UK Politics Overview

A set of flashcards designed to help review key concepts and terms related to the UK political system based on comprehensive lecture notes.

What are the four nations of the United Kingdom?

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

The doctrine that Parliament can make or repeal any law, provided it retains the confidence of the House of Commons.

Who are the current key office-holders in the UK Parliament?

Prime Minister Theresa May, House of Commons elected MPs, and House of Lords life peers.

What is the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system?

An electoral system where 650 constituencies each elect one MP; seats are not proportional to vote share.

What was the outcome of the 2017 General Election in relation to party representation?

The Conservatives were over-represented with 49% of seats despite receiving 42% of votes.

Describe the ideological stance of the Labour Party.

Centre-left, social democracy focused on welfare state and public investment.

What does the term "devolution" refer to in the UK context?

The process of transferring powers from the central government to regional governments, such as those in Scotland and Wales.

What are the key historical milestones in British democracy?

Union, democratic reforms, Thatcherism, and Blairism.

Define the term ‘multinational state’ as it relates to the UK.

A multinational state comprises distinct nations with separate legal and educational systems, yet governed by a single sovereign parliament.

What is the significance of the 2016 Brexit referendum?

It determined that 51.8% of voters chose to leave the EU, highlighting divisions in public sentiment regarding EU membership.