AP Comp Gov UK

Unit2

First World

Those who allied themselves with the United States and NATO during the Cold War and supported capitalism and democracy.

Second World

The Soviet Union and countries of the communist bloc.

Third World

Countries that did not align themselves with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Warsaw Pact.

What is meant by the term advanced democracy?

A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

What do all advanced democracies guarantee?

rule of law, freedoms, checks and balances

What is modernism?

belief in technology, religions should be equally, focus on logic not tradition, money focused

What is post-modernism?

focus on tradition, quality of life, not focused on finances

What is the difference between modernism and post-modernism?

value of money, independence, and equality between religions vs traditions and value of life

What are the three economic sectors?

Service, Industrial & Agricultural

How are the EU and NAFTA similar?

1) Both encourage free trade by removing the trade barriers and allows for the movement of goods and services.

2) Both have emerged from small agreements between countries

How are the EU and NAFTA different?

1) one has a number of countries as its member while the other has only 3 Countries.

2) one focus on economic, political, territorial issues while the other is a pure economic agreement.

Alternative Vote

An electoral system whereby voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Brexit

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

BBC (its function)

A linkage institution that aims to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.

Collective Responsibility

the cabinet minister's responsibility to support the Prime Minister and their actions even though they might not personally agree.

Welfare State

a system whereby the state 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.

Unions

a society or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose.

Devolution (UK focused)

The transfer of powers and funding from national to local government.

Fixed Terms Parliament Act of 2011

The Parliament of the United Kingdom which, for the first time, set in legislation a default fixed election date for general elections in the United Kingdom

House of Commons

The lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, whose members are elected.

What is the function of the Prime Minister?

The leader of His Majesty's Government and is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government.

What is the function of Speaker of the House?

The presiding officer of the House of Commons, who determines which members may speak and which amendments are selected for consideration

What is the function of a Coalition Government

a government by political parties that enter into a power-sharing arrangement of the executive.

What is the function of the Cabinet?

the senior decision-making body of the Government of the United Kingdom who support the Prime Minister and ensure the effective running of government.

What is the function of Loyal Opposition

When non-governing parties may oppose the actions of the sitting cabinet while remaining loyal to the formal sources of the government's power, such as the monarch or constitution

What is the function of Question Time?

when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers (including the prime minister), which they are obliged to answer.

What is the function of the Shadow Cabinet?

a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition, form an alternative cabinet to that of the government, and whose members mirror the positions of each individual member of the Cabinet.

Backbenchers

a member of parliament (MP) or a legislator who occupies no governmental office and is not a frontbench spokesperson in the Opposition, being instead simply a member of the "rank and file".

What is the House of Lords?

the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Law Lords

highly qualified, full time judges who carry out judicial work

Hereditary Peers

A member of aristocracy who receives their title though blood relation, and therefore had the right to vote in the House of Lords till the rules changes in 2001.

Life Peers

appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited

Hung Parliament

a parliament in which no political party has enough seats to secure an overall majority.

National Health Service (NHS)

the service in the UK that provides free medical treatment for everyone and is paid for by the government.

Gradualism

a policy of gradual reform rather than sudden change or revolution.

Snap Elections

an election that is called earlier than the one that has been scheduled.

Noblesse Oblige

The moral obligation of those who are privileged or in positions of power to act with generosity and responsibility towards those who are less fortunate.

Parliament (UK)

The supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, that is an assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws.

Parliamentary sovereignty (British)

the extent of authority that parliament holds, and whether there are any sorts of law that it cannot pass.

Quangos

a semi-public administrative body outside the civil service but receiving financial support from the government

What is the Supreme Court of the UK?

the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases, and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What i the function of the Supreme Court of the UK?

the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases, and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Thatcherism

a form of British conservative ideology named after Conservative Party leader that relates to not just her political platform and particular policies but also her personal character and style of management while in office.

Austerity Measures (UK based)

a set of economic policies implemented by a government to control public sector debt, Such as; reductions in welfare spending, the cancellation of school building programs, reductions in local government funding, and an increase in VAT.

Neo-corporatism (UK based)

a democratic form of corporatism which favors economic tripartism, which involves strong labour unions, employers' associations and governments that cooperate as "social partners" to negotiate and manage a national economy.

Tony Blairs Third Way

social democracy which aims to fuse economically liberal with social democratic economic policies and center-left social policies.

What does the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) believe in?

encouraging a unitary British identity in opposition to growing Welsh, Irish and Scottish nationalisms. also placed emphasis on lowering immigration, rejecting multiculturalism, and opposing what it calls the "Islamification" of Britain.

What does the Sinn Fein believe in?

securing the international recognition of Ireland as an independent Irish republic.

What does the Scottish National Party (SNP) believe in?

supports and campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom and for Scotland's membership in the European Union, with a platform based on progressive social policies and civic nationalism.

What does the Plaid Cymru believe in?

a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom. It campaigns on a platform of social democracy and civic nationalism.

What does the Labour Party believe in?

Social democratic political party in the UK, delivers to working people and has historic links with trade unions and the working class.

What does the Conservative Party (Tory) believe in?

Critical of devolution, guiding principles include the promotion of private property and enterprise.

What does the Liberal Democratic Party believe in?

Liberal Democracy, its core values include liberty, equality, democracy, community, human rights, internationalist and environmentalism.

What is a Vote of no confidence (UK focused)?

a vote unsupportive of the government moved in the House of Commons expressing lack of confidence in the current government or a specific minister.

Who is King Charles?

Current King/Monarch of the United Kingdom

Who is Boris Johnson?

British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He/She was previously Foreign Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016. Known for executing Brexit.

Who is Tony Blair?

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He/She served as Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997 and held various shadow cabinet posts from 1987 to 1994. Was known for the creation of the “third way".”

Who is Rishi Sunak?

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024. He/She has been Leader of the Conservative Party since October 2022; after the general election in July 2024, he/she became Leader of the Opposition

Who is Margaret Thatcher?

British states person and Conservative politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. Known for being tough on trade unions, and implementing practices that align with neoliberalism.

Who is Teresa May?

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. He/She previously served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016.

Who is David Cameron?

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and latterly as Foreign Secretary under Rishi Sunak from November 2023 to July 2024. He/She was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016.

Code Law

a legal system that attempts to exhaustively express the law in comprehensive legal codes when the law is first passed.

Common Law

a legal system that enact law expressing general principle, allowing bureaucratic and judicial discretion in the interpretation of the application of the law in specific cases, adhering to precedents of court decisions regarding interpretation

Constituency

a geographic area represent by a member in the legislature

Constitutionalism

commitment to the role of law and the principle expressed in a constitution

European Union (EU)

a political and economic union of more than a dozen European member states, all of which surrender some sovereign control over their own country to promote trade and cooperation among member states.

First Past the Post (FPTP) or Plurality

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins representation of a geographic district in the legislature. The losing candidate gets no representation

Head of Government

the individual in the executive branch responsible for the day-to-day operation of the government

Head of State

the individual in the executive branch who acts as the ceremonial symbol of the country at public events.

Magna Carta

an agreement made between England’s king and the nobility that established limitations on the power of the King. (an early example of constitutionalism)

Mixed Economy

an economy in which the government plays a strong role of ownership and operation of industries, regulation

Single Member District (SMD)

an election system in which one representative is chosen to represent each geographic constituency in a legislature

Constituency

a geographic area represented by a member in the legislature

The Service Sector is also known as the

Tertiary Sector

The Industrial Sector is also known as the

Secondary Sector

The Agricultural Sector is also know as the

Primary Sector

What is the Service Sector?

Produces services maintenance and repairs, training, or consulting.

What is the Industrial Sector?

The segment of economy made up of businesses that aid other businesses in manufacturing, shipping or producing their products.

What is the Agricultural Sector?

A sector of economy which includes crop and animal production, as well as agricultural engineering and production of agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and other kinds of products to support farming.

When do coalition governments in the UK usually occur?

When no single party has achieved an absolute majority after an election.

peerage

System by which a person receives a title that is inherited through blood or bestowed upon them by the monarch.

what is home rule

power over ones own territory - government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens

what is the Irish Republic Army (IRA)

informally known as the Provos, they sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, facilitate Irish reunification and bring about an independent republic encompassing all of Ireland.

Civil Liberties

Freedom of belief, speech, and assembly

Social Capital

post-industrialism

nationalists

imperialism

limited monarchy

traditional legitimacy

rational legal authority

Glorius Revolution

insularity

Noblesse oblige

Multi-nationalism

Cultural homogeneity

Great Reform Act of 1832

Reform Act of 1867

Representation of the People Act of 1884

Women’s suffrage