UK Vocab

Anglican Church

The Church of England, the state church of the UK, which separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century.

Backbenchers

Members of Parliament (MPs) who do not hold a government office or opposition leadership position and sit behind the front benches in Parliament.

Bill of Rights

A 1689 act passed by the UK Parliament that limited the powers of the monarchy and established certain civil liberties.

Boris Johnson

Former Prime Minister of the UK (2019–2022) and leader of the Conservative Party, known for his role in the Brexit referendum.

Brexit

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which took place on January 31, 2020.

Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister of the UK (1997–2007) and leader of the Labour Party, known for his centrist policies and support of the Iraq War.

Cabinet

A group of senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to head different government departments and advise on policy.

Coalition Government

A government formed by multiple political parties cooperating, often used when no single party has a majority in Parliament.

CBI (Confederation of British Industry)

A leading business organization in the UK that represents the interests of businesses and employers.

Collective Responsibility

The principle that all members of the Cabinet must publicly support all governmental decisions, even if they disagree privately.

Collectivist Consensus

Post-World War II political consensus in the UK, where both major parties supported a mixed economy and welfare state.

Common Law

A legal system based on customs, judicial precedents, and case law rather than codified statutes.

Commonwealth

A political association of 56 member states, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire, promoting cooperation and shared values.

Conservative Party (Tories)

One of the two major political parties in the UK, traditionally supporting free market policies, national defense, and social conservatism.

Constitutional Monarchy

A political system where a monarch serves as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, sharing power with elected bodies.

David Cameron

Former Prime Minister of the UK (2010–2016) and leader of the Conservative Party, known for calling the Brexit referendum.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

A political party in Northern Ireland that supports maintaining the union with Great Britain and holds socially conservative views.

Devolution

The transfer of powers from the central government of the UK to regional governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Euroskeptic

Someone who is critical of the European Union and opposes further European integration or membership.

First past the post

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, even if they do not have a majority.

Fusion of Powers

A political system in which the executive and legislative branches of government are interconnected, as in the UK Parliament.

Good Friday Agreement

A 1998 peace agreement that helped end the conflict in Northern Ireland by creating a devolved government and establishing cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and the UK.

Gradualism

The belief that political change should happen slowly and incrementally rather than through radical transformation.

Great Reform Act

The 1832 law that reformed the electoral system in Britain by extending the franchise to more voters and redistributing seats in Parliament.

Greater London Assembly

The elected body responsible for scrutinizing the actions of the Mayor of London and developing policies for Greater London.

House of Commons

The lower house of the UK Parliament, made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs), where most legislative work occurs.

House of Lords

The upper house of the UK Parliament, composed of appointed and hereditary members, with a more limited role in the legislative process.

Keir Starmer

Current Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, since 2020.

Labour Party

One of the major political parties in the UK, traditionally supporting social justice, workers' rights, and the welfare state.

Leader of the Opposition

The head of the largest party not in government in the UK Parliament, responsible for critiquing government policies.

Liberal Democratic Party

A centrist political party in the UK advocating for social liberalism, civil rights, and electoral reform.

Liz Truss

Former Prime Minister of the UK (2022), serving for a brief period and known for controversial economic policies.

Maastricht Treaty

The 1992 treaty that established the European Union and laid the foundation for the euro currency.

Magna Carta

A 1215 document that limited the power of the English monarch and established certain legal rights for English subjects.

Margaret Thatcher

Former Prime Minister of the UK (1979–1990) and leader of the Conservative Party, known for free-market policies and privatization.

MP (Member of Parliament)

An individual elected to represent a constituency in the House of Commons in the UK Parliament.

NEDC (National Economic Development Council)

A now-defunct UK council that promoted economic planning and cooperation between government, business, and labor unions.

NHS (National Health Service)

The publicly funded healthcare system in the UK, providing free or low-cost healthcare services to residents.

Nigel Farage

A British politician known for leading the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and advocating for Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon

Former First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), advocating for Scottish independence.

Noblesse Oblige

The concept that those with privilege, especially the nobility, have a responsibility to act generously and charitably toward those less fortunate.

Parliamentary Democracy

A system of government where the executive branch derives its legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature (Parliament), and both branches are interconnected.

Parliamentary Party

The elected members of a political party who sit in the UK Parliament.

Parliamentary Supremacy

The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK and can create or end any law.

Plaid Cymru

A Welsh political party advocating for Welsh independence and the promotion of Welsh language and culture.

Powers of the Crown

The traditional prerogatives and powers held by the British monarch, such as appointing ministers and issuing royal pardons.

Prime Minister

The head of government in the UK, responsible for running the government and overseeing the Cabinet.

Privatization

The process of transferring ownership of public services or assets from the government to private companies.

Quango (Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organization)

A semi-public body in the UK that operates independently of the government but is still funded or regulated by it.

Question Time

A period during parliamentary sessions where MPs question the Prime Minister and other ministers about government policies and actions.

Reform UK

A political party in the UK, previously known as the Brexit Party, focusing on further political reform and reducing government bureaucracy.

Rishi Sunak

Former Prime Minister of the UK, leader of the Conservative Party, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Sadiq Khan

Current Mayor of London and member of the Labour Party, known for his work on transportation and housing policies.

Scottish National Party (SNP)

A political party in Scotland that advocates for Scottish independence and operates within the devolved Scottish Parliament.

Shadow Cabinet

The opposition party's alternative to the Cabinet, with members assigned to scrutinize and challenge the policies of their counterparts in government.

Single Member District/Plurality

An electoral system in which one representative is elected per district, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the UK, responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring they align with the constitution.

Thatcherite

Refers to the political ideology of Margaret Thatcher, characterized by free-market policies, reducing the role of the state, and privatization.

Third Way

A centrist political ideology that blends elements of the left and right, often associated with Tony Blair’s leadership of the Labour Party.

TUC (Trade Union Congress)

A national federation of trade unions in the UK, representing the collective interests of millions of workers.

Unitary

A system of government in which a single central government holds most of the power, with limited powers delegated to regional authorities.

United Kingdom

A country made up of four constituent nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Vote of no Confidence

A parliamentary vote that, if passed, signifies that the government no longer has the support of the majority, often leading to its resignation.

Welfare State

A government that plays a key role in providing social security, healthcare, education, and financial assistance to its citizens.

Whitehall

A term used to refer to the UK government’s administrative offices, located in Whitehall, London.

Whip

A party official responsible for ensuring party discipline, managing MPs' votes, and ensuring attendance during key votes.