Key terminology - UK Gov Flashcards
the legislative
the branch of government responsible for passing laws (ie. parliament)
the executive
the branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation (ie. PM, cabinet)
policy
government ‘aspirations’ - what the government want to implement
law
the legal commitment passed through houses of common + lord
broadsheet
a newspaper style that is more catered towards ‘educated’ people instead of the tabloids (ie. the Sun)
op-ed
(portmanteau - merging words tgt) opinion editorial - a newspaper column that represents a writer’s informed opinion on a topic to a targeted audience
quorum
‘Are all the important people here?’ - a meeting can only proceed by having the most important people there at a minimum
Ie. We are quorate
consensus
to seek broad agreement
convention
a repeated behaviour that becomes a normality / becomes normalised (a habit)
A TRADITION NOT CONTAINED IN THE LAW BUT INFLUENTIAL IN THE OPERATION OF A POLITICAL SYSTEM
–> These conventions changes because of zeitgeist (spirit of the age) which changes public opinion
traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system
ecumenical (politically speaking)
being open minded and welcoming of all different parties and faiths etc.
(like the ecumenical church)
consent (politically)
voluntary, willingness, and agreement to be governed
this is shown through voting
- in a Parliamentary democracy (UK), the elected Parliament can grant consent on behalf of the people
reactionary
backward looking
progressive
forward looking
unitary system
a system where all laws are made in Westminster
devolution
dispersal of power, but not sovereignty, within a political system
asymmetric devolution
type of devolution where the various regions have been granted unequal amounts of power
West Lothian Question
Issue raised concerning the problem of MPs that represented devolved areas being able to vote on matters that would only affect England but English MPs couldn’t do the same for those devolved bodies.
lobbyists
people who meet and discuss with MPs to try and influence policy - they can be hired by a specific company or not…
(there are more stricter rules with that they can or cannot do (ie. dine someone out) to prevent briebry)
GOWA
Government of Wales Act
policy
a set of intentions / political programme developed by parties or by governments.
- they reflect the political stance of parties and governments
aggregation
process of converting policies, demands, and ideas into practical policy programmes for government
- eliminate contradictions and making compromises
populism
a political movement and way of campaigning that appeals to people’s emotions and prejudices by telling them what they want to hear.
They often find support by people who feel neglected by the other major groups
- a reactionary movement and often looks to a more popular idea of the past instead of looking to progressive movements for change
black rod
head of security in the Lords who summons the Commons at the State Opening
clerk to the house
Senior permanent official, and adviser to the Speaker in the Commons
Cross-benchers
peers who do not sit with government or opposition peers
First lord of the treasury
an alternative name for the PM
Leader of the House
cabinet minister who ensures efficient management of the Commons
→ Lucy Powell is the current leader of the house
president of the Supreme Court
head of judiciary
Ombudsman
Appointee who investigates MPs’ complaints of maladministration (neutral person who can mediate disputes)
Shadow cabinet
group of opposition MPs with counterpart responsibilities to ministers
Speaker
an MP who chairs debates and regulates proceedings in the Commons
Whips
party managers responsible for ensuring healthy voting figures
Civil servants
permanent administrative staff which stay regardless of which party is in power - they follow PAN
legitimacy
the rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held agreements
(ie. government’s right to rule following an election)
parliamentary sovereignty
the principle that Parliament can create, amend, or unmake any laws and cannot bind its successor nor be bound by its predecessors
common law
laws made by judges in cases where the law does not cover the issue or is unclear
- use their professional judgment to make a conclusion
(judge made law)
rule of law
- no one is above the law
- due process
- only the juduicary can administer and interpret the law as they’re experts
unentrenched constitution
an unentrenched constitution has no special procedure for amendments to the constitution
entrenched constitution
an entrenched constitution has specific and separate rules and procedures for amendments to the constitution
constitution
a set of rules determining the relationship between the people and the state / government
and determining where sovereignty lies in a political system
independence of the judiciary
the judiciary branch of government is independent to the legislature and executive (other branches of government)
each branch has separate powers and can check each other’s power
authoritative work
a work written by an expert describing how a political system is run
- not legally binding but is taken as a significant guide
treaties
formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament
quasi-federalism
system of devolution where the place is essentially a federal system even though it is not in strict constitutional terms
- this usually occurs as power is difficult to be returned to the central government
asymmetric devolution
type of devolution where the various regions have been granted unequal amounts of power
Parliament
British legislature made up of HoC, HoL, and the monarch
HoC
primary chamber of the UK legislature, directly elected by voters
HoL
second chamber of the UK legislature, not directly elected by voters
(appointed by the PM)
Backbenchers
MPs or Lords who do not hold any government office (not a cabinet member)
bicameral
a legislative body made up of two (bi) chambers (camera)
ballot (not the box)
in legislation - a means (the process) by which an MP may introduce a private members bill (PMB) with the opportunity for full discussion and debate with allocated time
legislative bill
proposed law passing through Parliament
confidence and supply
the right to remove the government and to grant or withhold funding
also used to describe a type of informal coalition agreement
- minority partner agrees to provide things mentioned above in exchange for policy and concessions
secondary legislation
only done by members of the cabinet (government ministers)
They can change laws, regulations, and orders without going through the full legislative process
- require Parliamentary approval but don’t have to go through the entire legislative process
statute law
law passed by Parliament
Uncodified
not written down in one place - no single authoritative document
ie. the UK has an unmodified constitution
codified
written in one place - a single authoritative document
ie. the US’s codified constitution is The Constitution
unitary system
a system where all legal sovereignty is contained in a single place
federal system
a system where legal sovereignty is shared between a national government and regional governments
(UK = Quasi-Federal system cause of devolution)
delegated legislation
laws and regulations made by ministers and other public bodies under powers granted by Parliament
- mostly don’t require parliamentary approval but Parliament reserves the right to review them
the core executive
the heart of government with a NETWORK of multiple actors.
It also refers to the organisations and people who coordinate central government activity.
- PM
- Ministers (PM’s cabinet) + junior ministers
- coordinating departments - cabinet office
- senior civil servants
the executive
PM, Cabinet, Junior ministers
aka - ‘the government’
10 Downing Street
residence of the PM, but also sometimes used to refer to the PM’s office
PM’s Office
Senior civil servants and special advisers, based at 10 Downing Street, who advise and support the PM
Commander in chief
describes the person who has ultimate control over the deployment of the armed forces
- security services
- intelligence services
–> PM holds this position, delegated by the monarch
presidential government
executive dominated by one individual
- can be the president
- also describes a strong dominant PM
cabinet government
system of government in which executive power is vested in a cabinet
- members exercise collective responsibility rather than a single office
- the PM is ‘first among equals’ – has institutional resources that the other ministers don’t
- BUT cannot act unilaterally (individually)
Prime-ministerial government
system of government where the PM is the dominant force and is able to bypass the cabinet
- cabinet can advise and warn the PM but cannot decide policy
political leadership
exercise of power over public policy-making by an individual or institution
bilateral meeting
meeting between the PM and a departmental minister in which policy is agreed
presidentialisation
idea that the UK PM(s) have taken on some of the characteristics of presidents
- DOESNT MEAN THAT THE PM IS BECOMING THE SAME AS THE US PRESIDENT
- characterised by spatial leadership (distance between PM and their government)
- characterised by public outreach (tendency of the PM to directly reach out to the public)
traditional authority
an authority that is considered legitimate because it has existed for a long historical period.
- PM authority is traditional because they inherit the traditional authority of the monarchy
power V authority
power
- the ABILITY to achieve political ends
authority
- the RIGHT to exercise power
ministerial code
rules of conduct as determined by the current PM
- how members of their government should behave
- how ministers treat their civil servants
–> Any MP can request an investigation by the Cabinet Secretary for any minister breaching the ministerial code
- but whether or not an investigation takes place is up to the PM
The Cabinet
PM and senior ministers (lead a particular government department)
A Minister
An MP or Lord that is appointed to a position in the government
- exercises specific responsibilities in a department
Government department
part of the executive
- specific responsibility over an area (education, health, defence)
collective responsibility
The principle by which ministers must support Cabinet decisions or leave the executive
individual responsibility
The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conducts and for their departments
cabinet committee (cab-comms)
subcommittees of the cabinet appointed by the PM to consider aspects of government business
- Where PM (or Chancellor - never both)
- Department Minster
- Junior minister
- Permanent Secretary of the Department
–> They’re all present to create / discuss legislation
Cabinet reshuffle
Series of changes to the personnel of the cabinet and the positions they occupy
- instigated by the PM
Bi-lateral committees
A PM and a Minister talk legislation 1 on 1
