AP Comparative Government Unit 1

Alternative Voting

a preferential system where the voter has the chance to rank the candidates in order of preference

Backbenchers

MP's of the governing party who have no governmental office and rank-and-file opposition members

Tony Blair

PM from 1997-2007
New Labour Party
Worked with Gordon Brown
Iraq War

Bureaucracy/Whitehall

the central government apparatus

Cabinet Government

a system of government in which most executive power is held by the cabinet headed by a prime minister

Coalition Government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

Collective Responsibility

in a parliamentary system, the concept that all cabinet members agree on policy decisions and that all will be responsible for the results

Collectivist Consensus

Cross-party British support for the welfare state that lasted until the late 1970s.

Conservative Party

One of the two major parties in the UK, it is generally more right wing, and more towards free-markets and the upper classes,advocates a mixed economy and encourages property owning; Leader is Prime Minister David Cameron

Constitutional Monarchy

system of government in which the head of state ascends by heredity but is limited in powers and constrained by the provisions of a constitution

Constitutional Reform Act of 2005

created a new Supreme Court and a cabinet position to administer the judicial system. Appointments will be made by a Judicial Appointments

First-Past-the-Post Voting System

election process for the House of Commons; winner take all. most votes is elected; no need for a majority or proportional representation.

Fusion of Powers

a constitutional principle that merges the authority of branches of government in contrast to the principle of separation of powers

Gradualism

The theory that evolution occurs slowly but steadily

House of Commons

The more powerful legislative arm of the British Parliament; made up of popularly elected members from each district of Great Britain

House of Lords

Weaker chamber of parliament that consists of an unelected body which serves some judiciary functions, has the ability to amend and delay legislation, and is a chamber of revision in redrafting legislation.

Hung Parliament

a situation after an election when no single party comprises a majority in the commons

Keynesian Economics

an approach to economic policy in which state economic policies are used to regulate the economy to achieve stable economic growth

Labour Party

political party foundedwith the help of trade unions to represent the interests of the urban working class

Liberal Democrats

left-wing democrats - favor redistribution of wealth to poor, minorities - socially more liberal; Leader -Nick Clegg

Monetarism

an approach to economic policy that assumes a natural rate of unemployment determined by the labour market and rejects the instruments of government spending to run budgetary deficits for stimulating the economy and creating jobs

National Health Service

The most notable social welfare program that the Labour Party implemented. Provided free Health Care in England.

Noblesse oblige

Benevolent, honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high birth or rank

Parliamentary Sovereignty

the doctrine that grants the legislature the power to make or overturn any law and permits no veot or judicial review

Plaid Cymru

the nationalist party in Wales that advocates more rights for the Welsh people, including use of the Welsh language

Proportional Representation

representation of all parties in proportion to their popular vote

Quangos

acronym for quasi non governmental organizations- Term used in Britain for nonelected bodies that are outside traditional governmental departments or local authorities

Thatcherism

Thatcher's economic policy that focused on streamlining the government expenses to strengthen the British Pound; this was done at a social cost

The Third Way

political belief system of a compromise between capitalism and socialism; supported by the Labor Party (Tony Blair and Gordon Brown).

Unitary State

a system of government in which no powers are reserved for sub national units of government

West Lothian Question

a controversy sparked by devolution. "What right should a Scottish MP have to vote on laws that might relate to England or Wales, while England and Wales MPs cannot vote on some matters related to Scotland, in areas where policy had been devolved from the Westminster Parliament to the Scottish Parliament?"

Westminster Model

A form of democracy based on the supreme authority of Parliament and the accountability of its elected representatives

EU Common Agricultural Policy

a european union policy based on the principle that a subsidy extended to farmers in any member country should be extended to farmers in all member countries

EU Common Market

a group of countries that acts as a single market, without trade barriers between member countries

EU Democratic Deficit

The criticism made of the European Union that there is a gap between the European Community institutions and the people they represent

EU Economic Liberalism

An ideal that suggests that people are happiest and economy thrive most when governments minimize their regulation, monitoring, and control over the work we do and the kinds of goods we buy & sell

EU Economic Structural Adjustment

restructuring the economies of certain countries (those than need bailout - ie. Greece, Ireland, and Portugal) which would mean that at least part of the debt would be forgiven

EU Enlargement Fatigue

Rapid growth caused this; caused a decline in support for EU; EU governments lost some entusiasm for further growth

EU Commission

represents interest of whole EU community; monitors EU's income, spending, and long term investment

EU Common Defense

The EU is empowered to respond proactively to international crises through a broad mix of civilian and military crisis management and conflict prevention operations.

EU Council of Ministers

Ministers (cabinet members) from the EU states, who make substantive decisions in their area of expertise based on weighted voting.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Included in the three pillars- the aim of this cooperation was to give practical effect to the principle of the free movement of persons- including policy governing asylum, border crossing, immigration, and judicial cooperation on crime and terrorism.

EU European Central Bank

the central bank of those members of the European Union who share a common currency

EU European Constitution

A European Union document not yet ratified, which incorporates a charter of fundamental rights; merges the judicial, economic, and defense aspects of the EU; establishes the European Council; and raises the number of seats in Parliament, among other things

EU European Council

the ultimate controlling authority within the EU

EU European Court of Justice

The "Supreme Court of Europe", with active jurisdiction over all EU members and the power to strike down EU states' domestic laws (judicial review)

EU European Monetary Union

the agreement among the participating member states of the European Union to adopt a single hard currency and monetary system.

EU European Parliament

Passes the majority of the EU's laws; is the only EU institution that meets and debates in public; is elected by all the citizens of the EU and represents their interests

EU Integration

the inclusion of people of all races on an equal basis into society

EU Lisbon Treaty 2007

Created a permanent president of the European Council. Created a High Representative and EU action force.

EU Maastricht Treaty 1991

agreement that resulted in a singel currency for the European Union-caused massive protest marches and general strike in France

EU Schengen Area

zone in which border controls have been abolished

EU Social Market Economy

Economic form, major industries are owned by state entities, but compete with each other within a pricing system set by the market

EU Sovereign Debt Crisis

Financial crisis due to excessive growth of public budget's deficit which has led to incapacity for payment of current liabilities and obtaining new loans from private banks or international institutions, such as the IMF, the World Bank or European Central Bank.