Definitions Flashcards
2015 General Election Outcome
Conservatives: • 331 MPs • 36.9% Liberal Democrats: • 8 MPs • 7.9% SNP: • 56 MPs • 4.7% Green Party: • 1 MP • 3.8% UKIP: • 1 MP • 12.6% Labour: • 232 MPs • 30.4%
Democracy definition
Rule by many
Rule by the people
> Of the people (everyone regardless of race, gender, etc should be allowed to stand for election)
> By the people (elected politicians pass laws that the people obey)
> For the people (elected politicians should govern on behalf of the people)
Direct Democracy Definition
Where the will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people
e.g. referendums/athenian democracy
Representative Democracy Definition
A form of indirect democracy in which elected politicians act on behalf of the people through a system of regular and periodic elections which enable politicians to be removed from office and made accountable.
e.g. In Westminster elections, the electorate vote for MPs to represent their constituency’s wants and needs in Parliament
Liberal Democracy Definition
Indirect and representative form of democracy
Free and fair elections - universal suffrage
Competitive elections
Guaranteed civil liberties and individual rights
Constitutional government based on legal rules
Civil society - free press
Capitalist economcy
e.g. protecting the rights of an individual - which are generally enshrined in law
Parliamentary Democracy Definition
A form of government in which the party with the greatest representation in Parliament forms the government
Parliament is the highest source of political authority
Authority of the government is drawn from Parliament
Members of the government are drawn from Parliament
Government is accountable to Parliament
e.g. the Conservatives won a 36.9% majority in the 2015 General Election which allowed them to form the current government.
Manifesto Definition
The document that sets out the party’s intentions for the bills that they will introduce should they be elected into governmental power
Voters base their decisions on these
e.g. 2015 - Conservatives promised on their manifesto to turn failing schools into academies and to open at least 500 new free schools
Mandate Definition
The authority to govern
Granted to the party that wins the election
e.g. Cameron’s Conservative majority government of 36.9% as a result of the 2015 General Election gave the conservatives the mandate to carry out controversial policies such as benefit cuts
Democratic Deficit Definition
A lack of people taking part in political life
A lack of actual power they can use to influence political decisions
e.g. House of Lords
Participation Crisis Definition
Party membership declining
Voter turnout declining
Partisan dealignment
Initiatives Definition
A form of referendum that s called by the citizens themselves
Authority Definition
The right to govern
The right to tell people what to do
Legal Sovereignty Definition
Ultimate political authority
Power to make enforceable laws
Exercised by the UK Parliament
Political Sovereignty Definition
Ultimate political power
Held by the electorate at elections
Referendum Definition
A vote on a single issue
A way of discovering whether voters support a specific policy
A way of exercising direct democracy
Government decides when to hold it and what the question is
Power Definition
The ability to make people do things (that they might not want to do themselves)
e.g. a criminal with a gun could convince people to do almost anything
Legitimacy Definition
Whether it is popularly accepted that a government, or any other political institution, has the authority to hold power and make rules
e.g. the Conservative government winning a majority in the 2015 General election gave them the legitimacy to rule
Trustee (Burkean) Representation
Experienced, educated and informed MPs should consider constituents’ views but exercise their own judgement in Parliament
MPs should vote in the national, rather than local interest
> Even if it conflicts with the views of their constituents
Delegate Represntation
The electorate chooses MPs to represent them in Parliament on their behalf
MPs make decisions with their constituents’ in mind
Pressure Groups Definition
A group of like-minded people who attempt to influence government policy, particularly new legislation
e.g. RSPB
Turnout Definition
The percentage of registered voters who actually vote in a particular election
Differential Turnout Definition
The varying levels of turnout across the country
Partisan Dealignment Definition
Where voters no longer strongly identify with a party
Their support changes between parties from election to election
Apathy Definition
No interest in politics
Don’t care
Hapathy Definition
People aren’t motivated to vote because they are largely content with the current situation
e.g. the majority voted NO in the 2011 AV Referendum because they were happy with FPTP