Politics and Participation Flashcards
Anarchy
A system where no form of government operates. When there is a total breakdown in society, for example, after a civil war a state of anarchy is said to exist.
Dictatorship
Rule by one person or group. This group is all-powerful. Often associated with a military takeover of a state.
One-Party State
A state where only one political party exists and runs the country; often associated with a communist form of government, for example, North Korea.
Theocracy
Where religious leaders run the state. An example is Iran.
Democracy
A system of government based upon the consent of the people through an open and fair electoral system, where electors can choose from competing political parties or groups.
Direct Democracy
A system of government where all citizens take part in decision-making. A modern form of direct democracy is the use of referendums.
Liberal Democracy
A system of government based upon representative democracy and linked to freedoms and rights for citizens.
Representative Democracy
A system of government where citizens are elected to represent others in an assembly. A UK example would be an MP or councillor.
Freedom
The ability to act, speak or think as one thinks.
Responsibility
The state of fact of having to do something.
Right
A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.
Bicameral
The name given to a parliament made up of two chambers, like the UK system with the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Civil Service
Employees of the state who administer our public policy.
Legislature
A body normally elected that decides upon the laws that apply to a state. In the UK, Parliament is the legislature; in the USA, Congress is the legislature.
Manifesto
A document produced by a political party at the time of an election outlining the policies it would like to introduce.
The Monarchy
A system of hereditary power, which is passed down a family line. In the UK we have a constitutional monarchy, where the head of state is the monarch, but most of their powers have been transferred to the government and the monarch is seen as a neutral national symbol. Currently the monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. Her son Charles is next in line to the throne. A constitutional monarch has limited power and works within the constitution of their country.
The Prime Minister
Is the head of government in the UK, the monarch is Head of State. In the USA, the President holds both posts. The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons and is an MP. He or she is appointed by the monarch after a General Election. They have the title First Lord of the Treasury.
Central Government
Term used to describe the government of the United Kingdom.
Devolution
The transfer of power from a greater to a lesser body.
Tiers
Another term for levels of government.
Ultra Vires
Acting beyond your legal power or authority.
Devolved and Reserved Powers
Devolved powers are those transferred by the UK government to the devolved governments. Reserved powers are those which are still held by the UK government.
Devolved Powers
Name given to the bodies created under the policy of devolution: e.g. the Scottish Parliament.
General Election
An election when the entire UK Parliament is elected. Elections are held after a fixed five-year period after the previous election.
Local Elections
Elections held for councillors to local councils, held on a fixed date in May after the fixed term of office has expired.
The Electoral Commission
A government-established body that monitors and oversees all UK elections and referendums.
Voter Apathy
A lack of interest by citizens in the electoral and political process.
Voter Turnout
The percentage of voters who do vote against the total number who are registered to vote.
Autumn Statement
An annual statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the House of Commons about the spending plans of the government.
Budget
An annual statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the House of Commons about the taxation policy for the forthcoming year.
Command Economy
A national economy where all elements of the economic system are controlled by the government.
Market Economy
A national economy where most of the economy is run by the private sector and the state owns and runs limited elements.
Mixed Economy
A national economy that has elements run and owned by the state and others run by the private sector.
Nationalised
Where the state owns and runs a part of the economy.
Real Government Spending
The change in the amount a government spends after taking account of inflation.
Inflation
The rate at which prices and wages increase on an annual basis.
By-Election
An election held in a seat after the retirement or death of the sitting member.
Constituencies
A named geographical area consisting on average of about 65,000 voters which elects a single MP to the UK Parliament.
First Past the Post
An election system based upon the person with the highest number of votes cast being elected.
Proportional
A system of voting whereby the number of people elected related to the number (%) of votes cast.
Supplementary Vote
A voting system used in the UK where voters have a second vote which is used in the election process if no candidate gets 50% of the first-choice votes.
Core Executive
The most important policy makers within the executive around the Prime Minister.
Executive
The element of government made up of government ministers, advisors and senior civil servants who determine the policy of government.
Legislature
A body that determines the law; in the UK that body is Parliament.
Special Advisor
Specialist and political advisors to ministers and opposition spokes-persons, can have temporary civil service status, paid for by the taxpayer.
Supreme Court
Is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It hears cases of great public or constitutional importance affecting the whole population.
House of Commons
The first chamber of Parliament made up 650 elected members. The government is formed based on the composition of this chamber. It is a legislative chamber that also holds the government to account.
House of Lords
The second chamber of the Parliament. Since 1911, far less important than the House of Commons. Its main purpose is as a revising chamber. Made up of non-elected members.
Lords Spiritual
The 26 bishops of the Church of England who are members of the House of Lords.
Sailsbury Convention
A post-war convention whereby the House of Lords does not vote down a proposal from the Commons if it was in the election manifesto of the government.
Conservativsm
An eighteenth-century political ideology based upon traditional belief in the family and the church and nationalism. It has a paternalistic approach to community affairs. This ideology has evolved to encompass the New Right to Christian Democrats.
Liberalism
A political philosophy dating from the eighteenth century, based on individual liberty, freedom of worship and free trade. It evolved into social liberalism, with a concern for welfare rights. It encompasses Liberal parties to Free Democrats to Radical parties.
Multi-Party System
A political system where several parties are vying for power.
New Right
A view of conservatism, linked to Ronald Reagan in the USA and Margaret Thatcher in the UK in the 1980s, that limiting the impact of the state on business and lowering taxation and what services the state provides, was the best means of increasing national wealth and allowed for personal empowerment and increased social mobility.
Socialism
A political ideology dating mainly from the nineteenth century, based upon the common ownership of the economy, equality and opportunity. It encompasses parties, ranging from the Communists to Social Democrats.
Two-Party System
A political system that is dominated by two political parties, each of which may at some time form a government.
Department Select Committees
Committees of the House of Commons made up of MPs who monitor the work of a government department and publish reports on the work of the department.
PMQs
3O minutes each Wednesday when the Prime Minister faces questions from MPs in the chamber of the House of Commons. Six questions are allocated to the Leader of the Opposition.
Question Time
The time allocated each week in parliament where ministers face Questions from Members of Parliament and are held to account for their actions.
Private Member’s Bill
A bill, a draft for a law, that is proposed by a Member of Parliament. A lottery is held each year and if an MP comes out towards the top, they stand a chance of their bill becoming law.
Backbenchers
Members of the House of Commons who are not government ministers or opposition spokespersons. They sit behind the back row of seats in the Chamber: hence, the name backbencher.
Frontbenchers
Government minister or shadow ministers who sit on the front row of seats in the House of Commons chamber facing each other across the table in the chamber.
Lord Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Lords
The Speaker
A Member of Parliament elected by other members to chair the proceedings of the House of Commons and manage the business of the House.
Whips
Members of parliament appointed by their party leader to organise their MPs, ensuring their attendance and their vote.
NDPBs
Non-Departmental Government Bodies
Quangos
Quasi Autonomous Non-Government Organisations. These are bodies which work with government, sometimes carrying out services on behalf of government and funded by government, but partially independent from government. Government now uses the term NDPBs to describe them, as the word Quango is associated with negative media coverage of those bodies.
Closed Party List System
The electoral system used in England, Scotland and Wales to elect MEPs.
Transnational Groupings
A political grouping in the European Parliament made up of MEPs from several countries.
Non-Democratic
A system of government that lacks some or all of the elements that make up a democratic political system.
