Theme B Flashcards
Canvassing
When the people try to persuade others to vote for their party in an election.
Constituency
The area represented by an MP.
Direct democracy
A form of democracy in which everyone votes on every decision using referendums.
General election
An election for a new government. In the UK, these take place at least every five years.
Hustings
A meeting at which candidates in an election speak to the voters.
Referendum
A vote by the whole electorate on a particular issue.
Representative democracy
A form of democracy in which people elect a representative to make decisions for them.
Back Benchers
MPs who do not hold office in the government or opposition; they sit on the back benches in the House of Commons.
Cabinet
A group of MPs who head major government departments. It meets weekly to make decisions about how government policy will be carried out. Senior Ministers from the Lords are also represented.
Coalition
A government made of more than one party. It is formed when no one party has enough seats to form a government.
Front benchers
MPs who hold office in the government or opposition. They sit on the front benches in the House of Commons.
House of Commons
The more powerful of the two parts of the British Parliament. Its members are elected by the public.
Opposition
Political parties that are not in power.
Prime minister
The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons and the leader of the government.
Shadow cabinet
MPs from the main opposition party who ‘shadow’ MPs who head major government departments.
Speaker
The MP elected to act as chairman for debates in the House of Commons.
Bi- cameral
The UK Parliament is bi-cameral because it has two Houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Black rod
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.
The executive
Make policy and put it into practice. It is made up of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Civil Service.
The Judiciary
Makes judgments about the law. It is made up of judges and magistrates in courts.
The Legislature
Make laws. It is made up of the House of Lords and House of Commons.
Minister of state
An assistant to the Secretary of State.
Secretary of State
An MP who is in charge of a government department such as health or defence.
Accountable
If you are accountable for something, you are responsible for it and have to explain your actions.
Act of Parliament
A law passed by Parliament.
Bill
A proposal to change something into law.
Green paper
This puts forward ideas that the government wants discussed before it starts to develop a policy.
White paper
This puts government policy up for discussion before it becomes law.
Primary legislation
The general term used to describe the main laws passed by the legislative bodies of the UK, including the UK Parliament.
Secondary legislation
Law created by ministers (or other bodies) under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament (primary legislation).
Assembly
A body of people elected to decide on some areas of spending in a region.
Devolution
The transfer of power from central to regional government.
British Constitution
The laws and conventions which set down how the UK is governed.
Judicial Review
A review carried out by the High Court to decide whether a decision made by a public body has been made properly.
Parliamentary Inquiry
An enquiry set up to investigate actions taken by government departments and public bodies.
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Parliament is the top legal body and can pass new laws or stop old laws.
Select Committee
One of the committees that check and report on the work of government departments.
House of commons
This is where 650 elected MPs sit and debate new laws. Each MP represents a different constituency.
HM treasury
British government department responsible for developing and executing the government’s public finance policy and economic policy.
Austerity
A situation in which a government spends as little money as possible because of bad economic conditions: The idea was to stabilise the economy through strict austerity.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The chief finance minister of the United Kingdom, who prepares the nation’s annual budgets. They are in charge of HM Treasury.
