Key Terminology Flashcards
the political spectrum
communism
socialism
liberalism
conservatism
fascism
what is the left wing?
Favours nationalisation of public services large state intervention in social and economic policy and greater equality
Desires change and reform to society
Tend to be critical of capitalist and free market economy
what is liberalism?
favours less state intervention but some regulation from the government on key policies
what is the right wing?
Favours privatisation of public services less state intervention in social and economic policy and greater personal autonomy
supports the concept of status quo, which involves little or no change to society
stresses the importance of order, stability, hierarchy and private property
what are some parties defined as?
some parties are defined by single issues
for example, UKIPs overriding cause has been withdrawal from the EU
but parties usually develop a wide range of policies on other issues to broaden their support base
what is a political party?
a group of like-minded individuals with shared goals and similar beliefs who wish to win general elections and be elected into public office to form a government
carry out policy commitments linked to their core ideas
what is a manifesto?
A pre-election policy document where parties set out a series of political pledges and legislative proposals that they want to implement if they are elected into office
The latter years of the 20th century saw party leaders taking direct control of the process of drafting the election manifesto — For example in 1992 the Conservative leader John Major famously declared that the party’s manifesto was “all me”
what is a mandate?
The right of a party to pursue and implement the policies it sets out in its general election manifesto when it is elected into office
the authority to govern, which is derived from an electoral victory
Popular support for the wining party at the ballot box is taken as support for the manifesto that the party presented to voters during the election campaign
Allows the governing party to pursue its stated policies without the need to go back to voters for further approval, such as through a referendum
The mandate does not require the government to deliver on its manifesto promises or prevent it from drafting proposals that were not included in its manifesto
what is the Salisbury Doctrine?
the constitutional convention that the House of Lords does not block or try to wreck legislation that was promised in the manifesto of the governing party
Holds that the unelected House of Lords should not, at second reading, oppose any bill that was included in the governing party’s manifesto at the time of the general election
The origins of the doctrine was developed by Conservative Prime Minister Lord Salisbury in the late 19th century, Who suggested that general election victory gives the governing party the authority to implement the program it presented to the electorate
The Salisbury doctrine then developed in the 1940s as an acceptance that the unelected Lords should not frustrate the will of the elected Commons
example of the electoral mandate in practice: House of Lords reform
In its 1997 general election manifesto the Labour Party promised to remove the rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords
The party’s landslide victory in the election therefore handed the party a strong mandate to fulfil this first stage of Lords reform and it duly delivered with the House of Lords act 1999
