AP Comp UK Vocab Pt. I

Constitution of the crown

the uncodified, evolutionary constitution of the United Kingdom. It is not a single document, but a collection of historical documents, common law, statutes, and customs/traditions that define the powers of the government, the monarchy, and the rights of citizens.

Shadow Cabinet

shadow cabinet is a senior group of opposition party members in parliamentary systems (e.g., UK, Canada) who mirror the ruling cabinet's portfolios. Led by the Opposition Leader, they scrutinize government policies, hold ministers accountable, and propose alternative policies, serving as a "government-in-waiting". They have no executive power.

Vote Of No Confidence

a parliamentary procedure allowing legislators to remove a sitting government (prime minister and cabinet) if it loses the majority's support

Austerity

strict economic policies implemented by governments to reduce budget deficits, typically during financial crises, by cutting public spending, reducing social services, and increasing taxes

Backbenchers

Members of Parliament (MPs) who do not hold government ministerial positions or shadow cabinet roles

Coalition Government

a cabinet-level government in a parliamentary system formed when multiple political parties cooperate to create a governing majority, typically because no single party won an outright majority in an election

Collective Consensus

a broad, post-WWII agreement among major political parties and citizens (particularly in the UK) that the government should take responsibility for social welfare

Common Law

legal system primarily based on judicial decisions, precedents, and custom rather than written statutes or codes

Hereditary Peers

members of the British House of Lords who inherit their seats and titles through noble lineage rather than being appointed or elected

Hung Parliament

when no single political party or pre-existing alliance wins an absolute majority of seats (e.g., 326+ in the UK House of Commons) in a general election

Law Lords

12 highly qualified, full-time life peers appointed to the UK House of Lords to act as the highest court of appeal (the Appellate Committee) until 2009

Life Peers

distinguished individuals appointed for life to the United Kingdom's House of Lords based on merit, expertise, or service, rather than by hereditary right

Loyal Oppositions

the role played by the political party out of power, which opposes the policies of the governing party but remains loyal to the state, its constitution, and the democratic system

Neoliberalism

an economic and political ideology emphasizing free-market capitalism, deregulation, privatization, and reduced government spending to drive economic growth

Parliamentary Sovereignty

a foundational principle of the UK constitution holding that Parliament is the supreme legal authority, with absolute power to make, amend, or repeal any law

Parliamentary System

a form of government where the executive branch (prime minister and cabinet) is drawn from, accountable to, and fused with the legislature (parliament)

Question Time

a weekly, scheduled parliamentary procedure—most notably in the UK House of Commons—where members of the legislature, including the opposition, directly question the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers. It is a key mechanism for ensuring executive accountability, forcing government officials to defend policies and justify actions.

Speaker of the House

he constitutionally mandated presiding officer and highest-ranking leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, typically elected by the majority party. This pivotal role manages House proceedings, influences the legislative agenda, assigns bills to committees, and is second in line for presidential succession

Margaret Thatcher / Thatcherism

known for breaking the post-war consensus to shift the UK toward neoliberalism; political/economic ideology: privatization, deregulation, free markets, reducing union power, and shrinking the welfare state, heavily emphasizing individualism over government intervention.

The “Government”

the set of institutions, individuals, and groups legally empowered to make binding decisions, enforce policies, and manage a state

The Third Way

a centrist political ideology that seeks to balance left-wing social justice with right-wing free-market economics, aiming for a "middle ground"

Unitary Government

a system where all key political power and authority are concentrated in the national/central governmentwar

Welfare State

a system where the government plays a key role in protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens