Key terminology - UK Gov

Question 1

the legislative

Answer 1

the branch of government responsible for passing laws (ie. parliament)

Question 1

the executive

Answer 1

the branch of government responsible for policy making and policy implementation (ie. PM, cabinet)

Question 2

policy

Answer 2

government ‘aspirations’ - what the government want to implement

Question 3

law

Answer 3

the legal commitment passed through houses of common + lord

Question 4

broadsheet

Answer 4

a newspaper style that is more catered towards ‘educated’ people instead of the tabloids (ie. the Sun)

Question 5

op-ed

Answer 5

(portmanteau - merging words tgt) opinion editorial - a newspaper column that represents a writer’s informed opinion on a topic to a targeted audience

Question 6

quorum

Answer 6

‘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

Question 7

consensus

Answer 7

to seek broad agreement

Question 8

convention

Answer 8

a repeated behaviour that becomes a normality / becomes normalised (a habit)

–> 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

Question 9

ecumenical (politically speaking)

Answer 9

being open minded and welcoming of all different parties and faiths etc.

(like the ecumenical church)

Question 10

consent (politically)

Answer 10

voluntary, willingness, and agreement to be governed

this is shown through voting

Question 11

reactionary

Answer 11

backward looking

Question 12

progressive

Answer 12

forward looking

Question 13

unitary system

Answer 13

a system where all laws are made in Westminster

Question 14

devolution

Answer 14

dispersal of power, but not sovereignty, within a political system

Question 15

asymmetric devolution

Answer 15

type of devolution where the various regions have been granted unequal amounts of power

Question 16

West Lothian Question

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

lobbyists

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

GOWA

Answer 18

Government of Wales Act

Question 19

policy

Answer 19

a set of intentions / political programme developed by parties or by governments.

• they reflect the political stance of parties and governments

Question 20

aggregation

Answer 20

process of converting policies, demands, and ideas into practical policy programmes for government

• eliminate contradictions and making compromises

Question 21

populism

Answer 21

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

Question 22

black rod

Answer 22

head of security in the Lords who summons the Commons at the State Opening

Question 23

clerk to the house

Answer 23

Senior permanent official, and adviser to the Speaker in the Commons

Question 24

Cross-benchers

Answer 24

peers who do not sit with government or opposition peers

Question 25

First lord of the treasury

Answer 25

an alternative name for the PM

Question 26

Leader of the House

Answer 26

cabinet minister who ensures efficient management of the Commons

→ Lucy Powell is the current leader of the house

Question 27

president of the Supreme Court

Answer 27

head of judiciary

Question 28

Ombudsman

Answer 28

Appointee who investigates MPs’ complaints of maladministration (neutral person who can mediate disputes)

Question 29

Shadow cabinet

Answer 29

group of opposition MPs with counterpart responsibilities to ministers

Question 30

Speaker

Answer 30

an MP who chairs debates and regulates proceedings in the Commons

Question 31

Whips

Answer 31

party managers responsible for ensuring healthy voting figures

Question 32

Civil servants

Answer 32

permanent administrative staff which stay regardless of which party is in power - they follow PAN

Question 33

legitimacy

Answer 33

the rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held agreements

(ie. government’s right to rule following an election)

Question 34

parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 34

the principle that Parliament can create, amend, or unmake any laws and cannot bind its successor nor be bound by its predecessors

Question 35

common law

Answer 35

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

Question 36

rule of law

Answer 36

1. no one is above the law
2. due process
3. only judges can administer and interpret the law as they’re experts

Question 37

unentrenched constitution

Answer 37

an unentrenched constitution has no special procedure for amendments to the constitution

Question 38

entrenched constitution

Answer 38

an entrenched constitution has specific and separate rules and procedures for amendments to the constitution

Question 39

constitution

Answer 39

a set of rules determining the relationship between the people and the state / government

and determining where sovereignty lies in a political system

Question 40

independence of the judiciary

Answer 40

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

Question 41

authoritative work

Answer 41

a work written by an expert describing how a political system is run

• not legally binding but is taken as a significant guide

Question 42

treaties

Answer 42

formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament

Question 43

quasi-federalism

Answer 43

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

Question 44

asymmetric devolution

Answer 44

type of devolution where the various regions have been granted unequal amounts of power

Question 45

Parliament

Answer 45

British legislature made up of HoC, HoL, and the monarch

Question 46

HoC

Answer 46

primary chamber of the UK legislature, directly elected by voters

Question 47

HoL

Answer 47

second chamber of the UK legislature, not directly elected by voters

(appointed by the PM)

Question 48

Backbenchers

Answer 48

MPs or Lords who do not hold any government office (not a cabinet member)

Question 49

bicameral

Answer 49

a legislative body made up of two (bi) chambers (camera)

Question 50

ballot

Answer 50

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

Question 51

legislative bill

Answer 51

proposed law passing through Parliament

Question 52

confidence and supply

Answer 52

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

Question 53

secondary legislation

Answer 53

only done by members of the cabinet (government ministers)

They can change laws, regulations, and orders without going through the full legislative process