Unit 3 UK vocab

austerity

a set of economic policies that government use to reduce budget deficits

backbenchers

the members of the British Parliament that are not considered party leaders. Sit in the back rows of the parliament building

• only vote the way that their party wants them to vote

collective responsibility (cabinet)

All members publicly support all the cabinet decisions even if they don’t agree. Decisions are made by party “whole”.

corporatist

the government controls access to policymaking by relying on state-sanctioned group

Conservative Party (Tories)

(David Cameron) the second largest political party (favors pounds over Euros)

• favor privatization

• elitist sentiment of responsibility for the lower class

• centre-right to right-wing

constituency

body of voters in a specified area

devolution

A process in which political power is “sent down” to lower levels of state and government

first-past-the-post (FPTP)

An electoral system in which individual candidates compete in single member districts; voters choose between candidates and the candidates with the largest share of the vote wins the seat.

gradualism

change should to be brought about in small, discrete increments

Good Friday Agreement

• 1998

• Cease-fire agreement b/n the British and the IRA (Irish Republic) to end conflict between Protestants and Catholics

House of Commons

The lower but powerful chamber in Parliament

• strong legislature: they pass more laws

• public views party to be responsible for deficiencies in policy making

House of Lords

• Upper house of Parliament with less power

• Today the seats are directly elected positions

• mainly of appointed members who inherit their titles

Labour Party

The ruling party from 1997-2010

• more left wing - believe in social programs and nationalization

Members of Parliament (MPs)

elected representatives who serve in the legislative branch of government

shadow cabinet

senior group of the opposition party

• alternative cabinet to the government’s

• members “s____w” or mark each individual member of the government and criticize them

the non dominating party’s members of parliament who observe and make suggestions to the leading part

third/middle way

predominantly centrist political position

Westminster system

type of parliamentary government that incorporates a series of procedures for operating a legislature

White paper

government statement that outlines proposed legislation; the last stage before the submission of a formal bill

Maastricht Treaty

1992 created the EU