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