Key terms Flashcards
What is legitimacy?
the rightful use of power
What are think tanks?
A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic/issue
What is suffrage/franchise?
The ability/right to vote
What are lobbyists?
Are paid by clients to try and influence the government and/or MPs and members of the house of lords to act in their clients interests?
What is a constitution?
A set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system
What are treaties?
Formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by parliament
What is a manifesto?
In a manifesto, a political party will spell out what actions and programmes they would introduce if they were to be elected
What is a mandate?
The successful party following an election claims it has authority to implement its manifesto
What is class dealignment?
Class dealignment is a process in which members of a social class no longer vote for the party that their class is aligned with.
What is partisan dealignment?
Where individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis by being associated with a political party
What is pluralist democracy?
a system of government decisions as a result of listening and responding to a wide range of competing groups and organisations
What is direct democracy?
All individuals express their opinions themselves and not having someone representing them
What is representative democracy?
When an individual selects a person/party to act on their behalf
What is the social contract theory?
The relationship between individuals and those in power have a contract where we give consent to those in power to have the power
What does coercion mean?
Use of force
What is the Westminster model?
Where there is a fusion between the executive and the legislature
What does democracy mean?
people power
What is a coalition government?
More than one party running the country
What is minority government?
No majority seats of one party in the house of commons
What is mandate?
legitimacy
What is first-past-the-post?
An electoral system where the person with the most votes is elected
What is clicktivism?
refers to the use of social media and other online methods to promote a cause simply by clicking on an endorsement
what is democratic deficit?
a flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having ben appointed with sufficient democratic input
what is the executive?
the collective group of Prime Minister, Cabinet and junior ministers. also known as the government
What is secondary legislation?
Powers given to the executive by parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules
What is government department?
A part of executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education
What is individual responsibility?
When ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and their departments
What is collective responsibility?
when ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive
What is one nation?
Paternalistic conservatism that was adopted by Benjamin Disraeli in which the rich have an obligation to the poor
What is modern liberalism?
An idea that reflects a reaction against free market capitalism, believing it to leave too many individuals not being genuinely free
