UK Democracy, Political Parties, and Electoral Systems Vocabulary

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering democratic concepts, historical franchise reforms, pressure group categories, political parties, electoral models, and voting behaviour from the lecture notes.

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy where elected representatives devote time to complex political decisions and remain accountable to citizens through elections.

Direct Democracy

A system of government where citizens participate directly in decision-making, increasing political legitimacy and accountability.

Democratic Deficit

The idea that political institutions do not sufficiently represent or respond to citizens.

Great Reform Act 1832

A historic act that expanded the UK electorate and reduced the influence of many rotten boroughs.

Second Reform Act 1867

Legislation that significantly increased the number of working-class men eligible to vote in the UK.

Representation of the People Act 1918

An act that enfranchised most adult men and some women, dramatically increasing the UK electorate.

Representation of the People Act 1928

A major democratic milestone that established equal voting rights for men and women in the UK.

Representation of the People Act 1969

Legislation that lowered the official UK voting age from 21 to 18.

Suffragists

Campaigners who sought to secure votes for women through peaceful campaigning and persuasion.

Suffragettes

Campaigners who sought to secure votes for women through direct action, civil disobedience, and militant methods.

Universal Suffrage

The democratic principle ensuring that all adult citizens have an equal opportunity to vote and influence government.

Insider Pressure Groups

Organisations regularly consulted by ministers and policymakers due to their specialist expertise, such as the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and British Medical Association (BMA).

Outsider Pressure Groups

Organisations that lack direct access to government and rely instead on public campaigning and protest, such as Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion.

Sectional Pressure Groups

Pressure groups that specifically represent the self-interest of a particular section or occupation in society.

Cause Pressure Groups

Pressure groups that seek political or social benefits for society as a whole rather than a specific demographic interest.

Think Tanks

Organisations, such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), that provide policy expertise to shape political debate.

Party Manifesto

A publication outlining a political party's key policy commitments created to seek a mandate from voters during an election.

Short Money

Public funding allocated to opposition political parties in the UK to help cover parliamentary costs.

Catch-all Parties

Political parties that attempt to attract support from a broad range of voters rather than a single social group.

One Nation Conservatism

A strand of Conservative thought arguing that society functions best when social divisions are reduced and state intervention is accepted to maintain social cohesion.

New Right (Thatcherism)

A Conservative political ideology advocating free markets, privatisation, deregulation, lower taxation, and minimal state intervention.

Clause IV

The clause in the Labour Party constitution originally committing the party to common ownership of industry, which was rewritten in 1995 to shift toward a more moderate stance.

New Labour

A political shift during the 1990s led by Tony Blair that accepted market-based economic policies while remaining committed to public services and social justice.

Classical Liberals

Political thinkers who advocate for limited government role and maximum individual freedom.

Modern Liberals

Political thinkers who believe government intervention is necessary to help create the conditions for genuine individual freedom.

First Past the Post (FPTP)

A plurality electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, known for maintaining strong constituency links but penalizing smaller parties.

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

A highly proportional electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and minimizes wasted votes.

Additional Member System (AMS)

A hybrid electoral system combining local constituency MPs with regional list members to improve overall proportionality while retaining local representation.

Tactical Voting

The act of voting for a candidate other than one's preferred choice to prevent an even less desirable candidate or party from winning.

Class Dealignment

The historical process occurring since the 1960s whereby the relationship between social class background and political voting choices has weakened.

Partisan Dealignment

The ongoing weakening of long-term loyalty and identification between voters and traditional political parties.

Valence Politics

A voting model where citizens make political decisions based on perceived leadership competence and economic performance rather than ideological allegiance.

Media Bias

Reporting coverage that systematically favours a particular political viewpoint, party, or candidate.

Agenda Setting

The ability of media outlets to influence which specific political issues receive national public attention.

Echo Chamber

An environment, common on social media, where individuals mainly encounter information and political opinions that align with their existing beliefs.