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UK Government and Politics Flashcards

1
Q

Accountability

A

The obligation of ministers and officials to explain and justify their decisions and actions to Parliament and the public

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2
Q

Authoritative opinions

A

Influential writings or judgments by constitutional scholars or judges that help interpret constitutional principles

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3
Q

Burkean theories of representation

A

A concept by Edmund Burke suggesting that elected representatives should use their own judgment and act in the best interests of their constituents, even if it conflicts with their immediate wishes

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4
Q

Cabinet

A

A group of senior government ministers, chosen by the Prime Minister, who head government
departments and make key decisions collectively

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5
Q

Cabinet committee

A

Sub-groups of the Cabinet focused on specific policy areas, allowing detailed discussion and decision-making

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6
Q

Codified constitution

A

A single, written document defining the structure, powers and limits of government

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7
Q

Collective responsibility

A

The convention that all Cabinet members must publicly support government decisions, even if they privately disagree

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8
Q

Collective rights

A

Rights held by groups, such as workers or communities

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9
Q

Commons

A

The elected lower house of Parliament

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10
Q

Common law

A

Laws developed by judges through court decisions and precedents

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11
Q

Conventions

A

Unwritten practices that are followed by political institutions

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12
Q

Core executive

A

The central part of government, including the Prime Minister, Cabinet and key advisors, responsible for decision-making and policy implementation

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13
Q

Delegate theories of representation

A

A theory stating that representatives should act as mouthpieces for their constituents

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14
Q

Devolution

A

The delegation of power from the UK Parliament to regional governments

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15
Q

Direct democracy

A

Citizens directly participate in decision-making without representatives

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16
Q

EU institutions

A

Bodies such as the European Commission, European Parliament, European court of justice and the European Council that govern the EU

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17
Q

Ideology

A

A set of political beliefs and values that guide a party’s policies and actions

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18
Q

Individual rights

A

Rights held by individual people, such as free speech

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19
Q

Individual responsibility

A

The principle that ministers are accountable for the actions and policies of their department

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20
Q

Inner cabinet

A

A smaller, informal group of senior ministers who provide closer advice to the Prime Minister on critical issues

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21
Q

Insider pressure groups

A

Groups that have strong connections with decision-makers and are regularly consulted by the government

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22
Q

Interest groups

A

Groups that represent specific sections of society, such as trade unions or professional associations, advocating for their members’ interests

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23
Q

Judicial independence and impartiality

A

The principle that judges must be free from external influences and decide cases based solely on law and evidence

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24
Q

Judicial review

A

A process where courts assess the legality of actions or decisions taken by public authorities

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25
Lords
The unelected upper house of Parliament
26
Mandate theories of representation
The idea that representatives are elected based on a party's manifesto and should implement the policies outlined during the election campaign
27
Majoritarian system
Electoral systems where the winner tends to win a majority of seats in the legislature
28
Minor parties
Smaller political parties that operate outside the dominant two-party system, often focusing on niche issues
29
Outsider pressure groups
Groups that operate outside formal government processes and rely on public campaigns to influence decision-makers
30
Parliamentary privilege
Legal immunity for MPs to speak freely during debates
31
Parliamentary sovereignty
The doctrine that Parliament has supreme legal authority
32
Partisan dealignment
The weakening of voters' allegiance to political parties
33
Party functions
Roles played by parties, such as representing interests, formulating policies, and selecting candidates
34
Party funding
The financial resources parties use for campaigns, sourced from membership fees, donations, or public funds
35
Party structure
The organisation of a political party, including leadership, members, and local branches
36
Party systems
The way political parties operate and compete within a political system, such as two-party or multi-party systems
37
Pluralism
A system where multiple groups influence government decisions
38
Political agenda
The set of priorities and policies that a party promotes to influence public debate and decision-making
39
Pressure groups
Organisations that seek to influence government policy without seeking election
40
Prime Minister
The head of the UK government, responsible for leading the executive, making policy decisions and representing the country
41
Primus inter pares
Latin for ‘first among equals’, describing the Prime Ministers role as a member of the Cabinet but with greater authority
42
Promotional groups
Groups focused on promoting a particular cause or issue, such as environmental protection or human rights
43
Proportional system
Electoral systems that allocate seats based on vote share
44
Representative democracy
Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
45
Royal prerogative
Powers historically held by the monarch but now exercised by ministers
46
Rule of law
The principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to the law
47
Scrutiny of the executive
Parliament's role in holding the government accountable for its actions
48
Separation of powers
The division of government personnel and responsibilities into executive, legislature, and judiciary
49
Statute law
Acts of Parliament
50
Suffrage
The right to vote in elections
51
Supreme Court
The highest court in the UK, responsible for final appeals and ensuring laws are applied consistently across the country
52
Uncodified constitution
A constitution not contained in one document, based on statutes, common law, and conventions
53
Ultra Vires
A legal term meaning beyond the powers', referring to actions by authorities that exceed their legal authority
54
MPs
Members of Parliament, each representing a geographical area of the UK known as a constituency (650 total), who sit in the House of Commons. The average number of voters per MP is 68,000, although the largest constituency, the Isle of Wight, has over 100,000 voters
55
Human rights
Those rights that apply to all people. They are absolute, universal and fundamental. They cannot be removed from anyone
56
Manifesto
A list of policy commitments released by a party before an election. Once elected, a government should deliver its manifesto
57
Peers
Members of the House of Lords, mostly life peers who have been nominated by political leaders over the years, along with 92 hereditary peers and 26 Church of England bishops
58
Entrenched
Describes something that cannot be taken away, such as a US citizen's rights in their constitution to equal protection under the law
59
Referendums
Direct votes in which the entire electorate is invited to vote on a single political proposal
60
Opposition
MPs and peers not from the governing party or parties. The term 'official opposition' applies specifically to the largest single opposition party. It has its own frontbench shadow cabinet who directly mirror and challenge government ministers, especially at PMQs
61
Backbenchers
An 'ordinary' MP who is not a government minister or in the shadow cabinet
62
Royal assent
The formal approval by the monarch of a bill that has successfully passed through parliament and that makes the bill into law. No monarch has refused royal assent since 1707
63
Legislation
The term for all bills that have successfully gone through parliament
64
Lobbying
Attempting to influence the actions, policies or decisions of MPS
65
Redress/grievances
The right of citizens to get wrongs or injustices put right. For example, a constituent might try to get their MP to put pressure on a government department or local council to treat a complaint more fairly. An MP could also do this by asking a parliamentary question or possibly by attempting to bring in a private members' bill to address the issue
66
Democratic legitimacy
The authority a body (here, the Commons) possesses if it is elected and accountable to the people via free and fair elections
67
Crossbenchers
Non-party-political peers. In effect, they are independent members of the Lords
68
Mandate
The authority, given by the electorate, to carry out a policy. A party that wins a large majority of seats in the general election can be said to have a strong mandate from the people
69
Party whips
MPs in charge of persuading their party's MPs to remain loyal. They seek to do this by argument and sometimes by inducements, such as the prospect of promotion
70
Three-line whips
Parliamentary votes when Mps must follow the voting orders of the whips. Failure to do so by a minister would lead to resignation or dismissal. Backbenchers who frequently rebel are unlikely to be offered posts in the government or on the opposition front bench
71
Free vote
A vote when MPs are free to vote how they wish, rather than being instructed to vote a certain way by the party leadership
72
Osmotherly rules
Guidance given to civil servants and other government officials appearing before select committees. Various versions of the rules have been in operation since 1980, but they have never been formally accepted by parliament. The rules were most recently updated in October 2014
73

Politics Key Terms (3 decks)

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