AP COMPARITIVE GOVERNMENT- UK Part 1

Constitution of the Crown

A collection of documents and legal precedent that make up the rule of law in England, and a set of laws that regulate the power of the king and grants rights to citizens.

Shadow Cabinet

Committee of senior members of the Official Opposition who scrutinise the work of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

Vote of No Confidence

Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister. Depending on the country, a vote of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parliamentary elections.

Austerity

A set of economic policies implemented by governments to reduce budget deficits by cutting public spending, raising taxes, or a combination of both, often leading to reductions in government services and social programs to achieve fiscal stability, particularly during economic crises

Backbenchers

Members of a parliament who are not in the government or shadow cabinet.

Coalition Government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems.

Collective Consensus

A situation where a broad agreement or shared understanding on major political issues exists across multiple political parties or factions within a government

Common Law

A legal system where judicial decisions and precedents established by previous court rulings serve as the primary source of law, rather than solely relying on written statutes. (law that is made up by judicial rulings)

Hereditary Peers

Individuals who hold a position in the legislature(House of Lords), typically in the upper house, based on inheritance

Hung Parliament

A situation after an election when no single party comprises a majority in the Commons.

Law Lords

A group of judges within the House of Lords in the British Parliament who were responsible for the highest court of appeals in the UK

Life Peers

Distinguished members of the society who are given lifetime appointments to the house of lords, position does not pass along to heirs.

Loyal Opposition

A role that the party out of power plays, highlighting its objections to policies and priorities of the government in power.

Neo-Liberalism

Government policies aimed to reduce state regulation and promote competition among businesses within the free market

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The principle where the legislative body (Parliament) holds supreme authority over all aspects of governance within its jurisdiction.

Parliamentary System

A system where the executive branch (led by a Prime Minister) is directly accountable to the legislature (parliament).

Question Time

A period during a parliamentary session when members of Parliament may ask questions of the ministers.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of a legislative body, responsible for maintaining order, facilitating debates, and managing the proceedings of the chamber, often holding significant influence over the legislative agenda and committee assignments

Thatcher, Margeret/Thatcherism

The political and economic policies promoted by Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, which primarily focused on free market principles, privatization of state-owned industries, reduced government intervention, and a weakened power of trade unions, essentially advocating for a smaller state and individual responsibility within the economy; often considered a form of neoliberalism.

The "Government"

The group of people, led by the Prime Minister, who hold executive power and are responsible for running the country, essentially consisting of the Cabinet and other ministers who are accountable to Parliament and directly elected by the people.

The Third Way

Predominantly centrist political position that attempts to reconcile centre-right and centre-left politics by synthesising a combination of economically liberal and social democratic economic policies.

Unitary Government

A system where political power is concentrated solely in a central government, with local or regional governments having minimal autonomy and deriving all their power from the national authority.

Welfare State

A system where the government actively provides social programs and services to its citizens, aiming to ensure a basic standard of living through initiatives like healthcare, unemployment benefits, pensions, and education, essentially creating a social safety net for its people.

Constitution of the Crown

Laws that make up the governing structure of the government

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Anything that the Commons passes is constitutional