AP Comp Gov UK

First- Past-The-Post

First- Past-The-Post

an election system where the candidate that recieves the most votes wins, even if they do not have the majority

single member districts

is an electoral system in which each geographic district elects only one representative to a legislative body.

Alternative Vote Referendum

on Thursday 5 May 2011 in the United Kingdom to choose the method of electing MPs at subsequent general elections.

Scottish Independence Referedum (2014)

vote of Scottish independence, the no’s win by 10 percent

Good Friday Agreement (1998)

Under Tony Blair, it was an agreement between the British and Irish governments, and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.

Brexit Referendum (2016)

Under David Cameron, vote of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Beveridge Report (1942)

provided the blueprint for social policy in post-war Britain which was then ended by Thatcher

Positive Impacts of Austerity

By cutting public spending and increasing taxes, the government managed to reduce the national debt and borrowing levels in the short term.

Negative Impacts of Austerity

Austerity measures led to increased poverty, reduced public services, and social unrest, negatively impacting the economy and quality of life for many citizens.

Thacherism

emphasized free-market economics, individualism, and a reduction in the role of government in the economy a response to the economic challenges facing the UK in the 1970s, including high inflation, unemployment, and industrial strife.

Supranational Organization

is a group of countries that form an alliance to achieve cultural, economic, or military goals. Member countries give up some authority to the group, and the group's decisions are binding on its members. Ex: European Union

Devolution

the transfer of power and decision-making authority from a central government to regional or local governments within a country. It aims to decentralize political power and give more autonomy to subnational units.

Prime Minister's Cabinet

chosen by the PM, they are responsible for making key decisions on government policy, overseeing the functioning of government departments, and shaping legislative agendas.

Vote of no Confidence

a formal vote taken by a legislative body in a parliamentary system, indicating that the majority of lawmakers no longer support the current government leader (usually the Prime Minister), potentially forcing them to resign if the vote passes

Hung Parliament

occurs in the UK when no single political party wins an overall majority (i.e., more than half of the total seats) in the House of Commons after a general election

2010 General Election

Tories with David Cameron had the most seats but not the majority. The Liberal Democrats, led by Nick Clegg, entered into a coalition agreement with the Conservatives, and David Cameron became the Prime Minister of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

2017 General Election

the Tories, led by Theresa May, lost its majority after calling an election to strengthen her position in negotiations over Brexit. Theresa May was able to remain PM by forming a confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a Northern Irish party.

Scottish National Party (SNP)

is a social democratic, nationalist party that campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom and membership in the European Union

Democratic Union Party (DUP)

a unionist, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who led the party for the next 37 years.

Plaid Cymru (the party of Wales)

a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom. It campaigns on a platform of social democracy and civic nationalism.

Sinn Fein

political party that long was widely regarded as the political wing of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)- hate England.

United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)

right-wing to far-right Eurosceptic political party in the United Kingdom. Its policies promote conservatism, national conservatism, and Euroscepticism.

Liberal-Democrats (Lib-Dems)

a centrist political party in the United Kingdom that promotes individual liberties, social liberalism, and environmentalism.

Reform UK

is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has served as the party's leader since June 2024

Tony Blair

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007, implemented several significant domestic programs and policies (devolution). Their government, representing the "New Labour" movement, focused on modernizing the Labour Party and addressing key issues such as inequality, public services, and constitutional reform.

Margaret Thatcher

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990) was marked by a number of major domestic programs and policies. These programs were grounded in their ideological commitment to free-market economics, reducing the role of the state, and curbing the power of trade unions.

The Falklands War (1982)

One of the most defining events of Thatcher’s foreign policy: In April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, triggering a military response from the UK. The UK successfully retook the islands in June 1982.

The Iraq War (2003)

Alongside the United States, under President George W. Bush, the UK’s role in this war was based on the belief that Iraq’s regime under Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Severely damaged Blair's reputation, particularly because no WMDs were found in Iraq. His decision to align so closely with the U.S. led to significant protests in the UK and eroded public trust.

The War in Afghanistan (2001)

Following the 9/11 attacks in the United States, Blair was one of the first world leaders to offer support for the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan aimed at dismantling Al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power. The long duration of the conflict became a source of criticism by the end of Blair’s tenure.