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Britain Flashcards

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
hereditary peers
Those who hold seats on House of Lords that have been passed down through family ties.
26
home rule
Ruled by themselves, especially in Northern Ireland where there was too much conflict btw Protestant/Catholic
27
insularity
The feeling of separation from the continent of Europe.
28
Irish Republican Army
Imposed home rule, used guerilla warfare tactics to convince British to allow Irish independence
29
“Iron Lady”
Prime minister for 11 years, supporters thought she was capable, critics thought she was crippling
30
Keynesianism
Government takes action to secure full employment, expand social services, maintain steady growth, keep prices stable.
31
Labour Party
● 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
Liberal Democratic Alliance
Liberals and Social Democrats, merged, got 26% of pop vote in 1983, campaigned for prop rep and Bill of Rights
33
liberalism
Philosophy that emphasizes political and economic freedoms for the individual and market.
34
life peers
Philosophy that emphasizes political and economic freedoms for the individual and market.
35
life peers
Those people appointed to the House of Lords based on distinguished service to Britain.
36
limited government
Minimal intervention by gov’t of economy and personal liberties.
37
“loyal opposition”
“loyal opposition”
38
Magna Carta
King agrees to consult nobles before he makes important political decisions, especially those with taxes.
39
“misery index”
Inflation + unemployment
40
mixed economy
Government directing economy and nationalizing major industries, w/o giving up capitalism
41
multi-nationalism
Different cultures that are united under a gov’t still impact political system with their national identities.
42
neo-corporatism
Interest groups take the lead and dominate the state
43
neo-liberalism
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
noblesse oblige
The duty of the upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes.
45
OPEC
Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, caused oil price spike and embargo, effect was devastating. Oxbridge
46
Oxbridge
Oxford and Cambridge = portal through elite classes such as members of parliament or cabinet positions.
47
parliamentary system
Prime minister and cabinet are members of legislature.
48
Plaid Cymru
Smaller party in Wales
49
plurality voting system
Person who has most votes wins the district.
50
politics of protest
The tendency to disagree openly and sometimes violently
51
proportional representation
Multimember districts, number of seats = % of votes received
52
quangos
quasi autonomous nongovernmental organizations or policy advisory boards that the gov’t appoints
53
Question Time
an hour where PM and ministers defend themselves against attack from opposition and sometimes members of their own party
54
rational-legal legitimacy
System of well-established laws and procedures
55
referendum
Public votes on particular policy issues such as on the new EU constitution and the Euro.
56
safe districts
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
Scottish National Party
Minor party in Scotland, both Plaid Cymru and SNP managed to shut out conservatives.
58
“shadow cabinet”
Members of the opposition party’s cabinet that would be in place if they became the majority.
59
Sinn Fein
Political arm of the IRA, a regional party in northern Ireland.
60
solidarity
Keeping old job and living in the old neighborhood more important than individual success.
61
Backbenchers
Less influential MP, sit away from table.
62
Speaker of the House
The member of parliament that resides of the debate in Question Time, usually not part of majority party.
63
Thatcherism
A conservative capitalist backlash led by Margaret Thatcher
64
the third way
A more central approach to politics
65
Tories
Tories supporting the king from Charles II, Irish bandits, became Conservatives
66
Trade Union Congress
A coalition of trade unions that has been a major force in British politics
67
traditional leadership
Hereditary ruling family had a right to rule
68
UK Independence Party
Focused more on opposition to Britain’s membership in EU
69
unitary government
● 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
“vote of confidence”
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
welfare state
● Government has responsibility to provide public benefits, such as education, health care, and transportation. ● National Health Service falls into this category
72
Whigs
Whigs opposing the king, started with Charles II, Scottish bandits, became Liberals.

Comparative Government (5 decks)

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