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.