Chapter 7 (U.K.) Flashcards
Tony Blair
Labour Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007
Brexit
British exit from the EU, realized in a 2016 referendum
Cabinet
Top members of the UK government who assist the prime minister and run the major ministries
David Cameron
Conservative prime minister from 2010 to 2016, resigned after the Brexit referendum which he had campaigned against
Collective Responsibility
Tradition that requires all members of the cabinet either to support government policy or to resign
Collectivist Consensus
Postwar consensus between the UK’s major parties to build and sustain a welfare state
Common Law
Legal system based on local customs and precedent rather than formal legal codes
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
The United Kingdom’s most important group representing the private sector
Conservatives (Tories)
One of the UK’s two largest parties, in government since 2010
Jeremey Corbyn
Leader of the opposition labour party from 2015 to 2020
Crown
Refers to the British monarchy and sometimes to the British state; head of state
English Civil War
17th century conflict between Parliament and the monarch that temporarily eliminated and permanently weakened the monarchy
Nigel Farage
Populist leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) until 2016 and former member of the European parliament
House of Commons
Lower House of legislature, composed of 650 members
House of Lords
Upper House of legislature, more than 900 members, little actual power
Hung Parliament
An election result in which no party wins a majority of parliamentary seats(as in the 2010 and 2017 elections)
Boris Johnson
British prime minister from 2019 to 2022 and member of the Conservative Party who was instrumental in the UK’s departure from the EU
Labour Party
One of the UK’s two largest parties, has been the party in opposition since 2010
Liberal Democratic Party
Centrist third party in the UK and junior member of a coalition government from 2010 to 2015
Liberals (Whigs)
The UK’s first opposition party, one of its two major parties until the early 20th century
Magna Carta
The 1215 doucment signed by King John that set the precdent for limited monarchial powers
Majoritarian
Term describing the virtually unchecked power of a parliamentary majority in the UK political system
Theresa May
Prime minister of the UK and leader of the Conservative party from 2016 to 2019
Member of Parliament (MP)
Name of the UK Legislature
Neoliberalism
A set of policies championed by Thatcher’s Conservative government in the 1980s aimed at diminishing the role of the state in the economy
Northern Ireland
Northeastern portion of Ireland that is part of the UK
Parliament
Name of the UK Legislature
Prime Minister
Head of Government
Quangos
Quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations that assist the government in making policy
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Nationalist political party promoting Scottish independence, currently in control of the Scottish regional government
Rishi Sunak
Conservative prime minister since October 2022
Margaret Thatcher
Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990
Third Way
Term describing recent policies of the Labour Party that embrace the free market
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
A confederation of the UK’s largest trade unions
Liz Truss
Conservative prime minister from September 6 to October 25, 2022
United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)
Populist and Euroskeptic political party favoring British exist from the European Union
