Section 1
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Independent Government Corporations
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Cards (231)
Section 1
(50 cards)
Independent Government Corporations
Has specific tasks - receives all funding from government unlike public corporations
Tea Act
1773 act which eliminated import tariffs on tea entering England and allowed the British East India Company to sell directly to consumers rather than through merchants. Led to the Boston Tea Party.
Reconstruction
1865-1877; the attempt to rebuild and reform the political, social, and economic systems of the South after the Civil War.
Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties
Civil rights are used to prevent discrimination based on certain characteristics, liberties are guaranteed to everyone.
Why did Americans rebel?
Many of them had left Europe because of their strong religious or political views. They protested when the British government imposed taxes on them without consulting the local governing bodies of the colonies.
Constitutional Convention
A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
Stamp Act
1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.
Indirect Democracy
Representatives elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. E.g. UK FPTP
Pluralism
Rule by many- power is shared amongst diverse and competing organisations.
Devolved Assemblies
National parliaments in Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Cabinet Level
There are 15 cabinet departments headed by a secretary chosen by the president and approved by the Senate.
Franchise
The right to vote.
Electorate
All those qualified to vote.
Elastic Clause
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.
Start of War
1775
Voluntary Participation
Voters have the choice, usually in democracies, whether they participate in politics.
Shay's Rebellion
1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention
Forced Participation
Usually in dictatorships, voters do not have a choice regarding their participation.
Judiciary
A collective name given to the judges who preside over law courts
Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between one central government and several regional governments (dual or cooperative). Used in USA and a few other countries. Most countries have unitary governments.
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Open Government
A non-secretive government who are widely thought to be accountable to the electorate.
Dual Federalism
also referred to as divided sovereignty, is a political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government.
Turnout
The percentage of the electorate that cast a vote in elections.
Independent Regulatory Commission
a government agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest. It also judges disputes over these rules.
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Legitimate
A system of government where the government is responsible to the people, and the people accept the government's rule.
Apathy
The reluctance to participate in any way- lack of enthusiasm or interest.
Duverger's law
Law of politics, formalized by Maurice Duverger, stating that plurality-rule electoral systems will tend to have two political parties
Desegregation
The ending of authorized segregation, or separation by race.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary to carry out their constitutional duties; "elastic" clause (Art. I, Sec 8, clause 18)
Unfunded Mandates
Federal laws that require the states to do things without providing the money to do so. Examples: ADA (wheelchair ramps), NCLB (AIMs testing)
Elitism
Power is held in a small group of elite politicians.
Participation
Engagement of the population in the political process.
Brown vs. Board of Education
1954- court decision that declared state laws segregating schools to be unconstitutional. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Direct Democracy
Citizens themselves made the decisions. E.g. Referendums
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments
Civil Liberties
The legal constitutional protections against government. Although our civil liberties are formally set down in the Bill of Rights, the courts, police, and legislatures define their meaning.
Pressure Groups
Organisations that do not stand for election, but aim to exert political pressure by other means.
Amicus Curiae
A Latin term meaning "friend of the court." Refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.
Abstain
To make the conscious decision not to vote. This can be chosen or due to circumstances.
Payne's Common Sense
Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy.
Incumbency Advantage
the tendency for congressional incumbents to be overwhelmingly successful when they run for reelection due to the nature of congressional districts, resources, and relations with constituents, among other reasons
Congress
Legislative Branch
Independent Executive Agencies
The government not accounted for by cabinet departments, independent regulatory agencies, and government corporations. Its administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure. NASA is an example.
Plessy vs. Ferguson
a case that was brought to supreme court by black lawsuits to challenge the legality of segregation. The court ruled that segregation was legal as long as it was "equal"
Factions
Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.
Annapolis Convention
A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention
Articles of Confederation Ratified
1781
Section 2
(50 cards)
One Nation Conservatism
Traditions of the Conservative Party- Disraeli's foundation. Broad appeal to all groups in society.
Boomerang Effect
People voting against the parties that are predicted to win an election in opinion polls.
Partisan Alignment
Long-term affiliation with a particular political party.
National Policy Forum
184 members of the Labour Party, from different areas, that oversee the development of policy.
Catch-all
Parties who attempt to appeal to the maximum amount of voters. Centralisation is an impact of this.
Social Class
The distinction between groups in society based on income, wealth and wage. E.g. upper, lower and middle.
Floating Voters
Politicians' targets in elections due to their ability to be won over.
Apathetics
Milbrath and Goel- the non-participants who never participate and have no interest in politics.
New Right
Thatcher's approach to the conservatism- a move away from One Nation. Bend of traditionalism liberal politics. The Free Market is essential.
Referendums
A vote of the people on a single issue. E.g. Scottish Independence 2014
Thatcher
Longest serving PM. Conservative Mp from 1979-90 (overthrown by her cabinet).
Political Party
An organisation of people who share the same ideological beliefs and are aiming to win elections and form governments. They publish their intentions in manifestos.
Socialism
A left wing ideology that believe in collectivism and equality. The foundations of Old Labour.
Middle England
The area where politicians focus- attempts to occupy the middle ground of all factors.
Party System
The stable pattern of politics and parties in a country- the way they interact with each other and the public.
By-Elections
Elections held in the middle of a parliamentary term when an MP dies or resigns or leaves their seat for some other reason. There is a long history of volatility.
Clause IV
Part of the Labour 1918 Constitution that initially established the socialist aspect of the party.
Communism
A left-wing ideology that seeks a classless system and common ownership.
Class Alignment
Strong affiliations with a particular social class in society.
Spin Doctors
Party consultants who change the way that the public perceive an event- encourages favourable media reporting.
Spectators
Milbrath and Goel- majority of the population whose participation is limited to voting.
Gladiators
Milbrath and Goel- small percentage of the population that are keen participants and activists.
Media
Publishing, broadcasting and other forms of political communication, that now dictates the information that the electorate hear.
Party Conference
Traditionally the most important annual party meeting, that decides the party's agenda and direction.
Conservatism
A right wing ideology. The basis of the Conservative Party.
Ethnicity
A person's origins- can influence their vote.
Adversary Politics
Politics where the major parties are in disagreement on issues. This is usually caused by ideological differences.
Alienation
When the electorate feels distant or separated from those that are elected to represent them.
Big Tent
Politics that attempts to capture as many voters as possible, without strict adherence to any specific ideology.
Campaign
In the weeks leading up to the election, parties and individuals attempt to win over floating voters.
Third Parties
Parties other than Conservative and Labour- they are growing in size and importance.
Egalitarian
Someone who believes in equality for all of mankind.
Grey Vote
The over-65 vote is important due to the high turnout in elections.
Capitalism
Free enterprise- production is privately owned and profit is what drives business.
Loans for Peerages
2006 political scandal involving the Blair administration. Illegal connection between donations and loans to parties, and seats in the House of Lords.
Bandwagon Effect
In opinion polls, when people vote the way that the opinion polls are showing.
Whips
Officials who manage votes in the House of Commons, and maintain discipline and unity.
Political Spectrum
The range of opinions and ideologies that political parties follow. It ranges from the far left to the far right.
Third Way
Middle path between left and right wing- between socialism and capitalism.
Ideology
A set of beliefs and core values that people believe. These are central politics and are the basis of modern day political parties.
Volatility
The changing nature of voting habits- post-1970s have seen an increase due to partisan dealignment and alienation with the major parties.
Thatcherism
The approach to politics adopted by Margaret Thatcher- market-based economic system with emphasis on lower taxation and competition.
Liberalism
A central ideology that believes in equality.
Privatisation
The opposite of nationalisation- private ownership.
Short Money
Subsidy designed to help opposition parties to compensate for the lack of civil service help.
Consensus Politics
Politics where the parties are in broad agreement over an issue or the handling of something.
Class Dealignment
The movement away from distinct association with a particular social class.
Partisan Dealignment
The movement away from strong party affiliations, since the 1970s.
Nationalisation
Bringing industries and companies under public ownership.
Pragmatic
Practical, non-deological and adjusting to what is best for the country at any moment in time.
Section 3
(50 cards)
Rigid
Codified constitutions have entrenched provisions that are harder to change.
Civil Servants
An unelected body that helps the government run efficiently.
Departmental Select Committees
19 Committees responsible for overseeing governmental departments.
Electoral College
A mechanism used to elect people to office- individual members represent areas of the party and their wishes.
Career Politicians
People who have always had the intention of becoming politics, and have no real world experience.
Private Members' Bills
Introduced by backbench MPs on a specific issue that might be present in their constituency. E.g. 1967 Abortion Act
Executive
The branch of government responsible for directing laws, national affairs and policies- UK government/ President.
Human Rights Act
Passed in 1998- the law that incorporated the EU convention into UK law.
Opposition
The second largest party in the House of Commons that is responsible for scrutinising the government.
Cabinet Committees
Appointed by the PM to deal with parliamentary and governmental business. They have the authority of cabinet decisions.
1911 Parliament Act
Removed the House of Lords' power to veto legislation passed in the House of Commons.
Legal System
One tier means that all laws are changed in the same way, but two tier means that there are entrenched provisions that requires a different process for passing laws.
Cabinet Government
acts as a collective, all with equal influence, other than the PM who is the 'first amongst equals'. It is consulted about all decisions.
White Paper
A document in front of the Commons that outlines the proposals on a specific issue.
Mixed Economy
An economy where there is recognised need and role for both private and public enterprise.
1949 Parliament Act
Further decreased the House of Lords' power- can only delay for one year now.
Parliamentary Private Secretaries
MPs appointed to be an unpaid assistant to ministers.
Prime Ministerial Government
The PM has become increasingly important and often at as in individual, with power concentrated in their hands.
Elective Dictatorship
The name given to the imbalance of power that the executive has, and their stranglehold over the country from a majority and whips.
Legislature
The branch of government responsible for passing laws and scrutinising the government/leader. E.g. Parliament/Congress
Patronage
Granting favours or rewards- loyalty is incentivised.
Hung Parliament
When an election results in no party having a majority- forcing a coalition or minority government.
Accountability
When the government is answering to the public- key element in a representative democracy.
Codified
A constitution that is all written down in one single document. E.g. USA
Fusion of Powers
The three branches of government are not separate. E.g. UK where the executive sits in the legislature.
Unitary
All power is concentrated on a national level, in the central government.
Quangos
Quasi Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisations- publicly funded bodies that operate alongside government departments.
Salisbury Convention
The House of Lords is unable to delay any manifesto legislation passed in the House of Commons.
Public Accounts Committee
Examines the spending of parliamentary money.
Hereditary Peers
Peerages that are inherited due to family titles. These were reduced to a maximum of 92 in 1999 due to the House of Lords Act.
European Law
The UK accepted this when it became part of the European Community in 1975.
Royal Prerogative
The powers that are passed onto the PM by the monarch (part of common law).
Standing Committees
House of Commons committees that scrutinise particular bills, clause by clause. They comprise of MPs from all parties. Also called Public Bill Committees.
Public Bills
Bills that affect the whole country- passed by parliament and binding for everyone.
Uncodified
A constitution that is not all written down in the same document/ not all written down. E.g. UK
Federal
A government where power is devolved from the central government- the written constitution states that state or provincial governments have certain powers.
Core Executive
The network of institutions at the heart of the British government, including the Cabinet, the PM and the offices.
Legislation
The primary function of parliament- passing laws.
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Key principle of the British Constitution- the UK parliament has supreme legal authority.
Charter 88
A pressure group that pushes for electoral and constitutional reform .
Separation of Powers
The three branches are separate (written in the constitution), meaning that power cannot be overly concentrated in a single individual or body. E.g. USA
Green Paper
A document laid to the House of Commons that set out options that might be pursued- outlining and opening up for opinions.
Flexible
Uncodified constitutions are easy to change because there is a one tier legal system.
Convention
Unwritten traditions that are the normal governmental practice. E.g. Responsibility, the speaker
Freedom of Information Act
The 2005 act that gives citizens the right to more access to information about the country and the government.
Autocracy
Rule by an individual that is unrestricted and unlimited.
Parliamentary Labour Party
The overall name for the Labour MPs in the House of Commons.
Representation
An MPs function- acting upon the views of their constituents and party.
Acts of Parliament
Laws passed by the legislature that become part of the constitution, after they have gone through Royal Assent.
Judicial
Branch of government responsible for deciding whether laws are constitutional or not. E.g. Supreme Court
Section 4
(50 cards)
Popular Vote
The total number of votes received by a party.
Winter of Discontent
1979 crisis that led to the downfall of the Callaghan government, and paved the way for the Conservative government.
Supreme Court
Established in 2009 from a constitutional reform act passed in 2005.
Ian Duncan Smith
2016 Work and Pensions resignation due to disability cuts.
FPTP
The electoral system used in the UK- it normally results in a two party system and creates a stable government. Used in UK general elections.
Poll Tax
1989 Tax introduced by Thatcher without the Cabinet's approval, meaning that her Cabinet turned on her, contributing to her downfall.
UKIP
Political party that came second in 125 constituencies in 2015, and are always successful in European elections. Their only policy is removal of the UK from the EU.
Syria Intervention
2013 Cameron defeat- first defeat over going to war in the House of Commons.
Policy Unit
Set up in 1974 to rival the civil service.
Privy Council
Comprises all members of the Cabinet and distinguished members by the monarch,
Conventions
Traditions that are unwritten, but form part of the constitution, for example the speaker.
Presidentialisation
The theory that the PM is acting more like a president would- increased executive power.
Devolution Acts
The 1997 acts passed, following referendums, by New Labour, that gave further autonomy to Scotland and Wales.
Alistair Campbell
Blair's famous political adviser- his press secretary.
Jacqui Smith
Home secretary who resigned in 2009 due to the expenses scandal.
Constituency Link
Majoritarian systems create a relationship between constituents and their elected representatives in the legislature.
Jo Moore
A civil servant who said that 9/11 was 'A good day to bury bad news'. She resigned and her minister did as well.
Robin Cook
Resigned from the Cabinet in 2003 over Iraqi involvement under Tony Blair.
PMQs
1 thirty minute session where the opposition is given the chance to scrutinise the government. This used to be 2 x 15 minutes, but Blair changed it.
Quota
A certain amount of votes that someone needs to win the election.
Local Elections
Local council representatives are elected.
Iraq
2002-3 War that made Blair look very weak- contributed to the downfall of the New Labour government.
Jenkins Commission
1997 Electoral Commission established by New Labour, to find out the weaknesses of FPTP, and to recommend solutions.
Labour Leadership Election
Process to elect new leaders of Labour. This changed in 2011 to OMOV from an electoral college system.
Fixed Term Parliament
2011 Act of Parliament that declares a parliamentary term to be five years.
Political Advisers
Unelected officials that rival the civil service, and give bias information to PMs/ Ministers.
Alternative Vote
Voters mark in order of preference, where the bottom candidate is eliminated if no candidate wins outright.
Michael Heseltine
Resignation in 1985, due to Thatcher refusing to hear his appeal in a Cabinet meeting.
Closed List
Parties have a list of candidates that would become MPs after an election. The number of candidates won depends on the number of votes one.
Rule of Law
The principle that laws passed by the House of Commons apply to everyone evenly and equally.
Devolved Elections
The electorate in Scotland, Ireland and Wales to elect representatives to the devolved assemblies.
Falklands
1982-3 War which made Thatcher appear strong.
90 Day Detention
Blair's first defeat in the House of Commons.
Constitutional Monarchy
The UK's governmental theory, that the monarch is head of state through common law and convention, but powers are transferred to the PM.
Majoritarian
An electoral system with single-member constituencies where the candidate with the most votes wins.
Wright Reforms
2010 committee that changed the way that parliamentary procedures are carried out, e.g. select committee chairman reforms.
Single Transferable Vote
Used for local, devolved and European elections in Northern Ireland- favourite system for electoral reform groups.
Supplementary Vote
Used in the London Mayoral elections, an alternative of AV- second preferences are used if no one candidate wins outright.
Works of Authority
Bagehot, Erskine May and Dicey's writings that fill the gaps of our uncodified constitution.
Proportional
An electoral system with multi-member constituencies where the number of seats a party obtains directly relates to the percent of seats one.
Electoral Reform
Pushing for advancement and change to the constitutional and way that representatives are elected.
New Labour
With the removal of Clause IV, the relaunch of the labour under Tony Blair- move away from the extreme left wing policies of the 1980s.
European Elections
The electorate are able to elect representatives to the European Parliament.
Lords Temporal
Lords that are given life peers, rather than inheriting their peerages.
Lords Spiritual
26 Bishops that sit in the House of Lords
General Elections
An election to choose representatives to sit in the House of Commons.
Common Law
Source of the constitution based on customs, principles and traditions. E.g. rights and freedoms assumed prior to the Human Rights Act.
David Mellor
Famous minister that had an affair, leading to their resignation in 1992.
Merchant Shipping Act
1988 Act of Parliament that was overturned by the European Court.
Coalition
Forced by a hung parliament- a formal agreement by two parties to form a government.
Section 5
(31 cards)