uk terms Flashcards
Brexit
The British deciding to leave the European Union through a 2016 referendum .
From Mrs. Hawkins → PM Cameron voluntarily resigned after referendum results. PM May resigned when she couldn’t get a Brexit deal through Parliament.
collective responsibility
all cabinet members have to appear unified and take responsibility for a policy, even if they disagree with it personally
From Mrs. Hawkins → rare exception was internal opposition (aka backbencher dissent) to Blair over the war in Iraq
Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011
Elections happen every five years starting with the 2015 election
From Mrs. Hawkins –> but snap elections twice recently
House of Commons
650 members that represent districts in UK, 5 year term. Parties matter more than individuals. They have committees, vote on legislation, and can remove the PM with a vote of no confidence
From Mrs. Hawkins –> elected with FPTP SMD, which exaggerates the scale of victory and limits minority representation
cabinet government
monarch used to rely on cabinet, or top advisors. but now, they are appointed by parliament
From Mrs. Hawkins → Cabinet = the executive. they practice collective responsibility (see below). Not a lot of checks on the cabinet in a parliamentary system
coalition government
when the larger party has plurality but not majority, they can band together with a smaller party to get that majority
From Mrs. Hawkins → coalitions are more common in PR systems where one party is less likely to win the majority of seats.
constitutional reform act of 2005
divided parliament into three parts, separating the judiciary
From Mrs. Hawkins → establishes the UK Supreme Court, which does NOT have judicial review because of parliamentary sovereignty
house of lords
“Cool heads,” no veto power but can delay legislation, appointed by the crown, serve for life, used to be able to pass down seat to son
National Health Service
Public Health Service provided by government, created in post World War Two collective consensus, covers almost entire population
Parliamentary system
Most democracies have one, they have two parts. Prime minister/cabinet that are from the legislature and the legislature also has the power to elect and kick out said prime monster. (NOT BC ITS PARL -Has a head of gov and head of state )
From Mrs. Hawkins –> features 1. PM not directly elected to that position, but selected based on legislative elections, 2. legislature can remove the PM with vote of no confidence 3. power is fused in parliament, which has parliamentary sovereignty
quangos
nongovernment organizations/advisory boards that are appointed by the gov to help them make good policy
Thatcherism
extreme economic liberalism. privatizing state businesses, anti union, pro business, low taxes, low social services, “free market”
Trades Union Congress
most influential interest group in UK, made up of the largest trade unions, used to dominate labor party
unitary state
power is mostly national and less local
From Mrs. Hawkins –> constitutionally all power is given to the federal gov. Powers may be devolved to regional/subnational governments by the national government if the national government chooses to. So, the UK is a unitary state with devolution.
UK two party system
Labour and Conservatives dominate, smaller parties exist but don’t hold lots of power
From Mrs. Hawkins –> two party because they use FPTP. remember, FPTP results in a two party system and tends to exaggerate the scale of victory, and limits minority representation.
