United Kingdom Flashcards
(43 cards)
leader of the Labour party 2015-2020. He is a left wing socialist who is loved by party loyalists but disliked by MPs in his own party.
Jeremy Corbin
Scottish national party (SNP) leader who brought a lot of publicity and popular support to the party. He also launched the Brexit Party in 2019. Both of these capitalized on “Europhobia” or “Euroscepticism”
Nigel Farage
It is made up of the UK’s largest trade unions and it’s the most important British interest group. Dominated by the Labour party.
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Policy advisory boards or other entities appointed or approved by the government that bring government officials and other affected interest groups together to help develop policy. They represent a move toward a more social-democratic model of public policymaking in which government and interest groups work together.
Quangos
(quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations)
British exit from the European Union realized in a 2016 referendum
Brexit
conservative prime minister from 1979-1990. She was the first leader to experiment with neoliberal economic policies in an attempt to stem economic decline. Pledged to diminish government’s role in the economy. Lowered taxes, cut govt spending. Laissez-faire policies.
Margaret Thatcher
one of the UK’s largest parties that has been in government since 2010.
Conservatives (Tories)
the other of the UK’s largest parties. Since 2010 it has been the party in opposition. Formed in 1900 as an outgrowth of the trade union movement. Left-center party that wants a large welfare state.
Labour Party
Labor Party prime minister from 1997-2007. Sought to soften some of the harder edges of Thatcher’s neoliberalism but still embraced her policies. Balanced popular progressive reforms with policies of devolution and continued limits on social expenditures
Tony Blair
Tony Blair’s policies a political compromise between the right and left that influenced similar centrist policies in the US and Germany. It also formed the coalition that governed Britain from 2010-2015. Advocated moderate free-market policies with ambitious constitutional reform.
Third Way
conservative prime minister from 2010-2016. resigned following Brexit
David Cameron
conservative prime minister who was instrumental in the UK’s departure from the EU. He was the “Brexiteer”
Boris Johnson
legal system based on local customs and precedents rather than formal legal codes
Common Law
the 2015 document signed by King John that set the precedent for limited monarchical powers. It became a royal promise to uphold feudal customs and the rights of England’s barons.
Magna Carta
the name of the UK’s legislature
Parliament
upper house of the UK legislature represents the aristocracy
House of Lords
lower house of the UK legislature represents the interests of the lower nobility and merchant class
House of Commons
an election result in which no party gains majority parliament seats
Hung Parliament
head of government in parliamentary systems such as the UK. they maintain the support of MPs and appear weekly in the television to defend policies and answer questions
Prime Minister
organization made up of the UK and 52 of its former colonies. It aims to maintain some of the economic and cultural ties established during its imperial rule.
Commonwealth
the UK’s first opposition party and one of its two major political parties until the early 20th century. The first party to cultivate support among the commercial class. They were also able to push through a reform act in 1832.
Liberals (Whigs)
refers to the British monarchy and sometimes encompasses the British state as well; the head of state
The Crown
an individual legislator in the House of Commons
Member of Parliament (MP)
vote taken by the legislature as to whether they continue to support the current prime minister. Depending on the country, it can force the prime minister out of office or lead to new parliamentary actions.
Vote of no confidence
