AP Comparative Government: The United Kingdom Overview

British Prime Minister Power

Can make key decisions on government policy.

Collective Responsibility

Prime minister needs Cabinet support to govern.

Parliamentary System Advantage

Enhances PM's power through majority party leadership.

House of Commons Majority

Party with most seats in Parliament.

Electoral System in Great Britain

First-past-the-post voting system used.

Coalition Government Formation

Parties join to achieve majority seats.

Domestic Policy Issue

Debate over government spending cuts.

Austerity Measures

Adopted to reduce government budget deficits.

Referendum Definition

Direct vote on specific proposals by electorate.

Brexit Referendum

2016 vote on UK leaving the EU.

Political Consequence of Brexit

David Cameron resigned after referendum result.

Evolutionary Democracy

Gradual development of democratic governance.

Westminster Model

Parliamentary system characterized by a strong PM.

Devolution Example

1997 power devolved to Scotland and Wales.

UK Geography

Isolated yet interactive with mainland Europe.

British Exceptionalism

Feeling of being European but distinct.

Common Law

Legal system based on judicial precedents.

Legitimacy of UK Government

Derived from tradition and Rational-Legal Authority.

Magna Carta

Established protection against absolute power.

Bill of Rights

Consent of Parliament required for monarch's acts.

Great Reform Acts

Expanded electorate and reformed election procedures.

Women's Suffrage

Achieved in stages, full voting by 1928.

Parliament Act of 1911

Limited House of Lords' power to delay bills.

Beveridge Report

Identified five social evils needing government policy.

Five Giant Evils

Want, Squalor, Ignorance, Disease, Idleness.

Post-WWII Social Policy

Focused on social insurance and childhood care.

Population Concerns

Diminishing population requires social expenditure.

Welfare State

Public policies ensuring citizens' basic needs.

National Health Service

Established in 1948 for public healthcare.

Cradle to Grave Benefits

Comprehensive welfare from birth to death.

Neoliberalism

Economic philosophy promoting free market competition.

Margaret Thatcher

Conservative PM from 1979 to 1990.

Privatization

Transfer of public services to private ownership.

Austerity

Reduction in public spending to decrease deficits.

Tony Blair

Labour PM from 1997 to 2007, introduced 'New Labour'.

Devolution

Transfer of powers to regional governments.

Freedom of Information Act

2000 law promoting transparency in government.

Hung Parliament

No party holds a majority in Parliament.

Alternative Vote

Voting system proposed to replace first-past-the-post.

Brexit

UK's exit from the European Union.

Article 50

Legal mechanism for a member state to leave EU.

David Cameron

Conservative PM from 2010 to 2016.

Minority Government

Government without majority support in Parliament.

Democratic Unionist Party

Northern Ireland party supporting Conservative government.

Boris Johnson

Conservative PM since July 2019.

Landslide Victory

Significant electoral win with large majority.

Supreme Court

Highest judicial authority in the UK.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Parliament can create or repeal any law.

Constitutional Monarchy

Monarch's powers are limited by law.

West Lothian Question

Debate on Scottish MPs voting on English laws.

House of Commons

Lower house of Parliament, elected representatives.

House of Lords

Upper house of Parliament, appointed members.

Unitary System

Centralized government with no subnational powers.

Scottish Parliament

Devolved legislature for Scotland.

National Assemblies

Devolved bodies for Wales and Northern Ireland.

Speech from the Throne

Annual address by monarch outlining government agenda.

Referendums

Public votes on specific political issues.

Royal Assent

Monarch's approval needed for legislation.

Black Rod

House of Lords officer responsible for security.

State Opening of Parliament

Ceremony marking the start of parliamentary session.

Prime Minister (PM)

Leader of the majority party in Commons.

Fixed Parliament Act 2011

Establishes five-year terms for Parliament.

Coalition Government

Agreement between parties to form a government.

Cabinet

Group of senior government ministers chosen by PM.

Shadow Government

Second party in Commons acting as opposition.

Speaker of the House

Non-partisan MP managing debates and order.

Question Time

Weekly session for PM to answer MPs' questions.

Party Discipline

Requirement for MPs to vote with their party.

Vote of No Confidence

House indicates loss of confidence in government.

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Advisory body for legal matters in Commonwealth.

Civil Service

Bureaucracy administering laws and public services.

Backbenchers

MPs not in government or opposition roles.

Lords' Powers

Delay legislation and debate technicalities.

Life Peers

Appointed members of the House of Lords.

Hereditary Peers

Members holding seats through family lineage.

Scepter

Symbol of monarchy's authority in Parliament.

Constitution

Fundamental principles governing the UK.

Unitary State

Central government holds primary authority.

Thatcher's Policy

Reduced local government powers in the UK.

Blair's Policy

Increased regional powers, notably in Scotland.

Political Competition

Dynamic among multiple political parties in the UK.

Labour Party

Founded in 1900, significant post-war political force.

Conservative Party

Eighteenth-century party, emphasizes pragmatism and neoliberalism.

Two-and-a-Half-Party System

Dominance of Labour and Conservative parties.

General Election

Election for all 650 House of Commons seats.

Election Turnout

Typically between 60 and 70 percent in the UK.

Quangos

Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations advising government.

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Represents largest trade unions in the UK.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Represents business organizations in the UK.

Class Division

Significant social divide based on economic status.

Regional Disparities

Income differences often align with class divides.

Secularism

UK is more secular than most European countries.

The Troubles

Conflict in Northern Ireland lasting three decades.

Fortress Britain

Immigration policies limiting nonwhite family reunification.

Scottish Independence

Movement for Scotland's self-governance and autonomy.

SNP

Scottish National Party advocating for independence.

Good Friday Agreement

Peace deal addressing Northern Ireland's political conflict.

Neoliberal Economic Policies

Focus on free markets and reduced government intervention.

Postindustrial Economy

Economy dominated by the service sector.

Political Radicalism

Rare occurrence in UK political culture.