Component 1 Glossary - Politics

Flashcards summarizing key terms and definitions from Component 1 of the Politics course.

Collective Rights

The rights of the people, when viewed as a larger body. Often in conflict with individual rights over issues such as safety.

Democratic Deficit

A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.

Direct Democracy

All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf.

Franchise

Ability/right to vote in public elections.

Human Rights

Legal protections given to people that need to be identified in Law.

Individual Rights

The rights of the person, who has primacy over the collective body.

Legitimacy

The rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely-held agreements.

Lobbyists

Paid individuals who try to influence the government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords.

Participation Crisis

A lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens to relate to the political process.

Partisan

A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.

Pluralist Democracy

A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments.

Pressure Group

A group of people who represent a section of society or a specific issue in order to influence government and the people for change.

Referendum

A majoritarian form of democracy in which the public vote on a single issue.

Representative Democracy

A more modern form of democracy through which an individual selects a person or political party to act on their behalf.

Think Tanks

A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) to investigate and offer solutions.