British Politics

Flashcards reviewing the British political system, cleavages, elections, parties, and political culture.

What are some factors related to regime legitimacy?

Quality of life issues, environment, education, leisure, law corruption/effective government

What are features of the UK's regime legitimacy?

Democratic government, Long regime history, Gradualism, Society is stable, wealthy

What are societal cleavages?

Region and Religion.

How is religion a cleavage?

England (Anglican), Wales, Scotland (Presbyterian), Northern Ireland (Protestant majority, Catholic minority)

What is the IRA?

The Irish Republican Army, a terrorist organization.

What did the Dayton "Good Friday" Accords entail?

Power sharing agreement, British membership in the EU, Free connections between Northern Ireland & Ireland.

Who is the majority in Northern Ireland?

Catholics

What is a significant party in Northern Ireland?

Sinn Fein

What significant event relates to regional cleavages in the UK?

Scottish Independence Referendum (2014)

Where does Immigration to the UK come from?

Black immigrants from Africa & Caribbean, South Asians (religious intolerance, lack of assimilation, religious terrorism (7/7, Xenophobia, live in urban areas))

How do social classes vote in the UK?

Old lower class voted Labour, upper class voted Conservative, now vast majority are middle class.

How are UK elections scheduled?

Called by the Prime Minister every 5 years.

What type of electoral system does the UK have?

Single member district plurality (650 districts, majority not required, no residency requirements, no term limits)

What are the effects of the electoral system?

Creates a two party dominant system, magnifies the victory of the winning party, creates stable majorities in Parliament (coalition governments are rare)

What are some Economic Interest Groups in the UK?

Labour, Business

What is the UK's main media outlet?

BBC - Independent of government despite being government controlled & funded.

What is a political movement in the UK?

Anti-immigration → Brexit

What is a defining feature of UK political culture?

Individual rights, Civil rights

What Parties are Broad/National?

Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democratic Party.

What are two policies of the Conservative Party?

Thatcherite neoliberal (anti-union, privatization, less safety social net), Noblesse Oblige (result of collective consensus, pensions/social safety net)

What is the political alignment of the Labour Party?

Tony Blair influence center left, little Union Support.

What is the function of the Liberal Democratic Party?

Alternative to the 2 major parties.

What are some "National' Parties Specific to Scotland, Wales, & Northern Ireland?

Scottish National Party (advocates for Scottish national independence), Wales (advocates for preservation of Welsh language), Northern Ireland Catholic: Sinn Fein, Protestant: Democratic Unionist Party

What are some Single Issue Parties?

Green, Anti-immigrant / Pro-Brexit