Democracy Flashcards
What does representative democracy mean
We vote for the people to make decisions for our
How old do you have to be to vote in the uk
Everybody over the age of 18 has the right to vote (voting is optional)
Within how many years is a general election called
Every five years
What is a constituency
An area made up of people who all vote for their mp together
How many constituency’s are there in the uk
650
What happens to the winner of each constituency
They become a mp (member of Parliament)and gain a seat in parliament
How is the wining party determined
The party with the most mp
What happens if there is no party with a majority
A coalition must be formed
What is direct democracy
Asking the people their opinions on major issues then acting on them
What do the conservatives want to do
Lower taxes and bring back national services for 18 year olds
What does Labour want to do
Would tax the rich to help poorer people and try to raise the minimum wage
What would the Liberal Democrat’s do
Try to get the uk back into European Union and would cut university tuition fees
What is first past the post
A voting system where the winning candidate for each area is the one with the most votes . The winning party overall is the party with the most seats in parliament
What is the positives of first past the post
Easy to understand, usually a clear winner,government can form very quickly after an election
What is the negatives of first past the post
Small party’s don’t get as many seats as they deserve, voters might feel like their vote is wasted,a party can win the election overall even if more votes go to another party
What is proportional representation
A voting system where people vote just for the party
What is a positive of proportional representation
The number of seats is directly proportional, no votes are wasted
What does the Monarch do
Traditional role, signs bills into laws, BUT has no real political power
What does the prime minister do
Head of government, introduces policy’s, appoints cabinet,voted in by the people
What is the cabinet
Appointed by PM, Government ministers and they are in charge of different areas e.g. education, budgeting, health etc
What are the two debating chambers in uk Parliament called
House of Commons and House of Lords ( HOL debates laws before they are passed)
What is democracy
A government lead by the people where everyone has a say
What is canvassing
When political activist try persuade people to vote for their party
What is hustings
A meeting in which candidates in an election speak to the voters
Referendum
A vote by the whole electorate on a particular issue
Votings age should be lowered to 16:yes
They can get married have a family and pay taxes so are responsible enough to vote
Education in schools mean they understand politics
Some votes are once in a lifetime decisions that will impact their cuter e.g.brexit
Voting age should be lowered to 16: no
Most still live at home in full time education or training
They don’t have the same responsiblys as 18 and over
Most democracy’s don’t allow age 16 to vote
Why was the magna carter important
Was the start of democracy
Green Party
Party focused on environmental issues
Define, back benchers
Any mp who do not have a position in the government or oppositions e.g. cabinet
What is the cabinet
A group of mp chosen by the pm to lead a major government department
Define, coalition
A government made up of one of more party-teaming up to get a majority to win
What are front benchers
MPs who hold a position in the government or opposition
What is the opposition
A political party that is not in power
Bi-cameral
Two houses HOL and HOC
Black rod
The person who has ceremonial duties i the place of Westminster
The executive
The government
The judiciary
Upholds laws
The legislature
Makes the law
Minister of state
Assistant to Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Mp who is charge of a government department
Act of Parliament
A law passed by Parliament and signed by the monarch
Bill
A proposal to change something into a law
Green paper
Puts forwards ideas that the government wants discussed before it starts to develope a policy
White paper
This puts government policy up for discussion before it becomes a law
Judical review
A review carried out by high court
Parliamentary inquirery
An enquiry set up to investigate actions taken by government
Parliamentary sovereignty
Parliament passing new laws and getting rid of old ones
Chancellor of the exchequer
The member of the government who is responsible for the country’s finances
Governments revenue
Money raised by the government though taxing and borrowing
