U.K./E.U. Vocabulary Flashcards
Backbenchers
Member of parliament (MP) who have no governmental office
Beveridge Report
Published during WWII, it suggested a social insurance program that made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pension, and other benefits, serving asa. Model for social welfare systems in many other countries
BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
The national public broadcaster of the U.K.
Caucuses
A meeting of members of a political party or interest group to dusk is and make decisions about candidates, policies, and other official matters
Cabinet
Members of Parliament and ministers, each heads a major governing bureaucracy (advisory body)
Centralization
The degree to which power and authority and concentrated in a single central government or authority within a country
“Civic culture”
The attitudes, values, and beliefs of citizens in a given country regarding their political system and their roles and responsibilities as participants in that system
Clause 4 in Labour Constitution
The controversial clause in the Labour Party manifesto that called for nationalization of all British industry. This clause was limited by Party leader Tony Blair as part of his realignment to “new Labour” during the early 1990s
Collective Consensus
When major political parties or kept political actors in a country largely agree on fundamental political and economic issues
Collective Responsibility
All cabinet members must agree on policy decisions and that all will be responsible for the result
“Constitution of the Crown”
The “constitution” of Britain that evolved over time composed of:
1. Important documents
2. Common law
3. Tradition/customs
Cultural heterogeneity
Cultures and ethnic groups are mixed within a region
Democratic Unionist Party
Protestant Party in Northern Ireland that is for keeping Northern Ireland in the U.K.
Devolution
The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states
Decentralization
The transfer of political power and decision-making authority from a central or national government to subnational entities; may involve varying degrees of autonomy for subnational entities
Downing Street
The official residence and executive office of the Prime Minster of the U.K.
English Bill of Rights
A set of rights guaranteed to all English men; insures Parliament’s power over the monarchy
Euroskeptics
People opposed to the U.K.’s membership in the E.U. And the expansion of the E.U.’s power
First past the post
The candidate who receives the most votes is elected and there is no need for a majority or proportional representation
Glorious Revolution
The replacement of an absolute monarch with two constitutional monarchs (William and Mary); established Parliment army supremacy, giving parliament “power of purse” (i.e. fiscal power and a bill of rights)
“the government”
Priming minster + cabinet
Gradualism
The belief in gradually advancing towards a change to a political system or government policies
Hereditary peers
Members of the House of Lords appointed by the monarch, and their title was automatically passed down to their sons
Home rule
Self-government in local matters by a city or country that is part of a national government
Insularity
The state of being isolated or detached
Irish Republican Army (IRA)
A militant organization of Irish nationalists who use terrorism and guerrilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces form Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland
“Iron Lady”
Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the U.K., who was known to be very tough, decisive, and efficient
Law Lords
Five members of the House of Lords who serve as Britain’s highest court of appeals
Liberal Democrats
Formed in 1988 through a merge of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; attended to establish a strong party in between labour (left) and conservative (right)
Labour
One of the two main political parties in the U.K., which represents the interests of the urban working class; advocated for social and economic reforms
Life Peers
Distinguished members of the society whoa are given lifetime appointments to the House of Lords
Limited government
Everyone, including all authority figures, must over laws
“Loyal opposition”
A role that the political parties out of power players, where they can oppose the policies and actions of the government while remaining loyal to the democratic system
Magna Carta
Document that declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens on England
Noblesse oblige
The obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous
OPEC
An organization of countries forme din 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum
Oxbridge
A term used to collectively refer to the prestigious universities in the U.K.: the University of Oxford and the university of Cambridge
Parliamentary system
A system of government in which the executive and legislative branches are fused together; the majority party in the legislature selects the chief executive and also may dismiss the head of the executive
Plaid Cymru
A political party in Wales that advocated for Scottish independence from U.K.
Plurality voting system
The candidate with the most votes win, even if they do not receive an absolute majority
Politics of protest
The use of various forms of collective action, demonstration, and activism as a means for citizens or groups to express their grievances, advocate for specific political changes, or bring attention to particular issues
Privatization
To change from government or public ownership/control to private ownership/control
QUANGOS (Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations)
Organizations that have considerable amount of influence over policy making in health care, education, and housing
Question Time
A regular session in a parliamentary calendar during which members of the legislative body, often the House of Commons or a similar lower house, have the opportunity to question government minsters about their polices and the administration of government affairs
Safe Districts
Electoral districts in which one political party or candidate has a significant advantage over their competitors and is highly likely to win in an election
Scottish Nationalists
Political group in Scotland that advocate for greater autonomy/independence for Scotland from the U.K.
“Shadow Cabinet”
Members of the majesty’s royal opposition who are responsible for scrutinizing the actions, policies, and decisions of the government and offering alternative policies and proposals
Sinn Fein
A political part in Ireland that had played a significant role in the political landscape of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Solidarity
The unity and mutual support among individuals, groups, or nations, especially in the face of adversity, common interests, or shared goals
Thatcherism
The political and economic policies associated with the leadership and tenure of Margaret Thatcher
Tony Blair/Third Way
British Labour Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007; brought UK to a new and more central left-wing party
Tories
A member of the Conservative British Party
Trade Union Congress
A national trade union center, a federation of trade unions in the U.K., representing the majority of trade unions
Unitary government
All power comes from the national or central level
Vote of confidence
Parliamentary procedure that determines whether the sitting government countries to enjoy the support and confidence of the legislative body, often the lower house of parliament
Whigs
An 18th and 19th century British political party that was opposed to the Tories
Whitehall
The administrative and governmental heart of the U.K., particularly in London
Westminster model
A form of democracy based on the supreme authority of Parliament and the accountability of its elected representatives
Keynesian welfare state
Emphasizes government intervention in the economy to achieve full employment and economic stability
