U.K Vocab Flashcards
Austerity
difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce a budget deficit, especially by reducing public expenditure
Civil society
society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity
Cabinet
A body of high ranking officials in the executive branch that is responsible for advising the chief executive, implementing public policy, and managing bureaucratic agencies
Coalition government
In parliamentary systems, a situation where multiple parties partner to construct a majority and form a government
Common law
- bureaucratic and judicial discretion in the interpretation of the application of the law in specific cases
- adhering to precedents of court decisions regarding the interpretation
Code law
A legal system that attempts to exhaustively express the law in comprehensive legal codes when the law is first placed
Collective responsibility
A custom of British politics in which cabinet ministers hold themselves responsible to support all policies of the government collectively or to resign if they do not feel capable of doing so
Corporatism
the control of a state or organization by large interest groups
Constituency
A geographic area represented by a member in the legislature
Constitutionalism
Commitment to the rule of law and the principles expressed in a constitution
Devolution
The transfer of political power down from a central or national level of government to a local or regional level
EU
The political and economic union of than a dozen European member states
First past the post (FPTP)
An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins representation of a geographic district in the legislature
Hung parliament
A situation in which no party secured a majority in parliamentary elections and the parties are unable to agree on a combined coalition government; its result is new elections
Loyal opposition
The principal party in opposition to the party that forms the government
Mixed economy
An economy in which the government plays a strong role of ownership and operation of industries, regulation, and provision of welfare state benefits while preserving a role for the market
Neoliberal
adjective
- favoring policies that promote free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending
noun
- an advocate or supporter of free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending
Noblesse oblige
The idea that it’s the wealthy’s responsibility to pay for the welfare for the poor
Parliament
In the UK the House of Commons and the House of Lords, together compromising the national legislature
Parliamentary sovereignty
The British constitutional principle that acts of parliament are considered supreme in law
Plurality
A condition of receiving the most votes, though not necessarily a majority, for elective office
Social capital
the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively
Supranacional organization
An international organization, or union, whereby member states transcend national boundaries or interests to share in the decision-making and vote on issues pertaining to the wider grouping
Proportional representation
An election system for a legislature that gives each political party a percentage of seats in the legislature approximately equal to the present age of the vote the party received in the election
Unitary state
a state governed as a single entity in which the central government is ultimately supreme
Quangos
Acronym for “quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations,” semi-independent agencies with regulatory power over a particular policy area or industry
Welfare state
a system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits
Shadow-cabinet
Leaders of the opposition party who would become the new prime minister and cabinet if their party won an electoral majority
Single member district
An election system in which one representative is chosen to represent each geographic constituency in a legislature
Thatcherism
An economic policy agenda that emphasized neoliberal reforms, such as privatization of state owned enterprises, reductions in welfare state spending, and deregulation of business
Vote of no confidence
A vote by the legislature in a parliamentary system to force the resignation of the prime minister and cabinet and call for new elections
