Britain Flashcards
Beveridge Report
Social insurance program that made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pensions, and other benefits.
Blair, Tony
Labour pt, promised to bring about a third way, a centrist alternative to the left Labour and the rt Conservative.
British Broadcasting Corporation
● Monopoly over media. Sought to educate citizens and was usually respectful of gov’t officials.
● Gov’t strictly regulated BBC, ie, no ads for politicians, parties, or political causes.
● Labour supports license fee that allows BBC to maintain a large presence on TV, conservatives critical, want a more transparent BBC.
British National Party
Party on the far right, formed in 1982, never represented in parliament, and overtly anti-Semitic
● Now focusing on presence of Muslims in Britain.
Brown, Gordon
Long time cabinet member who became PM after Blair resigned. Had difficulty taking control of gov’t.
Cameron, David
Current party leader of the conservatives
Caucuses
Meetings of people from the same area or of like mind.
“civic culture”
Political culture characterized by trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism and harmony. Clause 4
Clause 4
Called for nationalization of British industry, at first part of Labour party.
Clegg, Nick
Leader of Liberal Dems, criticized Labour for erosion of civil liberties.
collective consensus
based on social democratic values that support a great deal of gov’t control of economy.
collective responsibility
leaders of the majority party take responsibility for making policy for the country, all members of the cabinet publicly support PM’s decisions.
Confederation of Business Industries
Negotiated with TUC for lower wages in exchange for 3% income tax reduction rate
Conservative Party
● Dominant party btwn WWII and 1997, main pt on the right, usually pragmatic rather than ideological.
● Characterized by noblesse oblige, organization is elitist,
● Party is divided into traditional wing (one-nation Tories), who want to take everyone’s opinions into account and
support membership in the EU, and Thatcherite wing who want more free market.
“Constitution of the Crown”
Britain’s unwritten constitution, includes important documents, common law, and customs
cultural heterogeneity
Different cultures are about the same.
Democratic Unionist Party
Party in northern Ireland led by protestant clergymen.
devolution
Turning over of some political powers to regional gov’t.
English Bill of Rights
Lists rights retained by Parliament, gave policymaking power to parliament, power of the purse.
Euroskeptics
Those of the Thatcherite wing who think EU’s move toward integration is a threat to British sovereignty.
first-past-the-post” voting systems
Single member districts that are given to plurality winner.
the Glorious Revolution
Established constitutional monarchy
the “government”
Consists of MPs on the first rows of majority party side, most important policymakers as long as they hold power.
gradualism
Political change that is gradual in nature
hereditary peers
Those who hold seats on House of Lords that have been passed down through family ties.
home rule
Ruled by themselves, especially in Northern Ireland where there was too much conflict btw Protestant/Catholic
insularity
The feeling of separation from the continent of Europe.
Irish Republican Army
Imposed home rule, used guerilla warfare tactics to convince British to allow Irish independence