3.5: Parliament and Elections Flashcards

Question

Labour Party: History, tradition, position, support

Answer 1

- Beginning of 20th century: Alliance of unionists and intellectuals - Traditionally: Working man's party; grew out of trade union movement - Left of centre political position - Support mostly in the North of UK (NEW: appealing to business and professional community.

Answer 2

- Dev. from froup of MPs known as Tories (monarchy + anglican church, 18th century) - Traditionally: Party for professional and higher classes. - Right of centre political position - Support in the south of England

Answer 3

- Late 1980s - from Union of the Liberals [former Whigs; the political descendants of the parliamentarians: thrift, hard work, believed in government by monarch and parliament together] & social democrats [breakaway group of Labour politicians] - Traditional voters from all classes but mostly the middle class - Traditionally representing interests of commerce and industry

Answer 4

Wales: Plaid Cymru Scotland: Scottish National Party Northern Ireland: Sinn Fein (Catholic) Protestant: DUP - Democratic Unionist Party

Answer 5

The FPTP voting system is a system in which the can with the most votes in a constituency (area) wins. It doesn’t matter if they don’t get more than half the votes — just more than anyone else. EXAMPLE: If Candidate A gets 40 votes, Candidate B gets 35, and Candidate C gets 25 — Candidate A wins. It’s simple, quick, and used in UK general elections every 4 years.

Answer 6

* Approx. 800 members * Speaker sits on a wool sack * Measures are being discussed to reduce the amount of Lords

Answer 7

Life peers – (Lords Temporal) * Nominated by political parties or the public, the majority of Lords Bishops – (Lords Spiritual) * 26 senior bishops of the Church of England (Anglican Church) Hereditary peers – (Lords Temporal)

Answer 8

ended the right of all hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords * 91 remain

Answer 9

* In reality no real power * Acts as a check on governments: questions and challenges * Forum for discussion: bring attention to matters the Commons may be ignoring * Help shape law

Answer 10

* Have time to discuss bills in more detail than the Commons * Suggest changes * Can delay a bill – can’t reject it * Ping pong between both chambers, until all agree

Answer 11

Power to run the country * Appoint his Prime Minister and all other ministers * To summon and dissolve parliament * The King’s Speech Power to make laws * The royal assent (officially passes a new bill)

Answer 12

Very little (if any) power * Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party * The PM ‘advises’ who his minsters should be * His King’s speech has been written for him

Answer 13

(Formal start of the Parliamentary year - King's Speech- this is written for him) The Monarch is not allowed to enter the house of commons; intead, the King's Sevrant, the Black Rod, does it for him. This symbolises the Commons' independence from the monarch

Answer 14

* British don’t like change * Value continuity over modernity * Love symbols of tradition

Answer 15

He/she is the representative of the King. He/she summons the House of Commons to go to the House of Lords. The Black Rod is needed because tradition says the monarch is not allowed to enter the House of Commons, so the Black Rod is sent to call the MPs to hear the King's Speech in the Lords. Last monarch to enter the House of Commons was King Charles I in 1642. The Black Rod symbolizes the authority of the monarch in Parliament and the connection between the Crown and Parliament.

Answer 16

British don’t like change → The UK still uses old systems like First Past the Post for elections and has kept an unelected House of Lords. Even though people debate reform, big changes are often avoided. Value continuity over modernity → The UK keeps its monarchy, an ancient tradition, as a central part of the state. The ceremonies, roles, and customs (like the King’s Speech and the State Opening of Parliament) have stayed mostly the same for centuries. Love symbols of tradition → British government is full of traditional symbols like the Black Rod ceremony, the use of royal thrones, crowns, and old titles like “Prime Minister” and “Chancellor of the Exchequer,” and ancient buildings like the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).

Answer 17

* David Cameron: wanted to end the debate once and for all * One question: Should the UK leave or remain in the European Union? * When Britain voted leave, he resigned, and Theresa May took over ------- Referendum results: * 51.9% Leave * 48.1 % Remain

Answer 18

1. Immigration: Influx of Eastern Europeans “taking their jobs” 2. Sovereignty: Decisions about the UK should be made in the UK 3. Wasteful Europe: Expenses and “red tape” - slow procedures and time-consuming regulations 4. Anti-establishment: Vote against sitting politicians

Answer 19

1973 – The UK joined the EEC (European Economic Community). 1975 – The first ‘Brexit’ referendum was held → the UK voted to remain. 2015 – David Cameron promised a Brexit referendum as part of his re-election campaign. 23 June 2016 – The Brexit referendum took place → the UK voted to leave. 29 March 2017 – The government triggered Article 50, starting the legal process of leaving the EU. November 2018 – A draft withdrawal deal was agreed with Brussels (the EU). January 2019 – Theresa May’s deal was rejected by Parliament. 29 March 2019 (later delayed to 12 April 2019) – The UK was originally set to leave the EU. 24 July 2019 – Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. 3 September 2019 – Johnson was defeated in the Commons; he made a speech following the defeat. 31 October 2019 – Planned new Brexit date (deal or no deal) — later delayed again. 31 January 2020 – The UK formally left the EU (with a transition period until 31 December 2020).

Answer 20

Economic changes — New trade barriers with the EU led to delays, extra costs, and paperwork for businesses. Loss of free movement — UK citizens can no longer live and work freely in EU countries, and EU citizens need visas for the UK. Political division — Brexit deepened divides between regions (like Scotland and Northern Ireland) and between people who voted Leave or Remain. New trade deals — The UK can now make its own trade agreements with other countries, outside of the EU. Impact on jobs and industries — Some businesses, especially in finance, fishing, and farming, faced challenges adjusting to new rules.

3.5: Parliament and Elections Flashcards

(44 cards)