{"id":424,"date":"2025-08-27T12:30:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/?page_id=424"},"modified":"2025-10-07T10:55:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T10:55:24","slug":"glossary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Glossary<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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No.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

301 Group <\/strong>set up in 2012 by Conservative MPs loyal to David Cameron, aiming to ensure party unity. Takes name from number of Conservative MPs needed at the time for outright Conservative victory at next general election (assuming planned boundary changes took place).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

abolitionism <\/strong>the movement to end slavery and\/or the slave trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

adversarial politics <\/strong>a theory popularised by (among others) Professor S.E. Finer in the 1970s which portrayed politics at Westminster as a gladiatorial combat between Labour and the Conservatives with disastrous consequences for the national interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

affiliated <\/strong>the way in which an organisation associates itself with a political party by paying a fee and gaining influence in the party\u2019s affairs. In Britain, a number of trade unions are affiliated to the Labour Party; members pay the \u2018political levy\u2019 which makes them affiliated members of the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

alignment <\/strong>a situation when the electorate is divided into reliable and stable support for the various parties. The British electorate was said to be aligned in both class and partisan terms from 1945 to 1970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Civil War <\/strong>the civil war fought between 1861 and 1865 between the northern United States and the 11 southern Confederate states that had seceded from the Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

asylum seeker <\/strong>someone seeking safety (asylum), and in the process of applying for refugee status to enable them to live in another country, on the basis that they face persecution in their country of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

authority  <\/strong>the acceptance of someone\u2019s right to be obeyed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

backbencher <\/strong>the name given to all MPs who are not members of the Government or the Opposition Front Bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bank of England <\/strong>the institution concerned with the Government\u2019s management of all financial markets, and, after the Treasury, the most important institution in economic policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beveridgean welfare system <\/strong>a \u2018universal\u2019 system of social policy provision which provides transfer payments to all people at the same rate, regardless of their previous economic status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beveridge group <\/strong>faction within the Liberal Democrats who see the party as a force for progressive, centre-left politics. Linked to politicians like Charles Kennedy and Simon Hughes; sceptical of the Coalition between the Lib Dems and Conservatives established in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

bicameral legislature <\/strong>a legislature that consists of two houses. Most Western industrialised countries have a bicameral legislature, with the second or Upper House having a more limited role than the Lower, perhaps being composed of appointed rather than elected members, although in a few countries, most notably the United States, both are of more or less equal significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bismarckian welfare system <\/strong>an occupationally based system of social policy provision where the amounts of transfer payments relate to individuals\u2019 previous economic status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Labour <\/strong>Group of Labour Party academics who argue that Labour will lack credibility until it has its own ideas for tackling the national deficit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

block vote <\/strong>the system under which affiliated trade unions cast votes at Labour Party conferences and in party elections. Unions cast votes on the basis of the numbers of members paying the political levy. These votes may or may not reflect the views of union members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Collar conservatism <\/strong>formed by a group of Conservative MPs in 2012, designed to reconnect the Conservative Party with \u2018aspirational\u2019 working-class voters. The winning of a raft of Labour \u2018Red Wall\u2019 seats in the 2019 General Election suggests the aims of this group had been thereby achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Labour <\/strong>a Labour Party tendency, embodied by MPs like Jon Cruddas, arguing that Labour could and should address key conservative themes (such as immigration and the EU) from a centre-left perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

bottom-up <\/strong>the idea that power in the Labour Party is dispersed throughout the party, with the final say in the choices of policy and party organisation being vested in the annual conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brexit <\/strong>name popularly given to the UK referendum decision to leave the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bright Blue <\/strong>a group of Conservative modernisers, strongly supportive of Boris Johnson, who want the party to be socially as well as economically liberal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

broadsheets <\/strong>large-format newspapers, which aim at the better-educated and more affluent readers, with a particular interest in influencing the opinion-formers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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C<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cabinet <\/strong>the Cabinet consists of the leading members of the Government, chosen by the Prime Minister. It is the place where major decisions are taken or ratified and where disagreements within government are resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabinet committees <\/strong>Cabinet committees are appointed by the Prime Minister and are composed of Cabinet ministers (sometimes with junior ministers) to consider items of government business. Some are standing committees, some are ad hoc, to deal with specific problems or issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabinet government <\/strong>the view that collective government survives and that the Prime Minister is not the dominant force within government. Decisions are taken by a group of colleagues after discussions in Cabinet according to this view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

capital expenditure <\/strong>expenditure on long-term projects such as buildings, large items of equipment, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

capitalism <\/strong>an economic and political system in which property and the means of production and distribution are in private ownership (rather than in the hands of the state) and goods are produced for private profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

cause or promotion groups <\/strong>these groups promote some particular cause or objective, perhaps the protection of some vulnerable section of society, or seek to express the attitudes and beliefs of members. They tend to concentrate on a single issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chancellor of the Exchequer <\/strong>the political head of the Treasury and, with the Prime Minister, the most important elected politician concerned with economic policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

charismatic <\/strong>having a natural attraction as a quality of leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

civil law <\/strong>the law governing the rights of individuals and their relationships with each other rather than the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

civil servants <\/strong>servants of the crown, other than holders of political or judicial offices, who are employed in a civil capacity and whose remuneration is paid wholly and directly out of moneys voted by Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

class <\/strong>distinctions made between people on the basis of their social origins, education and occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clicktivists <\/strong>A new breed of party activists operating mainly via the electronic media (e.g., those involved in ConservativeHome).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold War <\/strong>the state of hostility between nations or alliances without actual fighting. Usually applied to USA\u2013 USSR relationships after 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

collective responsibility <\/strong>all members of the Government are collectively responsible for its decisions. Members, whatever their private reservations, must be prepared to defend government policy. If unable to do so, they must resign or be dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

colonialism <\/strong>the extension or retention of power by one nation over another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committee of the Whole House <\/strong>a sitting of the House of Commons presided over by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Deputy Speaker) which hears the budget speech and debates the committee stage of important bills, especially those affecting the constitution. It deals with matters where, in principle, any member should be allowed to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

common law <\/strong>the body of law, distinct from statute law, based on custom, usage and the decisions of the law courts in specific cases brought over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commonwealth <\/strong>Today the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries, most of which were former colonies of the British Empire, that work together on shared goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

communism <\/strong>an economic and political system which aimed at the abolition of capitalism, the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the eventual \u2018withering away\u2019 of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

community charge (poll tax) <\/strong>a flat-rate local tax introduced to replace the rates by the Thatcher Government. It was intensely unpopular because of its perceived unfairness, in that the amount paid was not related to income. It was a factor in Mrs Thatcher\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compass <\/strong>a Labour Party pressure group, linked to politicians like Ken Livingstone and often referred to as the \u2018new left\u2019. Keen to advocate racial, sexual and cultural equality, as well as economic equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

consensus <\/strong>an agreement. In British politics it describes the general continuity and overlap between economic, social, defence and foreign policies of postwar Labour and Conservative Governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

conservation  <\/strong>care and protection of natural resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conservative Voice <\/strong>Conservative Party pressure group, set up in 2012 by David Davies and Liam Fox. Seeks to ensure that the party upholds the political ideas of Margaret Thatcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

constituency Labour parties (CLPs) <\/strong>responsibilities include the selection of Labour candidates and casting a third of the votes in Labour leadership contests (see electoral college).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

constitution <\/strong>the system of laws, customs and conventions which defines the composition and powers of organs of the state and regulates their relations with each other and with the citizens. Constitutions may be written or unwritten, codified or uncodified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

constitutional <\/strong>doing things according to agreed written or legal authority within the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

constitutional monarchy <\/strong>while the monarch is the titular head of state invested with considerable legal powers, these powers are exercised almost without exception on \u2018advice\u2019 (i.e., by ministers), and the monarch has a largely symbolic role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

conventions <\/strong>unwritten rules of constitutional behaviour; generally agreed practices relating to the working of the political system, which have evolved over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

core executive <\/strong>the group of people and institutions in Whitehall around the Cabinet and Prime Minister who decide most key policies. They include No. 10 staff, the Cabinet Office and senior civil servants, particularly those in the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

coronavirus <\/strong>these are a large group of viruses causing the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is the new strain that has not been previously identified in humans which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in the autumn of 2019 and proceeded to spread worldwide during 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

corporatism <\/strong>a corporatist economic model is one in which there is close collaboration between government, labour and business. In Britain after 1945 a more corporatist model of economic management was used to try to reverse British economic decline, with governments regularly consulting the trade unions. Government, trades unions and business leaders were brought together in new institutions to try to plan economic activity in the early 1960s. This system came under great strain in the 1970s and was abandoned in 1979 when the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher was elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

cosmopolitan <\/strong>here meaning a world free from national interests and prejudices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

council tax <\/strong>the local tax introduced by the Major Government in 1993 to replace the poll tax. It is a property-based tax with reductions and exemptions for a number of categories of residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

criminal law <\/strong>law determining the acts and circumstances amounting to a crime or wrong against society as defined by the terms of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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D<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

dealignment <\/strong>a situation when there is a weaker relationship between occupational class and party support and when a declining percentage of the electorate identify with a party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

decolonisation <\/strong>the gaining of formal independence from colonial powers, but also a \u2018coming to terms\u2019 with the colonial past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

decommissioning <\/strong>removal from use of paramilitary arms in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

deference <\/strong>a propensity to believe that people who have good education or connections with well-established families have more right to be in positions of authority than those who lack these characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

de-industrialisation <\/strong>the process by which manufacturing industries decline and close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

democracy <\/strong>a political system in which a government is removable by the people, and in which they should be the ultimate decider of who should govern, thus enabling all adults to play a decisive part in political life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

democratic <\/strong>a form of decision-making in which the wishes of the adult population are claimed to be of decisive importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

democratic deficit <\/strong>the argument that reforms to the management of public services have reduced the accountability of government and diminished the democratic rights available to the citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

department (also known as ministry) <\/strong>the principal organisation of central government, responsible for providing a service or function, such as social security or defence, and headed (usually) by a secretary of state or minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

dependency culture <\/strong>the growth in the sense of dependence by users on the welfare services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

devolution <\/strong>creating government institutions that exercise power locally rather than centrally. The UK\u2019s devolution process, initiated by the New Labour Government in the late 1990s, created a national Parliament in Scotland, a Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) and a national Assembly in Northern Ireland. This process transferred varying levels of power from the UK Parliament to the UK\u2019s nations, but has kept authority over the devolved institutions in the UK Parliament itself. Since the original transfer of powers, further legislation has seen wider powers devolved. The Northern Ireland Assembly has operated intermittently and been suspended on five occasions because of the disagreements between the two unionist parties (the Democratic Unionist Party and the Ulster Unionist Party) and the nationalist Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

direct rule  <\/strong>ruling an area directly from the capital of a country rather than through a local or regional government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

disclaim <\/strong>under the 1963 Peerage Act, a hereditary peer can give up his or her title (and thus, until 1999, the right to sit in the Lords) without affecting the claim of the next heir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

divine right <\/strong>the belief that monarchs derive their power and position from God and that Parliament is dependent on the will of the monarch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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E<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

ecology <\/strong>an approach to politics centred on the importance of the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

economic migrant <\/strong>someone moving for the purposes of work or better economic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

election pacts <\/strong>an arrangement made at either national or local level between two parties for a mutual withdrawal of candidates in the hope of maximising their strength vis-\u00e0-vis a third party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

electoral college <\/strong>mechanism used for Labour leadership contests; includes Labour\u2019s constituency members, MPs, MEPs and affiliated trade unions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

electoral quota <\/strong>the average number of electors per constituency. There are separate electoral quotas for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Parliament decides the number of constituencies in each part of the United Kingdom, and the Boundary Commission is then responsible for drawing constituency boundaries as near the electoral quota as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

electoral register <\/strong>the list of those entitled to vote. It is compiled on a constituency basis by the Registrar of Electors, an official of the local authority, through forms distributed to homes and by door-to-door canvassing. Although it is supposed to be 100% accurate, there are doubts about its comprehensiveness, an issue highlighted by the poll tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

electoral system <\/strong>a set of rules enabling voters to determine the selection of the legislature and\/or the executive. Electoral systems have several often incompatible aims: to produce a legislature that is proportional to the distribution of votes; to produce a government that represents the majority of voters; and to produce strong, stable and effective government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

emerge <\/strong>the process by which leaders of the Conservative Party were chosen prior to the adoption of a system of elections in 1965. The new leader would \u2018emerge\u2019 following secret discussions between leading members of the party, with the monarch\u2019s private secretary acting as a go-between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

emigrant <\/strong>someone moving out of their original home country and moving to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

entrenchment <\/strong>the idea that the constitution is protected in some way against amendment by a temporary majority in the legislature. It is often secured via special provisions required to amend or change the constitution of a country; for example, in the USA, a two-thirds Congress majority. There may be provision for judicial review, i.e., that courts can review the constitutionality of statutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

environmentalism <\/strong>the belief that protection of the environment is a political issue of central importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

equality <\/strong>the belief that people should all be treated in the same way and have the same rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

equality of opportunity <\/strong>the idea that there should be no legal or formal barriers to advancement in the world between citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

euro <\/strong>the short name for the single European currency which since 2002 has been the only currency used in most member states of the European Union; however, several member states retain their own currencies, e.g., Denmark, Sweden and Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Council <\/strong>the European Council is made up of all the heads of government of the member states of the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europeanisation <\/strong>a term with a number of meanings, including the impact of membership of the European Union on British society and politics; the European Union expanding its boundaries through enlargement; the development of institutions of governance at the European level; adapting national and sub-national systems of governance to Europe-wide institutions and Europe-wide norms; a political project aiming at a unified and politically stronger Europe; and the development of a sense of identity with Europe, the EU, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eurosceptic <\/strong>a person holding the view that the process of European integration has been moving too fast; the UK\u2019s 2016 Referendum on EU membership marked a triumph of this view within British politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Euroscepticism <\/strong>opposition to aspects of European integration or complete rejection of the European project. A shorthand expression for a set of complex feelings that sees closer economic and political integration in Europe as damaging to national independence. Commonly associated with, but by no means confined to, sections of the Conservative Party in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

executive <\/strong>the body in a political system responsible for the day-to-day running of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

executive agencies <\/strong>an office performing a function of government, subordinate to but not wholly controlled by the parent department. They perform the executive <\/em>as opposed to the policymaking <\/em>functions of government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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fake news <\/strong>the deliberate propagation of untrue news stories designed either to advance or to harm a cause. New media have made such stories easier to create and disseminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

fascism <\/strong>the right-wing nationalist ideas espoused by Mussolini and adapted by Hitler as the basis of his own Nazi ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

feminism <\/strong>a social and political movement, and an intellectual commitment that seeks to establish equality (social, political, economic) between the sexes. Despite many shared commitments, there are important differences among feminist scholars and activists with regard to their philosophical orientation, ontological commitments (such as the category of woman) and what kind of political and moral solutions should be sought to combat existing inequalities between the sexes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

financial institutions <\/strong>institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies, identified as the largest holders of shares in British companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

first-past-the-post <\/strong>the name given to the electoral system used in Britain and a few other Commonwealth countries such as Canada, in which the country is divided into single-member parliamentary constituencies and the winner is the candidate with the largest number of votes, irrespective of whether he or she gains an absolute majority. This can often produce highly disproportionate election results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

fiscal  <\/strong>relating to public revenue, e.g.l taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

flexible constitution <\/strong>a constitution with no formal method of amendment. The British constitution is amended either by an ordinary Act of Parliament or by a change in convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

foreign policy <\/strong>a shorthand term designating the external diplomatic and diplomacy-related activities of a given state in the international arena. Foreign policy activity in the UK is nominally in the hands of the Foreign Office in Whitehall and its embassies abroad. Given its politically sensitive nature, the Prime Minister usually keeps a very close watch on foreign policy activity, particularly at times of perceived crisis when it relates to defence and security interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

free market <\/strong>a doctrine that believes that the economy operates best when it is subject to the \u2018laws\u2019 of supply and demand and when government interferes and regulates as little as possible. The capitalist market system is the best supplier of goods and services and allocator of rewards; the role of government is minimal and is restricted to those things that only it can do, such as national defence and internal law and order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh Start group <\/strong>set up in 2012 by Conservative MPs seeking a radical renegotiation of Britain\u2019s relationship with the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

front bench <\/strong>the leaders of the main parties in Parliament, derived from the fact that the leadership groups sit on the front benches of parliamentary seats in the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

frontbencher <\/strong>the name given collectively to members of the government who sit on the front bench on their side of the House, and to members of the Shadow Cabinet, who sit opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

full employment <\/strong>a political and economic doctrine which advocates that everyone seeking work should be able to find a job within their capacities at a wage that would enable them to live an adequate life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

functional chamber <\/strong>a legislative body composed of representatives of various interests in society, such as business, trade unions, the churches and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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G7 <\/strong>the seven major world economies \u2013 United States, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy and Canada. Russia was suspended from what was the \u2018G8\u2019 in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea; in 2017 it announced its permanent withdrawal from the G8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gender <\/strong>refers to \u2018the roles, behaviours, activities, attributes and opportunities that any society considers appropriate for girls and boys, and women and men. Gender interacts with, but is different from, the binary categories of biological sex\u2019 (World Health Organization: \u2018Gender\u2019, https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/gender (accessed 25 July 2020)).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

general power of competence <\/strong>a new power for councils introduced by the Localism Act 2011. Prior to the 2011 Act the legal doctrine of ultra vires <\/em>(beyond the powers) meant that councils could carry out only actions that were specifically permitted by law. Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011, which introduced the new power, states that a local authority has power to do anything that individuals generally may do. In other words, councils can now take any actions they want, so long as there is no legislation saying they cannot take that action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gerrymandering <\/strong>the practice of rigging electoral boundaries or affecting the social composition of electoral districts to ensure the success of the governing party, whatever level of support it receives. The term derives from Elbridge Gerry, Governor of Massachusetts, who in 1812 drew a congressional district shaped like a salamander so as to maximise the advantage for his party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

globalisation <\/strong>processes whereby the world is less dependent on traditional nation-states. It can refer to the globalisation of political issues, such as terrorism and ecological issues, but most commonly refers to the economy. Trade, investment and finance have become more global with multinational corporations and finance markets. New technology means that money can be moved around the global system much more easily. Some argue that globalisation has fundamentally changed the economic context as nation-states have been hollowed out. Governments are now forced to comply with the wishes of finance markets or risk currency flight. Multinational corporations will relocate to countries where there is a cheaper labour supply. However, some would dispute this and argue that nations and international regional blocs such as the European Union have more power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Age <\/strong>the period from 1832 to 1867 when, some commentators claim, there was a balance between the executive and the legislature and when Parliament was a significant influence on government policy and actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

governance <\/strong>the act or manner of governing within or across territorial jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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H<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

hegemony <\/strong>the dominant military and economic state that uses its power to force a world order conducive to its own interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

hereditary peers <\/strong>a member of the aristocracy whose title has been inherited from the nearest relative. Very few peerages are inheritable through the female line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

home rule <\/strong>the transfer of independence by a sovereign Parliament to former territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

identifiers <\/strong>voters who have a continuing relationship with a party and consider themselves partisans who identify with its beliefs and policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ideology <\/strong>a system of beliefs embodying political, social and economic ideas and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

immigrant  <\/strong>someone moving into another place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

immigration detention <\/strong>people who are subject to immigration control in the UK may be held in immigration detention, that is, they are kept in custody for a period. This is an administrative process and separate from the criminal system of prisons, though several former prisons are used as detention facilities. At the time of writing, the UK does not have any time limit on how long people can be held in immigration detention, meaning some people have been held for years in prison-like conditions without criminal charges being brought; and that those in detention have no certainty about how long they may be kept there. Immigration detention centres in the UK are officially known as Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), relating to the rule that people should be held there only immediately prior to their removal from the country. In practice, people can be held in detention and then released back into the UK, or held for long periods without being removed from the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

imperialism <\/strong>the policy of acquiring power over other countries, usually neighbouring ones, by political and economic exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) <\/strong>a term in UK immigration law which indicates that the UK government has granted a person the right to settle in the UK without time restrictions. This often follows a period of residence on successive visas and requires an application process and fee. It does not convey all of the same rights as British citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industrial Revolution <\/strong>the period in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when mass production techniques were invented and introduced into what became known as factories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

industrialism <\/strong>Jonathan Porritt\u2019s term for the present attitude of political parties to unlimited production and consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

inequality <\/strong>differences in wealth and opportunity between different groups in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

inflation <\/strong>the increase in the amount of money in circulation producing rising prices and falls in value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

influence <\/strong>the ability to have some bearing on the outcome of a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

inner city <\/strong>the areas that surround the centres of cities, usually comprising older housing in poor condition and acting as \u2018reception\u2019 areas for immigrant groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

integration <\/strong>full unity of one territory with another. The cooperative process whereby countries move closer together on economic and other areas of policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

interest <\/strong>a stake, or a reason for caring about the outcome of a particular decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

interest groups  <\/strong>see <\/em>sectional or interest groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

intergovernmental <\/strong>intergovernmental decision-making in the EU takes place on the basis of unanimity, meaning that all member states must agree and therefore hold veto power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

intergovernmentalism <\/strong>primacy of national governments in decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

internal market <\/strong>when an artificial separation between users and providers is invented to try to introduce some of the discipline of the free market into a public service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

international organisation <\/strong>states create and sign up to international organisations, to which they delegate the power and authority to act at international level, usually for some perceived collective gain. International organisations work across some or all of the following realms of international life \u2013 economic, political, environmental or security. The UN, EU and ASEAN are examples of international organisations, showing that they can have regional and global memberships and remits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

internationalism <\/strong>the view that foreign policy should be based on the idea of cooperation between countries all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

intervention <\/strong>usually refers to a period of international activity when political, economic and military instruments are used by one state or a group of states acting in concert to intervene in the affairs of a state. This might be for humanitarian reasons (such as in Libya) or for much more contentious reasons such as regime change. There is inevitably a blurred line between invasion and intervention, when seen in critical context, or when all motives are perceived to be at work in political rhetoric and practice (such as the last Iraq War).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

isolating <\/strong>word used often during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic whereby the people identified as having either identified positive for coronavirus or been in contact with someone who had were required to stay away from other people for a period varying from 7 to 14 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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J<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

issue voting <\/strong>voting on the basis of issues presented at an election rather than on the basis of class or party preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

judicial review <\/strong>the ability of the courts to declare illegal any government action that they deem to be unauthorised by the terms of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

judiciary <\/strong>the body in a political system responsible for interpreting and enforcing laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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K<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kent variant of coronavirus <\/strong>all viruses mutate after a while and produce \u2018new\u2019 variants which may require adjustments to vaccines to ensure effective resistance. The \u2018Kent\u2019 variant which emerged in late 2020 was reckoned to transmit 70% more effectively than the original virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keynesian\/Keynesianism <\/strong>named after the economic theories and prescriptions for government action of John Maynard Keynes (1883\u20131946). These advocated a role for vigorous government action to stimulate economic growth through high levels of spending and the control of aggregate demand in order to avoid slumps and booms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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L<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

law lords <\/strong>lords of appeal in ordinary are senior judges who have been given a life peerage so that they can carry out the judicial work of the Lords. There are currently 12 law lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leader of the House of Commons <\/strong>the Leader organises government business in the Commons and works closely with the government\u2019s Chief Whip. The position is particularly important when the government does not command a majority in Parliament. The Leader of the Commons is generally a Cabinet member and therefore part of the inner circle of government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leader of the House of Lords <\/strong>appointed by the Prime Minister. He or she is a member of the Cabinet and the most senior member of the government in the Lords. The Leader is responsible for the Lords\u2019 business and leads a team of about 25 ministers and whips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

legislature <\/strong>the body in a democracy responsible for discussing and creating laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

legitimacy  <\/strong>the right to govern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LGBTQ <\/strong>lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

liberal Conservatives <\/strong>linked to groups like Bright Blue and Policy Exchange and to Tory \u2018modernisers\u2019 like George Osborne and Michael Gove, the term refers to Conservatives who want to combine liberal\/laissez-faire economics with a more liberal\/laissez-faire approach to culture and lifestyle (supporting, for example, gay marriage). Liberal Conservatives thus uphold the economic aspects of Thatcherism while rejecting its social conservatism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

liberalisation <\/strong>literally to make freer or less restrictive, as in \u2018liberalisation of trade\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

liberal welfare state <\/strong>a system of social provision where transfer payments are provided only as a last resort to the very worst-off, and are often highly stigmatised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

liberty <\/strong>freedom from slavery, captivity or any other form of arbitrary control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

life peers <\/strong>since the 1958 Life Peerages Act, most peers have been created for their lifetime only. Until 1999, life peers constituted around one-third of the nominal membership of the Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lobby <\/strong>the general term used to describe the activities of pressure groups, so called because lobbyists seek to waylay MPs as they pass through the lobby of the Commons. It also refers to the off-the-record briefings given by government spokespersons to journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Localism Act 2011 <\/strong>an Act of Parliament which decentralises powers and responsibilities to councils and local communities, introduces changes to the planning system to make it more democratic and reforms the way decisions are taken locally about housing matters. The key element of the Act is the introduction of the general power of competence, which changes the legal position of local government from one where councils could only do what the law specifically states they could do to one where councils can take any action so long as that action is not prohibited in law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lockdown <\/strong>a term originating with the 2020 coronavirus pandemic when governments took measures to restrict people to their own houses or to do so in defined areas of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Speaker <\/strong>the First Lord Speaker was elected by Members of the House of Lords in 2006. The responsibilities include presiding over business in the Lords\u2019 chamber and speaking for the House on ceremonial occasions. The Lord Speaker also gives procedural advice and assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lords spiritual <\/strong>the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the 24 most senior diocesan bishops of the Church of England who sit in the Lords until they cease to hold their post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lords temporal  <\/strong>all those peers who are not lords spiritual. mandate <\/strong>the idea that winning the general election gives the government the authority to put its policies, either as stated in the campaign or as required by circumstances, into effect. It can also mean that the government is expected to put its manifesto into action, that it has made a binding contract with the electors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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M<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

manifesto <\/strong>a document issued by a political party containing a list of policy pledges which will be implemented if the party wins the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

manipulation <\/strong>the ability to influence someone else involved in a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

media <\/strong>the collective name for the press, radio and television. Sometimes called the \u2018Fourth Estate\u2019 to represent its powerful position in the political system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mercantilism <\/strong>the doctrine that state power and security were enhanced by a favourable balance of trade. Popular in Britain between the mid-sixteenth and the mid-eighteenth centuries, when policy was directed to reducing imports and increasing national self-sufficiency at the expense of free trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

metropole <\/strong>the \u2018centre\u2019 of the Empire, the former colonising power, in contrast to the \u2018peripheries\u2019, the former colonised countries on the \u2018edges\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

migrant <\/strong>a person moving from one place to another, often but not always across territorial borders, and usually with the purpose of settlement for a considerable time (i.e., tourists and students are not usually considered migrants).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ministerial responsibility <\/strong>ministers are responsible to Parliament for their ministerial conduct, the general work of their departments and the actions or omissions of their officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ministry  <\/strong>see <\/em>department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mixed economy <\/strong>the existence of a substantial public sector in the economy alongside a substantial private one. An economic system combining public ownership (most commonly of certain infrastructure industries and services) with the private ownership of the rest of the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mixed economy of welfare <\/strong>the mixture of public, private, voluntary and occupational social provision which characterises many modern welfare states, including that of the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modernising Government <\/strong>White Paper published in March 1999, which encapsulates a range of managerial and service delivery themes with a focus on updating and modernising the basic functioning of the government machine. The White Paper and the subsequent implementation programme contained many modish concepts, including \u2018government direct\u2019, \u2018joined-up government\u2019 and \u2018information-age government\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

motion of no confidence <\/strong>a motion tabled (usually by the Leader of the Opposition) stating that \u2018This House has no confidence in Her Majesty\u2019s Ministers\u2019. If passed, the government must, by convention, resign or request a dissolution of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

multilateral  <\/strong>agreements between two or more states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

multilateralism <\/strong>attempting to solve international problems through collective approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

multinational companies\/firms <\/strong>organisations that operate in a wide range of companies\/firms across several national boundaries, shifting economic activity around them in order to exploit the best conditions for producing profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

multi-polar <\/strong>an international system where there are more than two dominant powers, or no dominant powers at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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N<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

national identity <\/strong>a shared sense by a group of people \u2013 usually citizens of a state \u2013 as to their own history and character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Insurance <\/strong>a system of social policy provision where some transfer payments and welfare services are paid for through contributions from employees, employers and government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

national interest <\/strong>the calculation by its government of what constitutes the best course of action for a nation in international affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

nationalisation <\/strong>the act of transferring a part of the economy to state ownership, usually by establishing a nationalised corporation. Usually associated with the postwar \u2018socialist\u2019 political device of placing sections of the economy under the control of the government, so that privately owned assets such as buildings, equipment etc., or shares in a company are transferred by law from private into public ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

nationalism <\/strong>the belief that one\u2019s country is worth supporting strongly in most situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

naturalisation <\/strong>the process of obtaining citizenship of a country other than by birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

natural rights <\/strong>the belief that everyone is born with certain basic rights regarding freedom, citizenship and law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

negative constitutionalism <\/strong>a belief in a constitution serving as a constraining mechanism, giving precedence to enduring principles over the transient will of the majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

neo-liberal <\/strong>in this usage refers to the doctrine which advocates individual autonomy and market principles over state control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New and Old Commonwealth <\/strong>most of the former colonies of the British Empire are now independent governments; however, most have also become members of the British Commonwealth, as a form of connection between countries of the world joined by their history of British colonialism. The \u2018Old Commonwealth\u2019 is the name given to those countries which gained independence earliest, namely Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. These are also countries which (with the exception of South Africa) have majority white settler populations. The \u2018New Commonwealth\u2019 is used to mean those countries that gained independence from the British later in the twentieth century, and it is often taken to mean countries which are not majority white, and often less economically strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Labour <\/strong>the summary label to describe the economic policies devised by the Labour Party in the 1990s to ensure a departure from traditional (\u2018old\u2019) Labour economic policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next Steps <\/strong>stemming from the Ibbs, or Next Steps<\/em>, Report in 1988, a programme of managerial and structural reform which transformed the civil service through the creation of new executive agencies to carry out central government services and functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NHS surcharge <\/strong>a charge introduced in 2015 by the Conservative\u2013Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, which all people moving to the UK from outside the European Economic Area for more than six months must pay in order to receive their visa. The money from this charge is ring-fenced for spending on the National Health Service, supplementing revenue from National Insurance which those liable for the NHS surcharge also pay if earning wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) <\/strong>this is a status in which a person has no entitlement to receive support from the state, specifically restricting them from accessing welfare benefits, homelessness assistance and local authority housing. The NRPF condition applies to people who do not have leave to enter or remain in the UK (e.g., people who have overstayed a visa or entered without the proper paperwork) and it also applies to a range of people who have legal rights to be in the UK, but on condition that they do not call on the state for these kinds of resources (e.g., people with this condition attached to a spousal or student visa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

notifiable offences <\/strong>those offences that are sufficiently serious to be tried by a judge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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O<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

occupational class <\/strong>the method of assigning individuals to class groups on the basis of their occupational classification \u2013 manual working class, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

occupational welfare <\/strong>types of social support (e.g., health insurance) that are provided by employers, rather than governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

oligarchy <\/strong>a political system in which power is exercised by a group or committee of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

one member, one vote (OMOV) <\/strong>the process of reform in the Labour Party by which party members vote as individuals instead of having their views represented by unions, constituency parties, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orange Book <\/em><\/strong>title of a book written by leading Liberal Democrats in 2004, arguing the party should be more supportive of free market economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

order <\/strong>the degree of calm and law-abidingness present in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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P<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

pacifist  <\/strong>someone opposed to the conduct of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pandemic <\/strong>when a disease takes over the whole of a country or even the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

paramilitaries <\/strong>groups of supporters for a cause who accept violence as a method, accept military discipline and often wear neo-military dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

paramilitary organisations <\/strong>armed organisations not recognised by the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) <\/strong>enfolding Labour\u2019s MPs and peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

parliamentary sovereignty <\/strong>the doctrine that Parliament is the supreme law-making body in the United Kingdom, with absolute legal <\/em>right to make any law it chooses, itself an expression of parliamentary sovereignty. The sovereignty of Parliament is subject to a host of practical and political limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

participatory democracy <\/strong>a political system in which everyone is allowed and encouraged to take part in making decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

partisan dealignment <\/strong>the declining number of voters over the past three decades who are identifying with political parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

passport <\/strong>a document given by a person\u2019s home country or country of citizenship that identifies them for the purpose of international travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

patrial <\/strong>having the right to live in the UK through a parent or grandparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

perestroika <\/strong>the Russian word for reconstruction, popularised by Mikhail Gorbachev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

permissive <\/strong>the alleged characteristic of Labour social policy in the 1960s when it was first believed that anything goes and that \u2018doing your own thing\u2019 was good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pluralism <\/strong>a political system in which power is diffused into several different centres within society and thus there are competing centres of power and authority rather than one in which the state is dominant. Pluralists argue that power is and should be dispersed in society, thus ensuring that freedom is maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pluralist  <\/strong>a form of political decision-making in which a variety (a plurality) of interests are held to contest outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

plurality <\/strong>electoral systems (especially \u2018first-past-the-post\u2019) that require only that the winning candidate has more votes that his or her nearest rival rather than an absolute majority. Such systems tend to produce disproportionate results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

policy cycle <\/strong>the process of policy initiation, formulation and implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

political demands <\/strong>the requirements made upon political systems by the societies they regulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

political participation <\/strong>the act of taking part in politics. political party <\/strong>an organised group of people sharing common policy preferences and a general ideological position. It seeks to possess or share political power, usually by nominating candidates for election and thus seeking a place in the legislature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

polluted  <\/strong>made unclean, corrupt or defiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

positive constitutionalism <\/strong>a belief in a constitution serving as a mechanism through which the will of the people is paramount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

power  <\/strong>the ability to make someone do as one wishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pragmatism <\/strong>the belief that problems should be solved on their unique merits rather than according to some preordained ideological pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

prerogative <\/strong>prior or exclusive privilege often associated with rank or position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

press barons <\/strong>newspaper proprietors who have been raised to the peerage either out of gratitude for services rendered to the governing party or because of the hope that they will omit to bite the hand that feeds them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pressure group <\/strong>a body possessing both formal structure and common interests which seeks to influence government at the national, local and international levels without normally seeking election to representative bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

prime ministerial government <\/strong>the view most associated with Richard Crossman and John Mackintosh that the Prime Minister has become dominant, almost a President, and that the Cabinet has become part of the \u2018dignified\u2019 aspects of the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

private member\u2019s bill <\/strong>a public bill promoted by a member of the Commons who is not a minister. They have a variety of purposes; several pass into law each year, though most fail. The opposition of the government is usually fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

private sector <\/strong>the part of the economy that is the product of market forces alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

privatisation <\/strong>the process of transferring state-owned enterprises to the private sector, mainly by the sale of shares. The term also refers to other aspects of the reduction of the economic role of the state, such as liberalisation policies to encourage greater reliance on the market, including deregulation of business, contracting out of services and the opening of the public sector generally to market forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

professional politicians <\/strong>the small minority of citizens who devote their whole life to politics, and who make a livelihood from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress <\/strong>Labour Party pressure group, linked to supporters of Tony Blair and New Labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

promotion groups  <\/strong>see <\/em>cause or promotion groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

proportional representation (PR) <\/strong>a system of election that attempts to relate votes cast for the various parties to the number of seats won in the legislature. There are various forms of PR, with widely differing consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

prorogue <\/strong>to terminate a term of Parliament without dissolving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

psephological <\/strong>to do with the study of voting behaviour as shown in elections and opinion polls. The word derives from the Greek word psephos<\/em>, a pebble. Classical Athenians voted by putting a pebble into one of two jars, one for the \u2018yes\u2019 votes, the other for the \u2018no\u2019 votes. It was a form of direct democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

public bills <\/strong>bills that must relate to a matter of public (general) interest and be introduced by an MP or a peer. Any bill proposed by the government, regardless of its content or intent, is a public bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

public sector <\/strong>that part of the economy which is in state ownership and is funded substantially by money originating from taxation of some kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple Labour <\/strong>tendency within the Labour Party, represented by those close to Tony Blair. Keen that Labour should update and not abandon New Labour ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) <\/strong>a method for making decisions in the European Council and Council of the EU when unanimity is not required. The standard method requires 55% of member states covering 65% of the EU population to agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

quango <\/strong>a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation, independent (at least in theory) from the department that created it, nominally under the control of the minister who appoints its members, sets its budget and establishes its aims, and with little responsibility to Parliament. Quangos are public bodies which advise on or administer activities and which carry out their work at arm\u2019s length from government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

quarantine <\/strong>a period of isolation when someone was suspected of having or being in contact with a person suffering from CONVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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R<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

R rate or value <\/strong>emerged during the coronavirus pandemic and means average number of people that someone carrying COVID-19 will go on to infect. It the rate is above 1 it means the illness is still spreading: if below, it is in retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

radical feminism <\/strong>argues that society is dominated by men who use their power to oppress women into occupying subordinate gender roles. They urge proactive action to challenge and overcome such oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rates <\/strong>a form of local taxation based upon the notional value of a property which was used until replaced by the community charge or poll tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rationality <\/strong>a belief that the exercise of reason is superior to other ways of finding the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

reactionary <\/strong>right-wing policies held to be harsh and unfeeling. Strictly speaking support for the status quo ante (that which previously existed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

recession <\/strong>a period of economic downturn, usually defined as two consecutive quarters of zero growth. Features of a recession include rising unemployment, declining investment and falling consumer spending. It also has psychological features, most notably a lack of confidence in the economy generally. Recessions are described as being V-, U-, W-or L-shaped depending on the nature of the recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Tory <\/strong>term coined by philosopher Philip Blond, denoting how Conservatism could and should give greater focus to social cohesion and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

referendum <\/strong>a ballot in which the people at large decide an issue by voting \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019, although multi-outcome referendums are possible. The matter may be referred to the people by the government, perhaps because it is unable to make a decision, the law or the constitution may require such a reference, or there may be a mechanism by which the people can demand a referendum. Britain has had three national referendums: that of 1975 over continued membership of the EC; that of 2011 over a new electoral system (the Alternative Vote) and the 2016 referendum on \u2018Brexit\u2019 (the continued membership of the EU). All three were advisory <\/em>only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

refugee <\/strong>someone who has left their country of origin\/ residence\/citizenship to seek safety in another country and has been granted protection by that country on the grounds that they would otherwise face persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

representation <\/strong>the notion that those who are governed should be involved in the process of government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

representative government  <\/strong>government whereby decisions are taken by representatives who are (normally) elected by popular vote. The people do not take decisions directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

residual welfare state  <\/strong>see \u2018liberal welfare state\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

responsibility <\/strong>the accountability of government to the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

royal prerogative <\/strong>powers that legally are in the hands of the crown, having been accepted by the courts over time as rightfully belonging to the monarch in his or her capacity as ruler. Most prerogative powers are now exercised by ministers (particularly the Prime Minister) who \u2018advise\u2019 the monarch as to their use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rule of law <\/strong>the idea that human activity should be controlled within a framework of agreed rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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S<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Schengen zone <\/strong>The group of countries \u2013 most EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein \u2013 that agreed to abolish border checks at internal borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sectional or interest groups <\/strong>these groups represent the interests (particularly economic) of their members. They include business, labour and professional organisations and often have close links with political parties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

select committee <\/strong>a committee chosen by either House to work according to specific terms of reference. It may be given special powers to investigate, examine and report its findings to Parliament. Some are concerned with the working of Parliament itself; others scrutinise the activities of the executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

select committee chairs <\/strong>in 2010, the House of Commons decided that the chairpersons of most select committees should be elected by a secret ballot of all MPs (rather than chosen by each committee, as previously). Once the allocation of the chair of each committee to a particular party has been agreed, select committee chairs have few formal powers and can vote only in the event of a tie. However, they play a key role in leading the committee\u2019s work and setting the agenda, and they can also gain a high public profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

separatist feminism <\/strong>radical feminists who do not believe men can ever disinterestedly introduce genuine equality and conclude women need to achieve equality separately. This could entail women withdrawing from working, casual or intimate relationships with men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

shielding <\/strong>taking action to prevent a vulnerable person being exposed to a serious illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

social assistance <\/strong>transfer payments provided to those without any other available means of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

socialism <\/strong>an economic system in which everyone benefits from the labour of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

soundbite <\/strong>a brief quote that is intended to make the maximum possible political impact. Research indicates that most listeners and viewers can absorb information for some 30 seconds, a theory that has influenced politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South African variant (see \u2018Kent\u2019 variant) <\/strong>this was a variant of the coronavirus which was discovered in autumn 2020 and which spread through certain European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sovereignty  <\/strong>autonomy over national decision-making. The ultimate legal authority in a state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaker of the House of Commons <\/strong>elected by all MPs to be the chief officer and highest authority of the Commons. The Speaker presides over debates in the Commons by keeping order and calling MPs to speak. special relationship <\/strong>the close feeling between US and British governments based on common culture and alliance in warfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

spin doctor <\/strong>a party official or public relations consultant whose job is to influence the media and put the best possible construction on events, by getting the party or candidate\u2019s message over by any possible means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

standing committee <\/strong>usually a small group of MPs reflecting party strength in the Commons which takes the committee stage of bills that have received their second reading. They scrutinise the bills and can propose amendments to the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

state <\/strong>a commonly governed group of people all living within a defined territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

stateless <\/strong>being \u2018stateless\u2019 means not having citizenship of any country. The majority of the world population has citizenship of a state (or more than one) and as a result the government of that state has a responsibility to their own citizens. Governments harming their own citizens (or some of them) can be one reason for people to seek to become refugees, seeking sanctuary in another territory. One way in which people become stateless is when a government revokes their citizenship, as happened, for example, to German Jewish people under Hitler. One of the key lessons identified by global powers after the Second World War and with the founding of the United Nations was a desire to protect all people from statelessness, i.e., being without protection from any government, by offering protection elsewhere to those who have been made stateless by their government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

statute law <\/strong>those laws deriving their authority from Acts of Parliament and subordinate (delegated) legislation made under authority of the parent Act. Statute law overrides common law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

subsidiarity <\/strong>the general aim of the principle of subsidiarity is to guarantee a degree of independence for a lower authority in relation to a higher body or for a local authority in respect of a central authority. It therefore involves the sharing of powers between several levels of authority, a principle which forms the institutional basis for federal states. When applied in an EU context, the principle means that the member states remain responsible for areas which they are capable of managing more effectively themselves, while the Community is given those powers which the member states cannot discharge satisfactorily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

subvention  <\/strong>government subsidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

suffrage <\/strong>the right to vote. The extension of the suffrage was a gradual process, culminating in 1969 when all 18-year-olds were enfranchised. The suffrage is unusually wide in this country, including British subjects, resident Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Irish Republic who have been resident for three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

suffragettes <\/strong>fought for women\u2019s suffrage since the early twentieth century. British men and women had already been arguing for women\u2019s suffrage since the 1860s, but the movement for women\u2019s votes gained momentum when Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia, founded the Women\u2019s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903. The WSPU, a women only organisation, became more militant over the years, as the government refused to support women\u2019s right to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

supply-side economics <\/strong>provided the political and theoretical foundation for a remarkable number of tax cuts in the United States and other countries during the 1980s. Supply-side economics stresses the impact of tax rates on the incentives for people to produce and to use resources efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

supranational <\/strong>under supranational decision-making in the EU, member states have shared or transferred sovereignty and decision-making takes place on the basis of the majority, meaning that states do not have veto power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

supranationalism <\/strong>the character of authority exercised by European Union bodies that takes precedence over the autonomy of the member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sustainable development <\/strong>the capability of the current generation to ensure it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sustainable economic growth <\/strong>one in which resources are used more efficiently so that pressures on the environment do not increase as the economy grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

swing <\/strong>the way in which the switch of voters from one party to another on a national or constituency basis can be calculated. It is worked out by adding the rise in one party\u2019s vote to the fall in the other party\u2019s and then dividing by two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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tabloids <\/strong>small-format newspapers, usually aimed at the bottom end of the market with an informal style, use of large and often sensational headlines and many photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thatcherism <\/strong>the economic, social and political ideas and particular style of leadership associated with Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. It was a mixture of neo-liberal beliefs in the free market and neo-conservative social attitudes and beliefs about the limited role of government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

think tanks <\/strong>the name given to specialist organisations that frequently research and publish on policy and ideological matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

toleration <\/strong>accepting the legitimacy of views with which one does not necessarily agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

top-down <\/strong>the term used to denote power residing in the leading figures of an organisation, control over the organisation being exercised by those figures over the ordinary members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

transfer payments <\/strong>a method of transferring money from one group of citizens to another: for instance, taxing those in work and transferring the money raised to the unemployed in the form of unemployment benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treasury <\/strong>the most important department of government concerned with economic policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribune group <\/strong>gathering of the \u2018old left\u2019 within the Labour Party. Anti-capitalist and resentful of New Labour\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

tripartism <\/strong>a variant of corporatism <\/em>in which economic policy is made in conjunction with business and labour groups to the exclusion of Parliament and other interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

turnout <\/strong>the measure, usually expressed as a percentage, of registered voters who actually vote. The average turnout in post-war elections has been around 75%, generally lower than in most other EU countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

tyranny <\/strong>a political system in which power is exercised harshly without any consideration for the citizenry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) <\/strong>people seeking safety in another country having fled their home country, who are aged under 18 and are not travelling with a parent or guardian. In UK law, the state has a particular duty of care to such children, and it becomes their \u2018corporate parent\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

unicameral legislature <\/strong>legislatures made up of one chamber are to be found mainly in smaller countries such as Israel and New Zealand or in smaller states in federal systems, such as Nebraska in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

unitary authorities <\/strong>a local government structure in which all services are provided by a single-tier authority as opposed to a structure in which powers and functions are divided between two tiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U-turn  <\/strong>a fundamental change of policies or philosophy by a political party or leader. The term is used to describe Heath\u2019s abandonment in 1971\u20131972 of the free market policies on which he was elected in 1970. By 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already made several U-turns on high-profile issues such as free school meals and COVID-19 community testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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visa <\/strong>an official document and permission to exercise certain rights in a country, given by the government of that country to visitors or new arrivals. Visas may allow rights to work, live, participate in society, own property or have various limitations on those rights, and they may be unlimited or only for a fixed period of time or with certain caveats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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welfare state <\/strong>the system of comprehensive social security and health services which was based on the Beveridge Report of 1942 and implemented by the postwar Labour Government. Often referred to as \u2018cradle to grave\u2019 security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

welfarism <\/strong>the idea that the government should take some responsibility for the health and well-being of its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

whip <\/strong>this term has several meanings: (a) parliamentary business managers found in all parties, responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring a maximum turnout in the division lobbies; (b) the summons to vote for an MP\u2019s party, with the importance of the issue indicated by a one-, two-or three-line whip, sent out weekly to members of the parliamentary party; (c) membership of an MP\u2019s party \u2013 withdrawal of the whip means that the MP concerned is no longer recognised as a member in good standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

workfare <\/strong>types of welfare provision, typically benefit payments, which cannot be obtained without beneficiaries performing certain actions, typically including searching for work, volunteering and\/or undertaking work placements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

world role <\/strong>a term used to express the expectations on a nation when it acts on the international stage: diplomatically, economically and militarily. The UK\u2019s world role is said to derive strongly from its democratic history and its status as a promoter of human rights and the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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