KEY TERMS - GOV CORE CONTENT

Civic nationalism

A form of nationalism based on the active participation of its citizens and a shared vision of equal citizens.

Liberal internationalism

The idea that sovereign nations should cooperate and create a level of interdependency to avoid international conflict.

Socialist internationalism

The idea that class solidarity is more powerful and politically significant than national identity.

Ethnicity

The sense of belonging to the social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

Rational

The idea that humans are capable of reasoned thought and are able to make logical decisions for themselves.

Progressive

Ideas that move towards improving society.

Regressive

Ideas that seek to revert society to a former or less advanced state.

Inclusive nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes that joining a nation is straightforward and quick, as it is not based on shared previous experiences.

Exclusive nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes that it takes time to be a part of the nation, as membership is based on shared history and language.

Chauvinistic nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes its nation is superior to others, seeing them as a threat to their survival.

Imperialism/colonialism

The extension of control by one country over another by settlement or economic domination.

Volksgeist

The ‘spirit’ of a nation, the unique identity of a people based on their culture.

Integral nationalism

An intense, hysterical form of patriotism in which the individual is absorbed into the nation.

Black nationalism

A reaction to white oppression originating in the mid-20th century.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the UK political system.

Judicial neutrality

The principle that judges should not be influenced by their personal political opinions and should remain outside of party politics.

Judicial independence

The principle that judges should not be influenced by other branches of government, particularly the Executive.

Judicial review

The power of the judiciary to review, and sometimes reverse, actions by other branches of government that breach the law or that are incompatible with the Human Rights Act.

Elective dictatorship

A government that dominates Parliament, usually due to a large majority, and therefore has few limits on its power.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of a group of European countries.

Four freedoms (EU)

The principle of free movement of goods, services, capital and people within the EU’s single market.

Legal sovereignty

The legal right to exercise sovereignty – i.e. sovereignty in theory.

Political sovereignty

The political ability to exercise sovereignty – i.e. sovereignty in practice.

Ultra vires

‘Beyond the powers’: An action that is taken without legal authority when it requires it.

Executive

The collective group of Prime Minister, Cabinet and junior ministers, sometimes known as ‘The Government’.

Cabinet

The Prime Minister and senior ministers, most of whom lead a particular government department.

Minister

An MP or member of the House of Lords appointed to a position in the government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department.

Government department

A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health or defence.

Royal prerogative

A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the Prime Minister or Cabinet, such as the granting of honours or of legal pardons.

Secondary legislation

Powers given to the Executive by Parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules.

Individual responsibility

The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments.

Collective responsibility

Principle by which ministers must support Cabinet decisions or leave the Executive.

Presidential government

An executive dominated by one individual, this may be a President but is also used to describe a strong, dominant Prime Minister.

Parliament

The British legislature made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch.

House of Commons

The primary chamber of the UK legislature, directly elected by voters.

House of Lords

The second chamber of the UK legislature, not directly elected by voters.

Confidence and supply

The rights to remove the government and to grant or withhold funding.

A type of informal coalition agreement where the minority partner agrees to provide these things in exchange for policy concessions.

Salisbury Convention

The convention whereby the House of Lords does not delay or block legislation that was included in a government’s manifesto.

Parliamentary privilege

The right of MPs or Lords to make certain statements within Parliament without being subject to outside influence, including law.

Legislative bills

Proposed laws passing through Parliament.

Public bill committees

Committees responsible for looking at bills in detail.

Backbenchers

MPs or Lords who do not hold any government office.

Select committees

Committee responsible for scrutinising the work of government, particularly of individual government departments.

Opposition

The MPs and Lords who are not members of the governing party or parties.

Constitution

A set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political system, and establishing the relationship between the government and the governed.

Unentrenched

A constitution with no special procedure for amendment.

Entrenched

A constitution with a special procedure for an amendment and is protected by a ‘higher court’.

Uncodified

A constitution not contained in a single written document.

Codified

A constitution in a single written document

Unitary

A political system where all legal sovereignty is contained in a single place.

Federal

A political system where power is shared between institutions.

Parliamentary sovereignty

The principle that Parliament can make, amend or unmake any law, and cannot bind its successors or be bound by its predecessors.

The rule of law

The principle that all people and bodies, including government, must follow the law and can be held to account if they do not.

Statue law

Laws passed by Parliament.

Common law

Laws made by judges where the law does not cover the issue or is unclear.

Conventions

Traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system.

Authoritative works

Works written by experts describing how a political system is run, they are not legally binding but are taken as significant guides.

Treaties

Formal agreements with other countries, usually ratified by Parliament.

Devolution

The dispersal of power, but not sovereignty, within a political system.