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Britain Flashcards

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1
Q

Beveridge Report

A

Social insurance program that made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pensions, and other benefits.

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2
Q

Blair, Tony

A

Labour pt, promised to bring about a third way, a centrist alternative to the left Labour and the rt Conservative.

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3
Q

British Broadcasting Corporation

A

● 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.

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4
Q

British National Party

A

Party on the far right, formed in 1982, never represented in parliament, and overtly anti-Semitic
● Now focusing on presence of Muslims in Britain.

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5
Q

Brown, Gordon

A

Long time cabinet member who became PM after Blair resigned. Had difficulty taking control of gov’t.

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6
Q

Cameron, David

A

Current party leader of the conservatives

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7
Q

Caucuses

A

Meetings of people from the same area or of like mind.

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8
Q

“civic culture”

A

Political culture characterized by trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism and harmony. Clause 4

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9
Q

Clause 4

A

Called for nationalization of British industry, at first part of Labour party.

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10
Q

Clegg, Nick

A

Leader of Liberal Dems, criticized Labour for erosion of civil liberties.

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11
Q

collective consensus

A

based on social democratic values that support a great deal of gov’t control of economy.

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12
Q

collective responsibility

A

leaders of the majority party take responsibility for making policy for the country, all members of the cabinet publicly support PM’s decisions.

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13
Q

Confederation of Business Industries

A

Negotiated with TUC for lower wages in exchange for 3% income tax reduction rate

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14
Q

Conservative Party

A

● 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.

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15
Q

“Constitution of the Crown”

A

Britain’s unwritten constitution, includes important documents, common law, and customs

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16
Q

cultural heterogeneity

A

Different cultures are about the same.

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17
Q

Democratic Unionist Party

A

Party in northern Ireland led by protestant clergymen.

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18
Q

devolution

A

Turning over of some political powers to regional gov’t.

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19
Q

English Bill of Rights

A

Lists rights retained by Parliament, gave policymaking power to parliament, power of the purse.

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20
Q

Euroskeptics

A

Those of the Thatcherite wing who think EU’s move toward integration is a threat to British sovereignty.

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21
Q

first-past-the-post” voting systems

A

Single member districts that are given to plurality winner.

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22
Q

the Glorious Revolution

A

Established constitutional monarchy

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23
Q

the “government”

A

Consists of MPs on the first rows of majority party side, most important policymakers as long as they hold power.

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24
Q

gradualism

A

Political change that is gradual in nature

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25
Q

hereditary peers

A

Those who hold seats on House of Lords that have been passed down through family ties.

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26
Q

home rule

A

Ruled by themselves, especially in Northern Ireland where there was too much conflict btw Protestant/Catholic

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27
Q

insularity

A

The feeling of separation from the continent of Europe.

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28
Q

Irish Republican Army

A

Imposed home rule, used guerilla warfare tactics to convince British to allow Irish independence

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29
Q

“Iron Lady”

A

Prime minister for 11 years, supporters thought she was capable, critics thought she was crippling

30
Q

Keynesianism

A

Government takes action to secure full employment, expand social services, maintain steady growth, keep
prices stable.

31
Q

Labour Party

A

● Represent the rights of the newly- enfranchised working man (1906)
● Control from 1997, Tony Blair prime minister until 2007.
● Started out as alliance of trade unions and then strengthened with expansion of rights
law lords
● 5 people who serve as Britain’s highest court of appeals.

32
Q

Liberal Democratic Alliance

A

Liberals and Social Democrats, merged, got 26% of pop vote in 1983, campaigned for prop rep and Bill of Rights

33
Q

liberalism

A

Philosophy that emphasizes political and economic freedoms for the individual and market.

34
Q

life peers

A

Philosophy that emphasizes political and economic freedoms for the individual and market.

35
Q

life peers

A

Those people appointed to the House of Lords based on distinguished service to Britain.

36
Q

limited government

A

Minimal intervention by gov’t of economy and personal liberties.

37
Q

“loyal opposition”

A

“loyal opposition”

38
Q

Magna Carta

A

King agrees to consult nobles before he makes important political decisions, especially those with taxes.

39
Q

“misery index”

A

Inflation + unemployment

40
Q

mixed economy

A

Government directing economy and nationalizing major industries, w/o giving up capitalism

41
Q

multi-nationalism

A

Different cultures that are united under a gov’t still impact political system with their national identities.

42
Q

neo-corporatism

A

Interest groups take the lead and dominate the state

43
Q

neo-liberalism

A

Revival of class values that support low lvls of gov’t regulation, taxation, and social expenditures, and the
protection of individual property rights. Reversed Keynesianism

44
Q

noblesse oblige

A

The duty of the upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes.

45
Q

OPEC

A

Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, caused oil price spike and embargo, effect was devastating. Oxbridge

46
Q

Oxbridge

A

Oxford and Cambridge = portal through elite classes such as members of parliament or cabinet positions.

47
Q

parliamentary system

A

Prime minister and cabinet are members of legislature.

48
Q

Plaid Cymru

A

Smaller party in Wales

49
Q

plurality voting system

A

Person who has most votes wins the district.

50
Q

politics of protest

A

The tendency to disagree openly and sometimes violently

51
Q

proportional representation

A

Multimember districts, number of seats = % of votes received

52
Q

quangos

A

quasi autonomous nongovernmental organizations or policy advisory boards that the gov’t appoints

53
Q

Question Time

A

an hour where PM and ministers defend themselves against attack from opposition and sometimes members of their own party

54
Q

rational-legal legitimacy

A

System of well-established laws and procedures

55
Q

referendum

A

Public votes on particular policy issues such as on the new EU constitution and the Euro.

56
Q

safe districts

A

Members of parliament do not have to live in the district they are representing, so leaders run in districts where
it is almost guaranteed that they will win.

57
Q

Scottish National Party

A

Minor party in Scotland, both Plaid Cymru and SNP managed to shut out conservatives.

58
Q

“shadow cabinet”

A

Members of the opposition party’s cabinet that would be in place if they became the majority.

59
Q

Sinn Fein

A

Political arm of the IRA, a regional party in northern Ireland.

60
Q

solidarity

A

Keeping old job and living in the old neighborhood more important than individual success.

61
Q

Backbenchers

A

Less influential MP, sit away from table.

62
Q

Speaker of the House

A

The member of parliament that resides of the debate in Question Time, usually not part of majority party.

63
Q

Thatcherism

A

A conservative capitalist backlash led by Margaret Thatcher

64
Q

the third way

A

A more central approach to politics

65
Q

Tories

A

Tories supporting the king from Charles II, Irish bandits, became Conservatives

66
Q

Trade Union Congress

A

A coalition of trade unions that has been a major force in British politics

67
Q

traditional leadership

A

Hereditary ruling family had a right to rule

68
Q

UK Independence Party

A

Focused more on opposition to Britain’s membership in EU

69
Q

unitary government

A

● Political authority centralized in London-based gov’t. PM not directly elected by ppl but is a MP.
● PM speaks for all members of parliament, chooses cabinet ministers and subordinate posts, makes decisions in
the cabinet with agreement of ministers, and campaigns and represents party in parliamentary elections.

70
Q

“vote of confidence”

A

A vote on a key issue, if issue not supported, members of the cabinet resign immediately and elections for new MPs must be held

71
Q

welfare state

A

● Government has responsibility to provide public benefits, such as education, health care, and transportation.
● National Health Service falls into this category

72
Q

Whigs

A

Whigs opposing the king, started with Charles II, Scottish bandits, became Liberals.

comparative government (5 decks)

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