Glossary!

Question 1

Electorate

Answer 1

All the people in an area with the legal right to vote in an election.

Question 2

Direct Democracy

Answer 2

When citizens directly participate in the decision-making process.

If residents of a town wanted to decide how to allocate a portion of the town’s budget for a new community park instead of leaving this decision to elected officials, the town would organise a town hall meeting.

Question 3

Representative Democracy

Answer 3

Citizens elect individuals to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf

Question 4

Voter Turnout

Answer 4

Refers to the percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election by casting their ballots

Question 5

Formula for Voter Turnout

Answer 5

calculated by dividing the number of people who voted by the total number of eligible voters x100

Question 6

Apathy

Answer 6

A lack of interest, enthusiasm, or motivation among individuals or a population as a whole when it comes to participating in political activities or engaging with political issues.

Question 7

Real-life example of political apathy can be seen in…

Answer 7

low voter turnout during local elections.

Question 8

Hapathy

Answer 8

When people are generally content and see no need to push for political change

Question 9

Referendum

Answer 9

A direct vote in which the citizens of a country or a specific region are asked to express their opinion or make a decision on a particular political, legal, or public policy issue.

Question 10

Devolution

Answer 10

A political process in which a central government transfers certain powers, responsibilities, and decision-making authority to regional or local governments within a country.

Question 11

An example of devolution

Answer 11

Scottish Devolution (1999): In 1999, the United Kingdom Parliament passed the Scotland Act, which established the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Question 12

Brexit

Answer 12

Portmanteau which refers to the United Kingdom’s (UK) decision to leave the European Union.

Question 13

Lobbying

Answer 13

Organised effort by individuals, groups, or organisations to influence government officials, legislators, or policymakers in order to shape, promote, or oppose specific policies, laws, regulations, or government decisions.

Question 14

Petition

Answer 14

A formal written request or appeal, typically signed by a group of individuals or members of the public, that is presented to a person, organisation, or government authority to express a specific demand, opinion or request for action.

Question 15

Pressure Group

Answer 15

An organised collection of individuals, organisations, or entities that actively works to influence public policies, government decisions, or specific issues within society.

Question 16

Pluralism

Answer 16

A concept that describes a diverse and open society in which multiple groups, organisations, and individuals with varying interests, values, and beliefs coexist and participate in the political and social decision-making processes.

Question 17

Elitism

Answer 17

Philosophy that holds that a society or system should be governed or controlled by a select group of individuals or organisations considered to be the most knowledgeable, capable, or deserving, often to the exclusion or marginalisation of the broader population

Question 18

Constitution

Answer 18

A fundamental and supreme legal document or set of principles that establishes the framework for the governance and organisation of a country, state, or organisation.

Question 19

Constitutionalism

Answer 19

The principle that a government’s powers should be limited and constrained by a written constitution that outlines the rules, structure, and rights within a count.

Question 20

Rule of Law

Answer 20

Rule of law means that everyone, including the government, is subject to and accountable under the law.

Question 21

Scrutiny

Answer 21

The close and detailed examination, monitoring, or oversight of government actions, policies and decisions.

Question 22

Oversight

Answer 22

The process by which a governing body supervises and reviews the activities, actions, and decisions of another branch or entity within the government.

Question 23

Reform

Answer 23

The process of making significant changes or improvements to existing laws, policies, inequalities, or inadequacies within a political system or society.

Question 24

Political Party

Answer 24

An organisation which exists to achieve particular public policy objectives by having members elected to Parliament.

Question 25

Political Spectrum

Answer 25

A conceptual framework that illustrates and categorises the range of political beliefs, ideologies, and positions that individuals and groups hold on various political issues.

Question 26

Left

Answer 26

A range of political ideologies and positions that advocate for progressive, egalitarian, and socially inclusive policies.

Question 27

Right

Answer 27

Range of political ideologies and positions that advocate for conservative, traditional, and often market-oriented policies.

Question 28

Centre

Answer 28

A position or ideology that falls between the left-wing and right-wing political spectrums.

Question 29

Think Tank

Answer 29

A research organisation or institute that conducts in-depth research and analysis on various political, social, economic, and policy-related issues.

Question 30

Supreme Court

Answer 30

The highest judicial body within a country’s legal system.

Question 31

supreme court example UK today

Answer 31

Lord Reed( Lord Robert John Reed) serves as the President of the Supreme Court. He has been a Justice of the Supreme Court since 2012.

Question 32

Sovereignty

Answer 32

The supreme and independent authority of a governing body to govern itself, make and enforce laws, and control its own territory without interference from external entities.

Question 33

Adversarial Politics

Answer 33

A political system or environment characterised by a competitive and confrontational approach to decision-making and governance.

Question 34

Consensus Politics

Answer 34

Striving to find common ground and building broad agreement on important issues rather than intense disagreements.

Question 35

Give an example where parties had resorted to consensus politics

Answer 35

The Conservative Party, led by David Cameron, and the Liberal Democrats, led by Nick Clegg, entered into a coalition government after no single party won an outright majority in the House of Commons.

Question 36

Backbencher

Answer 36

A member of a legislative body which may have less influence in policy making compared to senior or frontbench politicians.

Question 37

Salisbury Convention

Answer 37

A political convention/understanding in the United Kingdom that pertains to the relationship between the House of Commons (the lower house of Parliament) and the House of Lords (the upper house) in matters of legislation.

Question 38

Select Committees

Answer 38

Specialised committees within a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, responsible for specific areas of government oversight, investigation, and policy review.

Question 39

Name a select committee

Answer 39

The House of Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic played a crucial role in scrutinising the government’s response to the pandemic and assessing the impact of its policies on public health and social care.

Question 40

Legitimacy

Answer 40

The perceived or accepted right and authority of a government or governing institution to exercise power and make decisions on behalf of a society or a political entity.

Question 41

Mandate

Answer 41

The authority to carry out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or candidate that wins an election.

Question 42

Manifesto

Answer 42

Concise statement or document that outlines the goals, principles, and intentions of a political party.

Question 43

FPTP

Answer 43

Stands for “First-Past-The-Post,”- a simple voting system where the candidate who receives the most votes in an election wins, even if they don’t have the majority of all votes

Question 44

Government

Answer 44

The administrative and governing body of a country or political entity.

Question 45

Federalism

Answer 45

A system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central (national) government and smaller, regional governments.

Question 46

Unitary

Answer 46

A system of government in which all key powers and authority are concentrated at the national or central government level.

Question 47

Entrenchment

Answer 47

The act of safeguarding or protecting certain provisions, laws, or principles (constitution)
in a way that makes them difficult to change or remove.

Question 48

Codified

Answer 48

A set of rules, laws, or a constitution has been organised and written down into a single, formal document

Question 49

Uncodified

Answer 49

A system or framework in which the fundamental rules, laws, and principles of government are not organised into a single, formal written document.

Question 50

Statute Law

Answer 50

Laws that are created and enacted by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, through a formal legislative process.

Question 51

Conventions

Answer 51

Established and widely accepted practices, norms, or unwritten rules that guide the behaviour and interactions of political actors, institutions, and governments.