AP COGO UNIT 2 UK

Unwritten/Uncodified Constitution

A type of constitution where governing laws come from various sources such as common laws, conventions, and historical documents.

Head of State

The symbolic and ceremonial leader of the government, such as King Charles III, who does not have actual governing power.

Labour Party (Whigs)

A center-left political party associated with the working class, unions, and support for social welfare and government involvement.

Conservative Party (Tories)

A center-right political party favored for free markets, strong national defense, and traditional values.

Liberal Democratic Party

A centrist political party that advocates for civil liberties and a mixed economy.

Roles of House of Commons

Members of Parliament are elected, hold government accountable, and control government spending and taxation.

Roles of the House of Lords

The upper chamber of Parliament that reviews and revises bills, primarily consisting of life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK, capable of repealing or making laws without being overruled.

Question Time

A weekly session where members of Parliament question the Prime Minister and government ministers, essential for government scrutiny.

Roles and Selection of the Prime Minister

The leader of the winning political party in the House of Commons becomes Prime Minister, invited by the monarch to form a government.

Roles and Selection of the Cabinet

A group of senior ministers appointed by the Prime Minister to oversee government departments, collectively responsible for government decisions.

Single-Member District Plurality System

The UK's electoral system where each constituency elects one MP using FPTP, with the candidate having the most votes winning.

Speaker of the House

A nonpartisan official who moderates debates in the House of Commons and ensures fair discussions.

FPTP - First Past the Post

A winner-take-all voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, leading to a disproportionate representation.

Vote of No Confidence

A parliamentary motion that, if passed, forces the Prime Minister and government to resign.

Devolution

The process of transferring power from the UK government to regional governments, such as Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Supreme Court of the UK

Established in 2009, it is the highest court overseeing constitutional issues and final appeals.

Bureaucrats

Civil servants who implement laws and policies, providing stability regardless of political changes.

Social Cleavages

Divisions in society such as regional (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), ethnic, and class cleavages influencing political behavior.

Oxbridge

The prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge, often attended by many political leaders.

Referendum-Brexit

A 2016 national vote on the UK's membership in the EU, resulting in a majority decision to leave, causing significant political changes.