UK Vocab

Rule of Law

A fundamental principle that includes the limits on state power, protection for fundamental rights, and judicial independence.

Federal state

political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government

Unitary State

a system of political organization in which most or all of the governing power resides in a centralized government, in contrast to a federal state.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK which can create or end any law.

British Bill of Rights

outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy.

Unwritten constitution

one in which no provisions or laws of the constitution are set in writing but they are documented despite not being incorporated in a single book.

Constitutional reform

an alteration to the Constitution, whether a modification, deletion, or addition, is accomplished.

Beveridge Report

adopted by both parties during the war made all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pension, and other welfare benefits

Conservative party

Developed from the Tories in the 1830s. Generally more right wing and more towards free - markets and the upper classes. It advocates a mixed economy and encourages property owning. Now it is split between traditional wing (noblesse oblige) and "Thatcherites"

Labour Party

Represent the rights of the newly - enfranchised working man, with the help of trade unions to represent the interests of the urban working class. Was partially defined by the "Clause 4."

Liberal Democratic Party

The party is primarily social liberal, supporting redistribution but sceptical of increasing the power of the state, emphasising the link between equality and liberty. The party supports investment and progressive taxation, but also promotes civil liberties and a less centralised economy.

Question Hour

A portion of debate in parliament in which the prime minister and his cabinet must defend themselves against attack from the opposition (party out of power), and sometimes from members of their own party.

Efficacy

capacity or power to produce a desired effect, (politics) a belief that you can take part in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy)

Gradualism

The belief or the policy of advancing toward a goal by gradual, often slow stages; this process helps explain the transition in policy making power from the King to Parliament in Great Britain.

Two Party System

the two dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.

Irregular Elections

General elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. Other elections are held on fixed dates though in the case of the devolved assemblies and parliaments, early elections can occur in certain situations

Single Member District

electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

Shadow Cabinet

the majority of the Official Opposition frontbench, as part of frontbenchers to the parliament.

Nationalized

the Labour party's idea of putting the control of the main industries in the hands of the people, instead of a small group or shareholders.

Welfare State

a government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.

National Healthcare System

All English residents are automatically entitled to free public health care through the National Health Service

Thatcherism

promote low inflation, the small state and free markets through tight control of the money supply, privatisation and constraints on the labour movement.

Noblesse Oblige

the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged.

IRA

a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland

Oxbridge

general term for an ancient and prestigious and privileged university, best way to attain a political career

Parliamentary System

a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the legislature, typically a parliament, to which it is accountable.

Winner Take all

Plurality voting systems, which means that the party of the losing candidate in each riding receives no representation in government, regardless of the amount of votes they received.

House of Commons

one of the houses of Parliament including wealthy landowners and rich business leaders that represent the middle class and are elected to office

House of Lords

Aristocratic body consisting of persons who have inherited their titles; has little real authority over legislation and its major function is to debate bills passed by the House of Commons and to improve/revise bills

Law Lords

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Justices of the Supreme Court \n \n The 12 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (the Law Lords) are the first justices of the 12-member Supreme Court and are disqualified from sitting or voting in the House of Lords.

Vote of Confidence

a formal process in which people (such as the members of a legislature) vote in order to indicate whether or not they support a leader, government, etc.

Tony Blair

a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. a great debater

Gordon Brown

a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010; introduced rescue packages in 2008 and 2009 to help keep the banks afloat during the global financial crisis, and as a result the United Kingdom's national debt increased dramatically.

David Cameron

a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. also a great debater

Nick Klegg

Leader of the Lib-Dem Party that made a coalition government with the conservative party