Section 1
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Apathetics
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Last updated
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Date created
Mar 1, 2020
Cards (186)
Section 1
(50 cards)
Apathetics
Milbrath and Goel- the non-participants who never participate and have no interest in politics.
Ethnicity
A person's origins- can influence their vote.
Voluntary Participation
Voters have the choice, usually in democracies, whether they participate in politics.
Grey Vote
The over-65 vote is important due to the high turnout in elections.
Pluralism
Rule by many- power is shared amongst diverse and competing organisations.
Turnout
The percentage of the electorate that cast a vote in elections.
Third Parties
Parties other than Conservative and Labour- they are growing in size and importance.
Adversary Politics
Politics where the major parties are in disagreement on issues. This is usually caused by ideological differences.
Boomerang Effect
People voting against the parties that are predicted to win an election in opinion polls.
Socialism
A left wing ideology that believe in collectivism and equality. The foundations of Old Labour.
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.
Alienation
When the electorate feels distant or separated from those that are elected to represent them.
Middle England
The area where politicians focus- attempts to occupy the middle ground of all factors.
Media
Publishing, broadcasting and other forms of political communication, that now dictates the information that the electorate hear.
Volatility
The changing nature of voting habits- post-1970s have seen an increase due to partisan dealignment and alienation with the major parties.
Class Dealignment
The movement away from distinct association with a particular social class.
Indirect Democracy
Representatives elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. E.g. UK FPTP
Social Class
The distinction between groups in society based on income, wealth and wage. E.g. upper, lower and middle.
Spectators
Milbrath and Goel- majority of the population whose participation is limited to voting.
Capitalism
Free enterprise- production is privately owned and profit is what drives business.
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.
Partisan Alignment
Long-term affiliation with a particular political party.
Forced Participation
Usually in dictatorships, voters do not have a choice regarding their participation.
Spin Doctors
Party consultants who change the way that the public perceive an event- encourages favourable media reporting.
Floating Voters
Politicians' targets in elections due to their ability to be won over.
Gladiators
Milbrath and Goel- small percentage of the population that are keen participants and activists.
Participation
Engagement of the population in the political process.
Elitism
Power is held in a small group of elite politicians.
Partisan Dealignment
The movement away from strong party affiliations, since the 1970s.
Class Alignment
Strong affiliations with a particular social class in society.
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.
Direct Democracy
Citizens themselves made the decisions. E.g. Referendums
Apathy
The reluctance to participate in any way- lack of enthusiasm or interest.
Electorate
All those qualified to vote.
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.
Abstain
To make the conscious decision not to vote. This can be chosen or due to circumstances.
Party System
The stable pattern of politics and parties in a country- the way they interact with each other and the public.
Political Spectrum
The range of opinions and ideologies that political parties follow. It ranges from the far left to the far right.
Communism
A left-wing ideology that seeks a classless system and common ownership.
Campaign
In the weeks leading up to the election, parties and individuals attempt to win over floating voters.
Devolved Assemblies
National parliaments in Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Referendums
A vote of the people on a single issue. E.g. Scottish Independence 2014
Franchise
The right to vote.
Open Government
A non-secretive government who are widely thought to be accountable to the electorate.
Pressure Groups
Organisations that do not stand for election, but aim to exert political pressure by other means.
Ideology
A set of beliefs and core values that people believe. These are central politics and are the basis of modern day political parties.
Catch-all
Parties who attempt to appeal to the maximum amount of voters. Centralisation is an impact of this.
Consensus Politics
Politics where the parties are in broad agreement over an issue or the handling of something.
Legitimate
A system of government where the government is responsible to the people, and the people accept the government's rule.
Section 2
(50 cards)
National Policy Forum
184 members of the Labour Party, from different areas, that oversee the development of policy.
Third Way
Middle path between left and right wing- between socialism and capitalism.
New Right
Thatcher's approach to the conservatism- a move away from One Nation. Bend of traditionalism liberal politics. The Free Market is essential.
Thatcherism
The approach to politics adopted by Margaret Thatcher- market-based economic system with emphasis on lower taxation and competition.
Electoral College
A mechanism used to elect people to office- individual members represent areas of the party and their wishes.
Flexible
Uncodified constitutions are easy to change because there is a one tier legal system.
Quangos
Quasi Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisations- publicly funded bodies that operate alongside government departments.
Mixed Economy
An economy where there is recognised need and role for both private and public enterprise.
Acts of Parliament
Laws passed by the legislature that become part of the constitution, after they have gone through Royal Assent.
Constitution
A document that establishes the fundamental principles for which a nation or body is governed.
Party Conference
Traditionally the most important annual party meeting, that decides the party's agenda and direction.
Human Rights Act
Passed in 1998- the law that incorporated the EU convention into UK law.
Uncodified
A constitution that is not all written down in the same document/ not all written down. E.g. UK
Judicial
Branch of government responsible for deciding whether laws are constitutional or not. E.g. Supreme Court
Legislature
The branch of government responsible for passing laws and scrutinising the government/leader. E.g. Parliament/Congress
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.
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
One Nation Conservatism
Traditions of the Conservative Party- Disraeli's foundation. Broad appeal to all groups in society.
Clause IV
Part of the Labour 1918 Constitution that initially established the socialist aspect of the party.
Fusion of Powers
The three branches of government are not separate. E.g. UK where the executive sits in the legislature.
Bill of Rights
A 1689 that is the foundation of constitution law, it is now less relevant due to the HRA of 1998.
Codified
A constitution that is all written down in one single document. E.g. USA
Freedom of Information Act
The 2005 act that gives citizens the right to more access to information about the country and the government.
Representation
An MPs function- acting upon the views of their constituents and party.
Federal
A government where power is devolved from the central government- the written constitution states that state or provincial governments have certain powers.
Charter 88
A pressure group that pushes for electoral and constitutional reform .
Royal Prerogative
The powers that are passed onto the PM by the monarch (part of common law).
European Law
The UK accepted this when it became part of the European Community in 1975.
Short Money
Subsidy designed to help opposition parties to compensate for the lack of civil service help.
Hung Parliament
When an election results in no party having a majority- forcing a coalition or minority government.
Unitary
All power is concentrated on a national level, in the central government.
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.
Big Tent
Politics that attempts to capture as many voters as possible, without strict adherence to any specific ideology.
Executive
The branch of government responsible for directing laws, national affairs and policies- UK government/ President.
Thatcher
Longest serving PM. Conservative Mp from 1979-90 (overthrown by her cabinet).
Parliamentary Private Secretaries
MPs appointed to be an unpaid assistant to ministers.
Legislation
The primary function of parliament- passing laws.
Pragmatic
Practical, non-deological and adjusting to what is best for the country at any moment in time.
Parliamentary Labour Party
The overall name for the Labour MPs in the House of Commons.
Nationalisation
Bringing industries and companies under public ownership.
Rigid
Codified constitutions have entrenched provisions that are harder to change.
Accountability
When the government is answering to the public- key element in a representative democracy.
Convention
Unwritten traditions that are the normal governmental practice. E.g. Responsibility, the speaker
Egalitarian
Someone who believes in equality for all of mankind.
1911 Parliament Act
Removed the House of Lords' power to veto legislation passed in the House of Commons.
Liberalism
A central ideology that believes in equality.
1949 Parliament Act
Further decreased the House of Lords' power- can only delay for one year now.
Autocracy
Rule by an individual that is unrestricted and unlimited.
Privatisation
The opposite of nationalisation- private ownership.
Conservatism
A right wing ideology. The basis of the Conservative Party.
Section 3
(50 cards)
Fixed Term Parliament
2011 Act of Parliament that declares a parliamentary term to be five years.
Winter of Discontent
1979 crisis that led to the downfall of the Callaghan government, and paved the way for the Conservative government.
Conventions
Traditions that are unwritten, but form part of the constitution, for example the speaker.
Merchant Shipping Act
1988 Act of Parliament that was overturned by the European Court.
Falklands
1982-3 War which made Thatcher appear strong.
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.
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
Robin Cook
Resigned from the Cabinet in 2003 over Iraqi involvement under Tony Blair.
Lords Temporal
Lords that are given life peers, rather than inheriting their peerages.
Devolution Acts
The 1997 acts passed, following referendums, by New Labour, that gave further autonomy to Scotland and Wales.
Core Executive
The network of institutions at the heart of the British government, including the Cabinet, the PM and the offices.
Works of Authority
Bagehot, Erskine May and Dicey's writings that fill the gaps of our uncodified constitution.
Patronage
Granting favours or rewards- loyalty is incentivised.
Departmental Select Committees
19 Committees responsible for overseeing governmental departments.
White Paper
A document in front of the Commons that outlines the proposals on a specific issue.
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.
Civil Servants
An unelected body that helps the government run efficiently.
Lords Spiritual
26 Bishops that sit in the House of Lords
Common Law
Source of the constitution based on customs, principles and traditions. E.g. rights and freedoms assumed prior to the Human Rights Act.
Parliamentary Sovereignty
Key principle of the British Constitution- the UK parliament has supreme legal authority.
Privy Council
Comprises all members of the Cabinet and distinguished members by the monarch,
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.
Wright Reforms
2010 committee that changed the way that parliamentary procedures are carried out, e.g. select committee chairman reforms.
Cabinet Government
Cabinet acts as a collective, all with equal influence, other than the PM who is the 'first amongst equals'. It is consulted about all decisions.
Jacqui Smith
Home secretary who resigned in 2009 due to the expenses scandal.
90 Day Detention
Blair's first defeat in the House of Commons.
Bureaucracy
The idea that there is government by non-elected and paid officials who are not representative of government opinion.
Iraq
2002-3 War that made Blair look very weak- contributed to the downfall of the New Labour government.
Alistair Campbell
Blair's famous political adviser- his press secretary.
Public Bills
Bills that affect the whole country- passed by parliament and binding for everyone.
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.
Public Accounts Committee
Examines the spending of parliamentary money.
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.
David Mellor
Famous minister that had an affair, leading to their resignation in 1992.
Syria Intervention
2013 Cameron defeat- first defeat over going to war in the House of Commons.
Salisbury Convention
The House of Lords is unable to delay any manifesto legislation passed in the House of Commons.
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.
Prime Ministerial Government
The PM has become increasingly important and often at as in individual, with power concentrated in their hands.
Policy Unit
Set up in 1974 to rival the civil service.
Opposition
The second largest party in the House of Commons that is responsible for scrutinising the government.
Labour Leadership Election
Process to elect new leaders of Labour. This changed in 2011 to OMOV from an electoral college system.
Poll Tax
1989 Tax introduced by Thatcher without the Cabinet's approval, meaning that her Cabinet turned on her, contributing to her downfall.
Presidentialisation
The theory that the PM is acting more like a president would- increased executive power.
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.
Green Paper
A document laid to the House of Commons that set out options that might be pursued- outlining and opening up for opinions.
Rule of Law
The principle that laws passed by the House of Commons apply to everyone evenly and equally.
Michael Heseltine
Resignation in 1985, due to Thatcher refusing to hear his appeal in a Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet Committees
Appointed by the PM to deal with parliamentary and governmental business. They have the authority of cabinet decisions.
Section 4
(36 cards)