varying degrees of autonomy for subnational entities

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16
Q

Downing Street

A

The official residence and executive office of the Prime Minster of the U.K.

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17
Q

English Bill of Rights

A

A set of rights guaranteed to all English men; insures Parliament’s power over the monarchy

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18
Q

Euroskeptics

A

People opposed to the U.K.’s membership in the E.U. And the expansion of the E.U.’s power

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19
Q

First past the post

A

The candidate who receives the most votes is elected and there is no need for a majority or proportional representation

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20
Q

Glorious Revolution

A

The replacement of an absolute monarch with two constitutional monarchs (William and Mary); established Parliment army supremacy, giving parliament “power of purse” (i.e. fiscal power and a bill of rights)

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21
Q

“the government”

A

Priming minster + cabinet

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22
Q

Gradualism

A

The belief in gradually advancing towards a change to a political system or government policies

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23
Q

Hereditary peers

A

Members of the House of Lords appointed by the monarch, and their title was automatically passed down to their sons

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24
Q

Home rule

A

Self-government in local matters by a city or country that is part of a national government

25
Q

Insularity

A

The state of being isolated or detached

26
Q

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

A

A militant organization of Irish nationalists who use terrorism and guerrilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces form Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland

27
Q

“Iron Lady”

A

Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the U.K., who was known to be very tough, decisive, and efficient

28
Q

Law Lords

A

Five members of the House of Lords who serve as Britain’s highest court of appeals

29
Q

Liberal Democrats

A

Formed in 1988 through a merge of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; attended to establish a strong party in between labour (left) and conservative (right)

30
Q

Labour

A

One of the two main political parties in the U.K., which represents the interests of the urban working class; advocated for social and economic reforms

31
Q

Life Peers

A

Distinguished members of the society whoa are given lifetime appointments to the House of Lords

32
Q

Limited government

A

Everyone, including all authority figures, must over laws

33
Q

“Loyal opposition”

A

A role that the political parties out of power players, where they can oppose the policies and actions of the government while remaining loyal to the democratic system

34
Q

Magna Carta

A

Document that declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens on England

35
Q

Noblesse oblige

A

The obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous

36
Q

OPEC

A

An organization of countries forme din 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum

37
Q

Oxbridge

A

A term used to collectively refer to the prestigious universities in the U.K.: the University of Oxford and the university of Cambridge

38
Q

Parliamentary system

A

A system of government in which the executive and legislative branches are fused together; the majority party in the legislature selects the chief executive and also may dismiss the head of the executive

39
Q

Plaid Cymru

A

A political party in Wales that advocated for Scottish independence from U.K.

40
Q

Plurality voting system

A

The candidate with the most votes win, even if they do not receive an absolute majority

41
Q

Politics of protest

A

The use of various forms of collective action, demonstration, and activism as a means for citizens or groups to express their grievances, advocate for specific political changes, or bring attention to particular issues

42
Q

Privatization

A

To change from government or public ownership/control to private ownership/control

43
Q

QUANGOS (Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations)

A

Organizations that have considerable amount of influence over policy making in health care, education, and housing

44
Q

Question Time

A

A regular session in a parliamentary calendar during which members of the legislative body, often the House of Commons or a similar lower house, have the opportunity to question government minsters about their polices and the administration of government affairs

45
Q

Safe Districts

A

Electoral districts in which one political party or candidate has a significant advantage over their competitors and is highly likely to win in an election

46
Q

Scottish Nationalists

A

Political group in Scotland that advocate for greater autonomy/independence for Scotland from the U.K.

47
Q

“Shadow Cabinet”

A

Members of the majesty’s royal opposition who are responsible for scrutinizing the actions, policies, and decisions of the government and offering alternative policies and proposals

48
Q

Sinn Fein

A

A political part in Ireland that had played a significant role in the political landscape of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

49
Q

Solidarity

A

The unity and mutual support among individuals, groups, or nations, especially in the face of adversity, common interests, or shared goals

50
Q

Thatcherism

A

The political and economic policies associated with the leadership and tenure of Margaret Thatcher

51
Q

Tony Blair/Third Way

A

British Labour Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007; brought UK to a new and more central left-wing party

52
Q

Tories

A

A member of the Conservative British Party

53
Q

Trade Union Congress

A

A national trade union center, a federation of trade unions in the U.K., representing the majority of trade unions

54
Q

Unitary government

A

All power comes from the national or central level

55
Q

Vote of confidence

A

Parliamentary procedure that determines whether the sitting government countries to enjoy the support and confidence of the legislative body, often the lower house of parliament

56
Q

Whigs

A

An 18th and 19th century British political party that was opposed to the Tories

57
Q

Whitehall

A

The administrative and governmental heart of the U.K., particularly in London

58
Q

Westminster model

A

A form of democracy based on the supreme authority of Parliament and the accountability of its elected representatives

59
Q

Keynesian welfare state

A

Emphasizes government intervention in the economy to achieve full employment and economic stability