Theme B Flashcards

1
Q

What does canvassing mean

A

When people try to persuade others to vote for their party in an election

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2
Q

What does hustings mean

A

A meeting in which candidates in an election speak to the voters.

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3
Q

What is direct democracy

A

A form of democracy in which everyone votes on every decision in a referendum

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4
Q

What is representative democracy

A

A form of democracy in which people elect a representative to make decisions for them.

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5
Q

What is a constituency

A

An area represented by an MP

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6
Q

What is first past the post

A

An electoral system where voters have one vote in their constituency and the candidate with the most votes wins a seat

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7
Q

How old do you have to be to vote

A

18

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8
Q

What is a political manifesto

A

contains the set of policies that the party stands for and would wish to implement if elected to govern.

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9
Q

What are positives of representative democracy

A
  • every citizen can have a say
  • If their is a high turnout it’s more representative
  • no wasted votes
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10
Q

What are weakness of representative democracy

A
  • Could cause coalition govs
  • Extrimest groups can easily partake
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11
Q

What are the strengths of direct democracy

A
  • Most democratic way to make a decision
  • Referendums give a democracy a clear directive
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12
Q

What are weaknesses of direct democracy

A
  • Often issues are more complex than a yes/no vote
  • If results are close many people may be unhappy
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13
Q

How does FPTP operate

A

The candidates with the most votes within a constituency is elected as MP (a party must win in 326 constituencies or more to form majority)

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14
Q

Who can vote in a general election

A
  • People 18+
  • Members of parliament
  • Candidates standing for election
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15
Q

Who cannot vote in an election

A
  • Members of the house of Lords
  • Economic migrants from the EU
  • Convicted prisoners
    *Persons found guilty of election corruption (barred for 5 years)
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16
Q

Arguments FOR changing the franchise

A
  • Should be able to have say in their future as a government is elected for 5 years
  • Legally allowed to choose their medical treatment as well as other major choices
  • Are more progressive than previous generations
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17
Q

Arguments AGAINST extending the franchise

A
  • 16 year olds are not well informed
  • Might be influenced by friends or parents
  • Legal recognised age to be an adult is 18
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18
Q

How often do general elections occur

A

Every 5 years

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19
Q

Strengths of using FPTP

A
  • A simple system to understand
  • Results are calculated quickly
  • Creates good constituency-MP relationships
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20
Q

Weaknesses of FPTP

A
  • Only winning votes within a constituency count everything else becomes wasted votes
  • Some constituencies are ‘safe seats’ reducing voter turnout
  • Tends to produce a two party system
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21
Q

Strengths of proportional representation

A
  • Offers more choice to votes
  • Fairer to minority candidates as no vote is wasted
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22
Q

Weaknesses of proportional representation

A
  • Produces more coalition governments
  • Allows extremists in the political mainstream
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23
Q

What is the process of forming a coalition government and it’s weakness

A

Party with the most seats may form coalition with the support of another party
* makes it more difficult to pass laws

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24
Q

What is the role of the
monarch

A
  • Appointing the government
  • Reading the speech at the state opening of parliament
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25
Q

What is the cabinet

A

A group of MPs who head major government departments. It meets weekly to make decisions about how government policy will be carried.

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26
Q

What’s a coalition government

A

A government made of more than one party.

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27
Q

What are ministerial departments

A

departments in their own right, established to deliver a specific function

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28
Q

What are the key administrated departments

A
  • Department for education
  • The home office
  • Her majesty’s treasure
  • Ministry of defence
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29
Q

What are the roles of a senior civil service

A
  • prepare legislation
  • brief their government minister
  • meet with representatives of different groups
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30
Q

What are the two duties of a senior civil servant

A
  • Undertake the preparation and presentation of new policies
  • advise ministers on policies minsters want to present in government
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31
Q

What is the role of civil servants

A

provides services directly to people all over the country

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32
Q

What is the executive

A

Makes the policies and puts it into practice. It is made up of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Civil Service

33
Q

What is the judiciary

A

Make judgements about the law. It is made up of judges and magistrates in courts

34
Q

What is the legislature

A

Makes laws and made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

35
Q

What does bi-cameral mean

A

A political system of two houses (Commons and Lords)

36
Q

What is the black rod

A

The person who has ceremonial duties in the Palace of Westminster including bringing MPs to the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament.

37
Q

What is royal assent

A

When the King formally agrees to make the bill into an Act of Parliament (law)

38
Q

What is the role of the House of commons

A
  • Debating and passing laws
  • Making decisions on financial bills
  • Preparing questions to be answered at PMQ’s (prime minister questioning)
39
Q

What is the role of the house of Lords

A
  • Debating and passing laws
  • scrutinise and amend new laws
  • provide expertise in specific areas
40
Q

roles of PM

A
  • Leadership of the country
  • Setting policy in line with their manifesto
  • Leadership of the party
41
Q

Roles of the cabinet

A
  • Proposing new laws
  • Making decisions of national issues
42
Q

What is the opposition

A

The second biggest party in house of commons

43
Q

What is the role of the opposition

A

Holds cabinet minsters to account through scrutiny

44
Q

What is the role of the speaker

A

The MP who elected to act as chairman to keep order in debates within the House of Commons.

45
Q

What are the whips

A

responsible for other MPs attending Parliament and voting along party lines

46
Q

What are front bench MP’s

A

Those with minister positions who are spokespeople for the party

47
Q

What are back benchers

A

MP who does not hold a cabinet position is called a Backbencher

48
Q

What is a bill

A

A proposal to change something into law.

49
Q

What is green paper

A

puts forward ideas that the government wants discussed before it starts to develop a policy

50
Q

What is white paper

A

Puts the government policy up for discussion before it becomes law.

51
Q

What is parliamentary ping pong

A

When the bill goes back and forth between houses until an agreement is established

52
Q

What is the order of making a law

A
  1. Green paper
    2.. White paper
  2. First reading
  3. Second reading
  4. Committee stage
  5. Report stage
  6. Third reading
  7. Royal assent
53
Q

What is parliamentary sovereignty

A

Parliament is the legal authority that can make and amend laws

54
Q

What is the British constitution made up of

A
  • Laws and legislation
  • Conventions over time
  • Common law developed by judges
55
Q

What does uncodified constitution

A

a system of government that does not have a single written document that outlines the fundamental principles and laws of the land

56
Q

What is a codified constitutions

A

A single document that outlines the way the gov is run

57
Q

Examples of how the uncodifying constitution is changing

A
  • Devolution
  • EU membership’
58
Q

What is devolution

A

The transfer of power from central to regional government

59
Q

Why is judiciary review important

A

enables people to ensure their legal protected human rights are upheld

60
Q

What does Scotland’s devolved plans include

A
  • environment focus
  • agriculture
  • education
61
Q

What was Wales devolution include

A

Promotion of Welsh Language

62
Q

Arguments for Scottish independence

A
  • Decisions about Scotland should be make by Scottish citizens
  • Would not have to fight British wars
  • Scottish taxation and spending would make a more successful country
63
Q

Arguments against Scottish independence

A
  • UK is an influential member of the UN and NATO devolving would lose that influence
  • Would have to create a currency union to continue using the pound
64
Q

What is direct taxing

A

Taxes paid by a person or organisation

65
Q

What is income tax

A

Tax on wages when you earn a certain amount

66
Q

What is inheritance tax

A

Tax on money left to you when someone has diedC

67
Q

orporation tax

A

A percentage tax based on profits a buiness make

68
Q

National Insurance contributions

A

A for of taxation based on income

69
Q

Council tax

A

Tax paid annually based on the value of property you live in

70
Q

What is indirect tax

A

Taxes paid on goods and services

71
Q

What is VAT

A

Tax on most goods and services

72
Q

Excise duties

A

Tax on items like tobacco or alchol

73
Q

What is government revenue

A

The money raised by the government.

74
Q

What is central government vs local government

A

Central: PM and cabinet
Local: The council

75
Q

what is the HMRC responsible for

A
  • collection of taxation
  • payment of types of state support
  • administration of minimum wage
76
Q

What is the role of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

A
  • Raising revenue
  • Controlling how gov revenue is spent
  • Leading the Treasury
77
Q

What is the budget

A

The process each year when the Chancellor of The Exchequer explains how the government will raise and spend its money.

78
Q

What is the Chancellor of Exchequer

A

The member of the government who is responsible for the country’s finances.