U.K.

Austerity

Government policies that aim to reduce public spending and budget deficits, often through cuts to social services and welfare.

Backbenchers

Members of Parliament (MPs) who are not part of the government or opposition leadership; they sit behind the front benches in the House of Commons.

Collective Responsibility (Cabinet)

The principle that all ministers must publicly support government decisions, even if they personally disagree, or resign from their position.

Corporatist

A system where the government, businesses, and labor groups work together to influence policy, often seen in economic planning.

Conservative Party (Tories)

A center-right political party in the UK that supports free markets, a strong national defense, and traditional values.

Constituency

A geographic area represented by an MP in the House of Commons, where voters elect their representative in general elections.

Devolution

The transfer of powers from the UK Parliament to regional governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

The electoral system used for UK general elections, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, regardless of whether they have a majority.

Gradualism

The belief that political change in the UK happens slowly and incrementally rather than through sudden revolutions or shifts.

Good Friday Agreement

The 1998 peace deal that helped end most of the violence in Northern Ireland by establishing a devolved government and power-sharing between unionists and nationalists.

House of Commons

The lower house of the UK Parliament, where elected MPs debate and pass laws; the Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party in this house.

House of Lords

The appointed upper house of the UK Parliament, consisting of life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers, which reviews and amends legislation passed by the House of Commons.

Labour Party

A center-left political party in the UK, traditionally representing the working class and advocating for policies such as social equality, public welfare, and workers' rights.

Members of Parliament (MPs)

Elected representatives who sit in the House of Commons. MPs represent a specific geographic area known as a constituency.

Shadow Cabinet

A group of senior opposition members who 'shadow' government ministers and are responsible for offering alternative policies.

Third Way

A political approach seeking to find a middle ground between traditional left-wing and right-wing politics, combining elements of social justice with market-oriented policies.

Westminster System

A democratic system of government originating from the UK, characterized by a parliamentary democracy where the government is drawn from the legislature.

White Paper

A government document outlining proposed policy reforms or legislative changes, serving as a basis for public consultation.

Maastricht Treaty

A treaty signed in 1992 that established the European Union (EU) and led to the creation of the Euro, expanding cooperation among EU members.