POSC 1040 - General and UK

Horizontal Accountability

When a government agency audits the accountability of the government

Vertical Accountability

When the people audit the accountability of the government

Authoritarianism

A type of government where the ruling party or leader has complete control over the state

Cabinet Government

A system of government in which most executive power is held by the cabinet, headed by a prime minister

Communism

Aims to create a classless society where the means of production are commonly owned and distributed according to need

Democracy

A form of government where power is vested in the people who exercise power

Dictatorship

A form of government in which power and political control are concentrated in one ruler or a few rulers who have nearly absolute power

Duverger’s Law

The electoral system determines the number of political parties that a country has

Globalization

A historical process that describes the growing interdependence of the world's economies, cultures, and populations

Judiciary

The political institutions in a country responsible for the administration of justice, and in some countries, for determining the constitutionality of state decisions

Keynesianism

An economic policy approach using state policies to regulate the economy for stable growth

Labour Unions

Groups negotiating with management on worker issues like pay and conditions

Laissez-Faire

Economic philosophy opposing government intervention in capitalism

Legislature

Political body responsible for making laws and financial decisions

Legitimacy

Belief in a state's rightful authority by powerful groups and citizens

Less Developed Country

Nations with populations facing challenges in meeting basic needs

Liberal Democracy

System recognizing individual rights and freedoms under the rule of law

Macroeconomics Policy

Policy shaping the overall economic system focusing on inflation and growth

Majoritarian(ism)

System where smaller parties struggle for representation

Majority

Having at least 51% of votes

Marxism

Theories by Marx and Engels critiquing capitalism and advocating communism

Member of Parliament (MP)

Elected representative in the national legislature

Middle-Level Theory

Explains phenomena in specific cases like countries with certain characteristics

Minority Government

Government with most seats but less than half the total

Mixed Systems

Dual executive system like in France and Russia

Mode(s) of Production

Various ways societies produce goods, identified by Marx

Modernization Theory

Development driven by technological change leading to democracy

Monetarism

Economic policy assuming a natural rate of unemployment without government intervention

Mother Nature (Theory)

Nature as a reason for poverty

Nation

Group sharing a common identity

Nationalization

State policy of taking ownership of private companies

Nation-State

Territory where state and national identity coincide

Neoclassical Economics

Theory attributing poverty to internal factors

Neoliberalism

Policy promoting free competition and limited government involvement

"New Labour"

UK economic period focusing on social services and employment

Parliamentarism

System where parliament fulfills all branches of government

Parliamentary Democracy

System where the executive is accountable to the legislature

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Doctrine granting the legislature supreme law-making power

Periphery

Nations dominated by others, known as dependent developing countries

Plurality

Winning more votes than any other candidate

Political Economy

Study of how politics influences the economy and vice versa

Political Science

Academic discipline studying political systems, behavior, and theories

Political System

Organizational type defining government decision-making processes

Politics

Activities related to power acquisition, distribution, and exercise in society

Popular Sovereignty

Concept that political legitimacy comes from the people

Populism

Political mobilization emphasizing anti-establishment rhetoric

Post-War Settlement

UK period post-WW2 using Keynesianism to manage unemployment

Poverty (how measured)

Method of measuring poverty

Predatory View of the State

State's use of violence to exploit citizens

Presidentialism

System with separation of powers and a directly elected president

Prime Minister’s Question Time

UK constitutional convention where PM answers MPs' questions

Principal-Agent Problem

Conflict of interest between citizens and government officials

Privatization

Sale of state-owned enterprises to private entities

Proletarian(s)

Working-class member(s)

Proportional Representation

Electoral system where seats are allocated based on party votes

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

Method of calculating currency value based on buying power

Quango

Organization with devolved power partly controlled by the government

Rational Choice Theory

Approach assuming individuals act rationally to achieve goals

Referendum

Election where citizens vote on a policy proposal

Regime (type)

Rules governing state governance

Rent-Seeking

Nonproductive profit-seeking economic activity

Retrenchment

Cutting back on government spending or welfare policies

Rostow’s Stages of Development

Five-stage model of development progress

Rule of Law

Principle that everyone is subject to the same laws

Scientific Method

Systematic approach to research involving question, hypothesis, experiment, data, and conclusion

Semi-Presidentialism

Political system combining features of presidentialism and parliamentarism

Single Member District

Electoral district represented by a single legislator

Snap Election

Early election called by the incumbent

Social Class

Group sharing common characteristics based on occupation, income, and wealth

Social Contract

Agreement where elites use power for public interest

Socialist Market Economy

China's economic system blending socialism and capitalism

Socialism

Doctrine advocating state-directed economy for equality

Social Market Economy

System combining market efficiency with fairness