AP Comparative Government Unit Guide - United Kingdom

  • Backbenchers

    • Members of Parliament (MPs) who do not hold governmental office or serve as rank-and-file opposition members.
    • Opportunities to voice concerns include:
    • Weekly caucus meetings
    • Committees
    • Private members' bills

  • Tony Blair

    • Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007.
    • Promised to create a "new labour" party and to rule in a "third way" between Conservative and radical Labour policies.
    • Advocated for low taxes, controlled social spending, and closer ties to Europe.
    • Participated in the Iraq War, which damaged UK-France relations and led to Labour Party support decline.

  • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

    • Established during the Collective Consensus era, serving as an educational TV and radio network.
    • Strict government regulation; prohibited from selling advertisements to politicians or political parties.

  • David Cameron

    • Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016 who implemented austerity measures.
    • Emphasized the role of private companies, charities, and cooperatives in governance.
    • Criticized the size of the British state.

  • Cabinet

    • Comprising the Prime Minister and ministers, each leading branches of government.
    • Members are party leaders in Parliament selected by the Prime Minister.

  • Nick Clegg

    • Leader of the Liberal Democrats since 2007, whose party has been underrepresented in Parliament.
    • Formed a coalition government with the Conservatives.
    • Coalition government: a political arrangement where parties collaborate to achieve a majority.

  • Collective Consensus

    • Period wherein Labour and Conservative parties jointly supported a modern welfare system, lasting until the late 1970s.

  • Collective Responsibility

    • Concept in parliamentary systems where all cabinet members must agree on policy decisions, accepting collective accountability or resigning if disagreements exist.

  • Conservative Party

    • Evolved from the Tories in the 1830s, representing the right wing favoring free markets and upper-class interests.
    • Advocates a mixed economy with varying factions: traditionalists and "Thatcherites" favoring less government control and a fully free market.

  • Constitution of the Crown

    • Britain's constitution is unwritten and consists of important documents, common law, and customs/traditions.

  • Devolution

    • Transfer of powers from the central government to regional governments.

  • The English Bill of Rights

    • Signed in 1688 by William and Mary, it delineates rights attributed to Parliament rather than individual citizens.

  • Eurosceptics

    • Individuals opposing the UK's EU membership and its expansion of powers.

  • First-past-the-post Voting System

    • Election process where the candidate with the most votes wins, without needing a majority.

  • Good Friday Agreement

    • 1998 peace accord that established the Northern Ireland Assembly, ending conflict between major parties and governments.

  • Gradualism

    • A policy of advancing toward a goal step by step; applicable to the transition of policymaking from the King to Parliament.

  • Hereditary Peers

    • Members of the House of Lords with inherited titles, whose status is passed to their offspring.

  • House of Commons

    • Contains 650 MPs elected by local constituencies; each MP represents one constituency.

  • House of Lords

    • Comprises individuals with inherited titles or those recognized for their contributions to society.
    • Role: to review and delay proposed legislation.

  • Hung Parliament

    • A scenario where no party secures a majority post-election, often resulting in coalition governments.

  • Irish Republican Army (IRA)

    • Militant nationalist group using terrorism for Irish unification.

  • Margaret Thatcher

    • Known as the "Iron Lady", served as PM in the 1980s, advocating for reduced taxes and a smaller government.

  • Labour Party

    • Founded in 1906 to represent the urban working class through trade unions.
    • Jeremy Corbyn serves as the current leader, criticized for left-leaning policies that deter centrist support.

  • Liberalism

    • Political philosophy promoting individual freedoms, democratic governance, and civil rights.
    • Advocates free competition in economic terms.

  • Life Peers

    • Distinguished individuals who receive lifetime appointments to the House of Lords.

  • Loyal Opposition

    • The party not in power that critiques the government’s policies.

  • Magna Carta

    • Signed in 1215 by King John, it established the principle of consulting nobles on important decisions, limiting monarchical power.

  • Jeremy Corbyn

    • Succeeded Ed Miliband as leader of the Labour Party, criticized for far-left policies.

  • Multi-Nationalism

    • Unification of previously independent nations, including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

  • Neoliberalism

    • Revitalization of classical liberal values promoting free markets, minimal regulation, and property rights.

  • Noblesse Oblige

    • The responsibility of the upper classes to care for the lower classes.

  • Oxbridge

    • Referring to Oxford and Cambridge universities; significant educational institutions for many Parliament members.

  • Parliamentary System

    • A setup where the prime minister leads the majority party, integrating legislative and executive branches without a separation of powers.

  • Plaid Cymru

    • Nationalist political party in Wales advocating for Welsh independence and rights.

  • Plurality Voting System

    • A voting system where candidates receive seats based on the largest portion of votes received, not a majority.

  • Prime Minister

    • Seen as "first among equals", leading the unitary government but indirectly elected through Parliament.

  • Proportional Representation (PR)

    • An electoral system allocating seats in correlation with each party's votes, focusing on party over individual candidates.

  • Question Time

    • Weekly parliamentary debate allowing the PM and cabinet to answer queries and critiques from the opposition.

  • Rational-legal Legitimacy

    • Legitimacy derived from established laws and procedures, foundational in British governance since the 17th century.

  • Safe Districts

    • Electoral districts where incumbents typically win by margins over 55%.

  • Scottish National Party (SNP)

    • A centre-left party advocating for Scottish independence, currently the foremost party in Scotland.

  • Shadow Cabinet

    • The opposition party's leadership that parallels the cabinet members, enabling specific critiques of government policies.

  • Sinn Fein

    • Political arm of the IRA, founded in 1905 aimed at Irish independence.

  • Speaker of the House

    • Presides over parliamentary debates, maintaining order and impartiality.

  • Thatcherism

    • Economic and political policies championed by Margaret Thatcher focusing on neoliberal principles, market competition, and reducing social welfare.

  • The Third Way

    • A centrist approach developed by Tony Blair, positioning itself between traditional Labour and Conservative parties.

  • Tories

    • Historical perspective of the Conservative Party.

  • UK Independence Party (UKIP)

    • Eurosceptic party promoting UK withdrawal from the EU.

  • Unitary Government

    • A government structure centralizing authority in London, with decisions made predominantly at the central level.

  • Vote of No Confidence

    • A parliamentary vote that may result in the removal of a Prime Minister if a majority supports it, potentially triggering new elections.

  • Welfare State

    • Government role in ensuring the welfare of citizens through public health and unemployment programs.