AP Comparitive Government Britain

Unitary System

A government system where key powers are held by the national or central government.

Parliamentary System

A system where the legislature selects the prime minister or executive leader.

Traditional Legitimacy

Authority accepted because it is rooted in long-standing customs and institutions.

Rational-Legal Authority

Power based on legally enacted rules, laws, and procedures.

Nationalism

A strong sense of pride in and devotion to one's nation.

Two-Plus Party System

A party system with two large parties and one or more smaller parties.

Common Law

A legal system based on precedent, customs, and court decisions.

Parliament

A representative body that makes laws; the national legislature of the UK.

Monarchy

A form of government ruled by a king or queen.

Queen Elizabeth II

Former monarch of the United Kingdom and ceremonial head of state.

Margaret Thatcher

British Prime Minister (1979–1990); promoted privatization, reduced union power, and free-market reforms.

Tony Blair

British Prime Minister (1997–2007); leader of New Labour who supported moderate market-based reforms.

Gordon Brown

British Prime Minister (2007–2010); Labour leader who succeeded Tony Blair.

David Cameron

British Prime Minister (2010–2016); Conservative leader associated with the Big Society platform.

Theresa May

British Prime Minister (2016–2019); Conservative leader who oversaw early Brexit negotiations.

No Written Constitution

The UK has no single codified constitution; it relies on statutes, common law, and traditions.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two chambers.

House of Commons

The elected lower house of the UK Parliament and the more powerful chamber.

House of Lords

The upper chamber of Parliament that reviews and delays legislation.

Interest Group

An organization seeking to influence public policy around shared interests.

Pluralism

The idea that many competing groups influence government and prevent domination by one group.

Bureaucracy

Government agencies and officials who implement laws and policies.

Discretionary Power

The ability of officials to make limited decisions in carrying out laws.

Code Law

A legal system based on a comprehensive written set of laws.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The principle that Parliament has supreme legal authority.

Head of State

The symbolic or ceremonial leader of a country.

Head of Government

The political leader responsible for running the government.

Magna Carta

A 1215 English charter limiting royal power and affirming certain rights.

Bill of Rights

A law protecting liberties and limiting government power.

Hung Parliament

A parliament where no party has a majority and coalition support is needed.

Trade Union

An organized association of workers protecting labor interests.

CBI

Confederation of British Industry; a major UK business advocacy organization.

Collective Consensus

Postwar agreement among major UK parties supporting the welfare state.

Cabinet

The top executive decision-making group led by the prime minister.

Prime Minister

The head of government and leader of the majority party in Parliament.

Shadow Cabinet

Senior members of the opposition assigned to monitor government ministers.

Question Time

A parliamentary session where ministers answer questions from legislators.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer who manages debate in the House of Commons.

Vote of No Confidence

A parliamentary vote that can remove a prime minister or government.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the UK for civil and criminal appeals.

Gradualism

Political change occurring slowly through steady reform over time.

Government Transparency

Open government practices that allow accountability and public oversight.

Relationship with EU

British politics long divided over support for or opposition to EU membership.

Terrorism and Cohesion

Challenges of preventing extremism while maintaining social unity.

Devolution and Constitutional Reform

Transfer of powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland plus broader institutional reform.

Devolution

The transfer of political powers from central government to regional governments.

Voter Behavior

How citizens choose parties, candidates, and participate politically.

Gender Ratio Parliament

The proportion of women serving in Parliament.

Referenda

Direct votes by citizens on specific political questions or laws.

Quangos

Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations that help implement policy.

Oxbridge

Collective term for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Liberalism

An ideology emphasizing rights, representative government, rule of law, and private property.

Populism

A political style claiming to represent ordinary people against elites.

English

Historically dominant national group within the United Kingdom.

Scottish

National group in Scotland with strong identity and support for devolution or independence.

Welsh

National group in Wales with distinct identity and devolved institutions.

Irish

National group tied to Ireland and Northern Ireland politics.

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Publicly funded UK broadcaster intended to operate independently.

National Health System

The UK publicly funded health care system, commonly called the NHS.

Euroskeptics

People opposed to EU membership or greater EU power.

Post-Materialism

Focus on quality-of-life issues once basic economic needs are met.

Clause 4

Former Labour Party commitment to nationalization of industry, later removed.

Plurality Voting System

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins.

First Past the Post

Plurality voting in single-member districts.

Single-Member District

An electoral district that elects one representative.

Social Movement

Collective action seeking political or social change.

Labour Party

Main center-left political party in the UK.

Conservative Party

Main center-right political party in the UK.

Liberal

Different from conservative; generally open to reform and new ideas.

Democratic Party

A generic term for a party supporting democratic governance.

Scottish National Party

A major Scottish party supporting Scottish independence.

British National Party

A far-right anti-immigration political party in Britain.

Independence Party

Usually refers to UKIP, a party focused on leaving the EU.

Sinn Fein

Irish republican political party active in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Extension of Voting Rights

The expansion of suffrage to more groups over time.

Thatcherism

Free-market reforms associated with Margaret Thatcher.

Third Way

A centrist political approach blending markets with social justice goals.

Big Society

David Cameron's program emphasizing community action and reduced state dependence.

Social Welfare

Government programs supporting health, income, and social needs.

Neoliberalism

An ideology favoring free markets, privatization, and limited government intervention.

Liberalization

Reducing barriers such as tariffs and regulations to expand trade and markets.

Marketization

Creating market competition in sectors previously controlled by the state.

Beveridge Report

A 1940s report that laid foundations for the British welfare state.

Maastricht Treaty

EU treaty establishing criteria for monetary union and deeper integration.

2005 Tube Bombing

Terrorist attacks on London's transit system in July 2005 that killed 52 people.

2007 Attacks

Failed and attempted bomb attacks in London and Glasgow in 2007.

War in Iraq

The 2003 conflict supported by Tony Blair that reduced his popularity.

2014 Scottish Referendum

A vote in which Scotland chose to remain part of the United Kingdom.