keywords Flashcards

1
Q

democracy

A

a system where power is held by ‘the people’

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2
Q

direct democracy

A

a system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue

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3
Q

representative democracy

A

a system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf

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4
Q

constitution

A

a set of principles, which may be unwritten or unwritten establishing distribution of power, limits of government, rights of citizens and rules to amend the constitution itself

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5
Q

the enlightenment

A

a wide ranging philosophical, cultural and scientific movement that took place in 18th century europe

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6
Q

demagogues

A

they were popular and good speakers which won people over

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7
Q

manifesto

A

a list of promises a party make and say they will do

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8
Q

first-past-the-post system

A

whoever gets the most votes wins (doesn’t have to be over 50%)

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9
Q

liberal democracy

A

widespread vote and everyones interests are taken into account

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10
Q

majoritarian democracy

A

desires of the majority are the prime things considered

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11
Q

parliamentary democracy

A

parliament is sovereign and executive is elected from it

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12
Q

presidential democracy

A

executive is elected separate from legislative body

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13
Q

pluralist democracy

A

idea that there is competition between different groups who represent different concerns.

power is evenly/widely spread across society and government

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14
Q

functions of democracy

A
  • representation
  • education
  • participation
  • accountability
  • legitimacy
  • power dispersal
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15
Q

magnacarta (1215)

A

first point a document states there are limits to a kings power

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16
Q

features of a codified Constitution

A
  • often formed after a particular point in a country’s history
  • contains rules for amending it
  • codification implies that constitutional rules are higher than others
  • gives/upholds citizen rights
  • provides a focus for national identification
  • citizens can easily access it
  • creates a 2 tier legal system
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17
Q

parliamentary sovereignty

A

It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK which can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.

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18
Q

rule of law

A

means that everyone is equal in terms of the law, also holds public officials acccountable for unlawful actions

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19
Q

the unitary state

A

when a state is highly centralised

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20
Q

parliamentary government

A

a political system in which government takes place through parliament and in which the executive and legislative branches are fused

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21
Q

sources of the uk constitution

A
  • authoritative works
  • convention
  • royal perogative
  • statute law
  • EU law
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22
Q

functions of elections

A
  • maintains democracy
  • electing government, PM’s & MP’s
  • accountability
  • legitimacy
  • elite recruitment
  • education to public
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23
Q

electoral commission

A

stop rule breaking and corruption as well as a free and impartial judiciary

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24
Q

elitists

A

think elections provide authority and stability for the political system, focus on governing

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25
Q

democratic theorists

A

prioritise the role of the people in political processes

26
Q

majoritarian system

A

an electoral system in which the winning candidate must achieve an absolute majority of votes cast in a single member constituency

27
Q

plurality system

A

an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a single member constituency wins

28
Q

minority mandate

A

MP has support of less than half of the voters in their constituency

29
Q

majority mandate

A

MP has the support of more than half of voters in their constituency

30
Q

separation of powers

A

idea that all the branches of a political system should be separate

31
Q

supplementary vote

A
  • voter records 2 preferences
  • if no one wins majority of 1st preferences, all but top 2 are eliminated
  • 2nd preferences are added to the top 2 candidates votes
  • the candidate with the highest total is elected
32
Q

single transferable vote

A
  • voting is preferential (numbers next to names)
33
Q

additional member system

A
  • elements of fptp and the list system

- electors cast 2 votes

34
Q

neo-liberalism

A

capitalist view, free marketers

35
Q

one nation tories

A

bigger state, higher tax, post war consensus, benefitting all classes, increase public spending

36
Q

elections

A

a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.

37
Q

referendums

A

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision

38
Q

referendums

A

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision

39
Q

local referendums

A

establish directly elected mayors, council tax increase, congestion charges, neighbourhood plans & parish polls

40
Q

national Referendums

A

held for constitutional change, coalition agreements, political pressure & party management

41
Q

impacts of referendums

A
  • direct democracy
  • parliamentary sovereignty
  • representative democracy
  • constitutional convention
42
Q

renaissance

A
  • started in the 1400s
  • means ‘rebirth’
  • people began to think rationally
  • people delved from religious views
43
Q

enlightenment

A
  • started in the 18th/19th century

- introduction of reason and logic, the questioning of dogma

44
Q

dogma

A

an engraned belief or automatic assumption

45
Q

state of nature

A

pre historic time period where there were small family bands of hunter gatherers

46
Q

the harm principle

A

government should only act against a persons liberty if they are a danger to others

47
Q

utilitarianism

A

the greatest good for the greatest number

48
Q

transitional liberalism

A

bridge between classical liberalism and modern liberalism

49
Q

ultra vires

A

latin term meaning ‘beyond the powers’ - when a government acts outside of their limit

50
Q

judicial independence

A

means that judges themselves are free from political pressure

51
Q

judicial neutrality

A

suggests that judges themselves are free from political bias

52
Q

classical liberalism

A
  • negative freedom
  • absence of restraint
  • minimal state
  • mechanist theory
  • equal rights
53
Q

modern liberalism

A
  • social justice
  • positive liberty
  • equality of opportunity
  • enabling state
  • moved towards socialism
  • beveridge report
54
Q

neo liberalism

A
  • founded by Friedrich Van Hayek
  • updated classical liberalism?
  • free people from state
  • reduce public spending
55
Q

civil rights

A

rights of citizens to political and social freedom as well as equality
e.g. gender & race rights

56
Q

civil liberties

A

rights that are guaranteed in law

e.g. right to a fair trial

57
Q

manifesto

A

a document of intentions a party sets out to achieve

58
Q

mandate

A

the authority to carry out a policy written in the manifesto

59
Q

solisbury doctrine

A

a document stating the House of Lords cannot oppose manifesto bills

60
Q

5 roles of political parties

A
  • representation
  • encouraging participation
  • recruitment
  • formulation (making policy)
  • provide stable government