Politics — Year 12

Paper 1 source and non-source essays.

Think tanks
A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) – to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable economic, social or political issues.

Democratic deficit
A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.

Lobbyists
A lobbyist is paid by clients to try to influence the government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their clients’ interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration.

Representative democracy
A more modern form of democracy through which an individual selects a person (and/or political party) to act on their behalf to exercise political choice.

Referendum
A popular vote where the people are asked to determine an important political or constitutional issue directly.

Sectional group
A pressure group that represents a specific section of society such as a trade union or an employer's association

Promotional group
A pressure group that seeks to promote a cause rather than the interests of its own members

Rule of Law
A set of principles asserting that all citizens should be treated equally under the law, including government itself. Also means that every citizen is entitled to due process of law and a fair trial.

A State
A state refers to a country whose government's jurisdiction over a territory is recognised by other states

Elitism
A tendency for power to be monopolised by small groups of influential people. Exists mainly within business and finance groups, some trade unions, govt etc.

Liberal Democracy
A type of democracy where there is an emphasis on the protection of individual rights and liberties, where the rule of law is strictly adhered to, and where government is limited by enforceable constitutional laws.

Parliamentary Democracy
A type of representative democracy where an elected parliament is the source of all political authority and where government is drawn largely from parliament.

Direct democracy
All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf. This type of democracy emerged in Athens in classical times and direct democracy can be seen today in referendums.

Pressure group
An association whose purpose is to further the interests of a specific section of society or to promote a particular cause by influencing govt/public/both

Pluralism
Description of a political system where a wide range of beliefs, ideologies and ideas is tolerated and allowed to flourish. Also implies a system where power is widely dispersed and not concentrated in a few hands.

Franchise/suffrage
Franchise and suffrage both refer to the ability/right to vote in public elections. Suffragettes were women campaigning for the right to vote on the same terms as men.

Democracy
General description of various political systems that are organised on the basis that government should serve the interests of people. Also expected that government should be accountable, in various ways, to the people.

Outsider groups
Have no special links with govt but seek to influence decision makers by mobilising public opinion

citizenship
members of the political community have both rights and responsibilities

Athenian democracy
oldest form of democracy

Political Participation
Opportunities for and tendencies of the people to become involved in the political process.

Insider groups
Pressure groups that operate inside the political system through contacts with ministers, MPs, peers and official committees. Regularly consulted by govt.

Legitimacy
Refers to the degree to which the state or it government can be considered to have the right to exercise power.

Power
The ability of an individual or an institution to force people to do things, whether they wish to or not.

Authority
The right to exercise power, rather than the exercise of power itself. Authority is granted to rulers or anyone in power by those over whom power is to be exercised.

The State
The state is a collective name for the institutions that administer a country. Normally, these institutions are non-political and are permanent.

E-democracy
Various methods by which political opinion and demands are expressed through the use of the internet.

One Nation
A paternalistic approach adopted by Conservatives under the leadershipof Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century and continued by David Cameron and Theresa May in the 21st century, that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.

New Labour (Third Way)
A revision of the traditional Labour values and ideals represented by Old Labour. Influenced by Anthony Giddens, the ‘Third Way’ saw Labour shift in emphasis from a heavy focus on the working class to a wider class base, and a less robust alliance with th

Factionalism
A tendency within parties to split into different internal groups who hold views that are at variance with the main beliefs of the party.

Adversary politics
Circumstance where political parties are engaged in considerable conflict over political issues. Also implies there are strong ideological conflicts in politics

New Right
Combination of very liberal attitudes towards the free market and capitalist economy and very conservative attitudes to society, morality and the maintenance of law and order. 1970s/1980s

Old Labour (social democracy)
Key Labour principles embodying nationalisation, redistribution of wealth from rich to poor and the provision of continually improving welfare and state services, which largely rejected Thatcherite/ free-market reforms or a Blairite approach.

Party systems
The way or manner in which the political parties in a political system are grouped and structured. There are several variants that could apply to the UK, these include one-party dominant, two party, two-and-a-half party and multi-party systems.

Big Society
vision of Cameron - the leading force for progress is social responsibility, not state control

Consensus politics
Where two or more major political parties broadly agree on most basic policies. A period when there are few or no major political conflicts. Also implies a lack of strong ideology in politics.

constitutional government
government that is limited by a consitution

Parliament
The name given to representative bodies in many states, including the UK. Has a number of roles including, legislating, calling government to account and representing the community.

Parliamentary sovereignty
The principle that Parliament can make, amend or unmake any law, and cannot bind its successors or be bound by its predecessors.

Paternalism
Acting in the interest of others who are unable to make informed moral decisions, supposedly as fathers do in relation to children.

Seneca

Paper 1 source and non-source essay.

Alternative vote
2011 referendum to replace FPTP

Coalition government
A government that is formed of more than one political party. It is normally accompanied by an agreement over policy options and office of state, as was the Conservative-Liberal-Democrat coalition from 2010–2015

Additional Member System (AMS)
A hybrid electoral system that has two components or elements. The voter makes two choices. Firstly, the voter selects a representative on a simple plurality (FPTP) system then a second vote is apportioned to a party list for a second or ‘additional’ repr

Electoral reform
A process whereby the electoral system is changed or where there is campaign for such change

Electoral manifesto
A statement produced by a political party at election times, stating what policies it intends to implement if it gains power.

First-past-the-post (FPTP)
An electoral system where the person with the most number of votes is elected. Victory is achieved by having one more vote than other contenders – it is also called a plurality system.

Plurality systems
Electoral systems where the winning candidate does not require an overall majority but merely needs to win more votes than any other candidate

Majority systems
Electoral systems where the winning candidate is required to win an overall majority, ie more than 50% of the votes cast

STV
most complex and proportional electoral system. Used in Northern Ireland

Electoral mandate
Refers to the authority to govern granted to the winning party at an election by the voters. Also suggests that the govt may implement the measures in its election manifesto.

Supplementary Vote (SV)
This is a majoritarian system. The voter makes two choices (hence the term ‘supplementary’). If one candidate obtains over 50% on the first vote then the contest is complete, if no candidate attains this level, all but the top two candidates remain. Then

Closed regional party system
used to elect the European Parliament

Absolute majority
where an MP gains over 50% of the vote

Election
Where people are given the opportunity to choose representatives who will form representative institutions and govt

Disillusion and apathy
A process of disengagement with politics and political activity. Having no confident in politics and politicians as being able to solve issues and make a difference. Manifested in low turnout at elections and poor awareness of contemporary events.

Class dealignment
The process where individuals no longer identify themselves as belonging to a certain class and for political purposes fail to make a class connection with their voting pattern.

Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government by the outside support of the

Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party (or bloc of allied parties) has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament (legislature). It is also less commonly known as a balanced parl

Proportional representation
The principle that parties should be represented in an assembly or parliament in direct proportion to their overall electoral

UK Parliament Education
Association for Citizenship Teaching

Paper 2 source and non-source essays.

Rule of Law
A set of principles asserting that all citizens should be treated equally under the law, including government itself. Also means that every citizen is entitled to due process of law and a fair trial.

Parliamentary government
A political system where Parliament is a central feature. Government is draw from Parliament and is accountable to Parliament.

Uncodified constitution
A set of constitutional rules that exist, but are not contained in a single document. Therefore, the constitution may have a number of different sources. Also implies that constitutional rules are not entrenched or safeguarded.

Constitution
A set of principles that establishes the distribution of power within a political system, relationships between political institutions, the limits of government jurisdiction, the rights of citizens and the method of amending the constitution itself.

Unentrenched(entrenched)
A constitution with no special procedure for amendment.

bicameralism
a system where the legislature is divided into two houses

Fusion of powers
government has power of parliament and can dominate parliament. Implies that government is drawn from parliament and remains part of parliament.

Common law
Laws made by judges where the law does not cover the issue or is unclear. Conventions Traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation of a political system.

Statue law
Laws passed by Parliament.

Accountability
Means that the legislature can call government to account by criticising, requiring justification for policy and seeking explanations of policy.

Devolution
The dispersal of power, but not sovereignty, within a political system.

Parliament
The name given to representative bodies in many states, including the UK. Has a number of roles including, legislating, calling government to account and representing the community.

Legislature
The political institution whose main role is to pass laws

The rule of law
The principle that all people and bodies, including government, must follow the law and can be held to account if they do not.

Uncodified (codified)
A constitution not contained in a single written document.

Unitary (federal)
A political system where all legal sovereignty is contained in a single place.

Authoritative works
Works written by experts describing how a political system is run, they are not legally binding but are taken as significant guides.

House of Commons
The primary chamber of the UK legislature, directly elected by voters.

House of Lords
The second chamber of the UK legislature, not directly elected by voters.

Secondary legislation
Powers given to the Executive by Parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules.

Executive
The collective group of Prime Minister, Cabinet and junior ministers, sometimes known as ‘The Government’.

UK Parliament Education
Association of Citizenship Teaching
House of Commons Library - Electoral Outcomes

Paper 2 source and non-source essay

Rule of Law
A set of principles asserting that all citizens should be treated equally under the law, including government itself. Also means that every citizen is entitled to due process of law and a fair trial.

Judicial review
A process undertaken by senior courts where judges are required to interpret, re-interpret or clarify constitutional rules. They take place in response to appeals by citizens or associations.

Elective dictatorship
Refers to the idea that, once elected, government in the UK has uncontrolled power. This applies even though governments in the UK do not win a majority of votes un elections and may enjoy only a small HoC majority.

Salisbury Convention
The convention whereby the House of Lords does not delay or block legislation that was included in a government’s manifesto.

Government department
A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility over an area such as education, health or defence.

Royal prerogative
A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the Prime Minister or Cabinet, such as the granting of honours or of legal pardons.

Cabinet government
a system of government where the cabinet is the central policy-making body

Minister
An MP or member of the House of Lords appointed to a position in the government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department.

Prime-ministerial government
Political circumstances in which the prime minister dominates policy making and the whole machinery of government.

Political leadership
Refers to all individuals who hold some power within a political system. Refers not only to govt, but also to leading members of other parties and political associations.

civil service neutrality
the civil service must retain political neutrality

Executive
The collective group of Prime Minister, Cabinet and junior ministers, sometimes known as ‘The Government’.

Core executive
The name for the collective identity of central government.

Cabinet
The Prime Minister and senior ministers, most of whom lead a particular government department.

European Union (EU)
A political and economic union of a group of European countries.

Ultra vires
Literally ‘beyond the powers’. An action that is taken without legal authority when it requires it.

Supreme Court
The highest court in the UK political system.

Political sovereignty
The political ability to exercise sovereignty – i.e. sovereignty in practice.

judicial activism
the practice of some higher courts and judges in actively seeking to assert the rights of citizens and limit the power of government

Four freedoms (EU)
The principle of free movement of goods, services, capital and people within the EU’s single market.

Judicial independence
The principle that judges should not be influenced by other branches of government, particularly the Executive.

Civil liberties
The rights and freedoms that citizens enjoy in relation to the state and its laws. E.g. Right to a fair trial

UK Parliament Education
2019 Case Study
Association of Citizenship Teaching

Component 1 Paper: Question 3

One Nation
A paternalistic approach adopted by Conservatives under the leadershipof Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century and continued by David Cameron and Theresa May in the 21st century, that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.

New Labour (Third Way)
A revision of the traditional Labour values and ideals represented by Old Labour. Influenced by Anthony Giddens, the ‘Third Way’ saw Labour shift in emphasis from a heavy focus on the working class to a wider class base, and a less robust alliance with th

Conservatism
A state of mind and a political movement that is naturally averse to excessive change and reform. It is sceptical about strongly held political views and generally supports the retention of traditional institutions and values.

Classical liberals
Classical liberalism is a philosophy developed by early liberals who believed that individual freedom would best be achieved with the state playing a minimal role.

Liberalism
Places freedom, rights and tolerance high on its scale of values.

Socialism
Places such values as equality of opportunity, social justice and collectivism high on its scale of values. It is either opposed to free-market capitalism or proposes measuers to moderate the undesirable effects of capitalism.

New Right
There are two elements – (i) the neo (or new) Conservatives who want the state to take a more authoritarian approach to morality and law and order and (ii) the neo-liberals who endorsed the free-market approach and the rolling back of the state in people’

A mixed economy
A programme of nationalization created a mixed economy, an economy made up of both publicly and privately owned industries and enterprises. The Attlee government set out to nationalize what it called the commanding heights of the economy. These industries

Foundational equality
Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born which cannot be taken away (also known as natural rights and inalienable rights).

Formal equality
The idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society.

Equality of opportunity
The idea that all individuals should have equal chances in life to rise and fall.

Social contract
The idea that the state/society is set up with agreement from the people to respect its laws which serve to protect them.

Meritocracy
A society organised on the basis that success is based on ability and hard work.

Mechanistic theory
The idea that the state was created by ‘man’ to serve the people and act in their interests.

Tolerance
A willingness to respect values, customs and beliefs with which one disagrees.

Limited government
The role of government is limited by checks and balances, and a separation of powers because of the corrupting nature of power.

Egoistical individualism
The idea that individual freedom is associated with self-interest and self-reliance (see also atomism).

Developmental individualism
The idea that individual freedom is linked to human flourishing.

Negative freedom
The absence of external constraints in society as well as no interference in the private sphere.

Positive freedom
The idea that freedom is about personal fulfilment and realisation of potential.

Laissez-faire capitalism
An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for exchange and profit, and wealth is privately owned.

Keynesianism
An economic system that requires government involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve full employment and price stability.

Harm principle
The idea that individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals.

Minimal state
The idea that the role of the state must be restricted in order to preserve individual liberty.

Enabling state
A larger state that helps individuals to achieve their potential and be free.

Fraternity
The bonds of comradeship between human beings

Co-operation
Working collectively to achieve mutual benefits.

Capitalism
An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for profit and wealth is privately owned.

Common ownership
Is the common ownership of the means of production so that all are able to benefit from the wealth of society and to participate in its running.

Communism
The communal organisation of social existence based on the common ownership of wealth.

Evolutionary socialism
A parliamentary route, which would deliver a long-term, radical transformation in a gradual, piecemeal way through legal and peaceful means, via the state.

Marxism
An ideological system, within socialism, that drew on the writings of Marx and Engels and has at its core a philosophy of history that explains why it is inevitable that capitalism will be replaced by communism.

Revisionism
A move to re-define socialism that involves a less radical view of capitalism and a reformed view of socialism.

Social justice
A distribution of wealth that is morally justifiable and implies a desire to limit inequality.

Class consciousness
The self-understanding of social class that is a historical phenomenon, created out of collective struggle.

Historical materialism
Marxist theory that the economic base (the economic system) forms the superstructure (culture, politics, law, ideology, religion, art and social consciousness).

Dialectic
A process of development that occurs through the conflict between two opposing forces. In Marxism, class conflict creates internal contradictions within society, which drives historical change.

Keynesian economics
Government intervention – can stabilise the economy and aims to deliver full employment and price stability.

Hierarchy
The Conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed tiers, where one’s position is not based on individual ability.

Authority
For Conservatives, this is the idea that people in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions in the interests of the whole society; authority thus comes from above.

Change to conserve
That society should adapt to changing circumstances rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion and/or revolution.

Atomism
That society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals (also known as egoistical individualism).

Noblesse oblige
The duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate.

Anti-permissiveness
A rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right and wrong.

Radical
Belief whose ideas favour drastic political, economic and social change.

Human imperfection
The traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.

Laissez-faire
A preference towards minimal government intervention in business and the state.

Empiricism
The idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract theories.

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Component 1: Full Paper

Component 2: Full Paper

Nationalisation
The extension of state control over the economy through the transfer of industries from private ownership to public ownership

Feminism
The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

Public sphere
The area in society where relationships are public, specifically life outside the home, particularly society and work.

Private sphere
The area in society where relationships are seen as private, specifically home and domestic life.

Essentialism
The belief that biological factors are significant in the different character and behaviour of men and women.

Gender stereotypes
The different way society expects men and women to behave according to gender roles.

Discrimination
Less favourable treatment of one group of people compared to other groups.

Equality of opportunity
All humans, irrespective of sex, should have an equal chance in society to rise and fall.

Political equality
Equal right to vote, one person one vote, equal right to protest.

Legal equality
That the law applies equally to all and that no one is above the law.

Reserve army of labour
The idea that women constitute a spare workforce that can be called on as and when needed.

Gender equality
The idea that society should treat everyone the same, irrespective of their gender.

Cultural feminism
A form of difference feminism that seeks to challenge the dominance of male culture in society, instead seeking to promote ‘women's values’.

Reformist
Seeking to change society gradually and peacefully

Waves of feminism
Feminism has been described as going through certain time periods or waves where a particular theme has been at the core of the movement

Otherness
The idea that women were considered to be fundamentally different from men, who were seen as the ‘norm’ and women, deviants from this norm.

Equality and difference feminism
Feminists who argue that men and women are fundamentally different from one another.

Intersectionality
An idea that challenged the notion that 'gender' was the singular factor in determining a woman's fate, arguing that black and working class women’s experiences of patriarchy are different from that of white, middle-class women.

Civic nationalism
A form of nationalism based on the active participation of its citizens and a shared vision of equal citizens.

Liberal internationalism
The idea that sovereign nations should cooperate and create a level of interdependency to avoid international conflict.

Socialist internationalism
The idea that class solidarity is more powerful and politically significant than national identity. As Marx said: ‘Working men of all countries, unite!’.

Ethnicity
The sense of belonging to the social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

Rational
The idea that humans are capable of reasoned thought and are able to make logical decisions for themselves.

Progressive
Ideas that move towards improving society

Regressive
Ideas that seek to revert society to a former or less advanced state.

Inclusive nationalism
A form of nationalism that believes that joining a nation is straightforward and quick, as it is not based on shared previous experiences.

Exclusive nationalism
A form of nationalism that believes that it takes time to be a part of the nation, as membership is based on shared history and language.

Chauvinistic nationalism
A form of nationalism that believes its nation is superior to others, seeing them as a threat to their survival.

Imperialism/ colonialism
The extension of control by one country over another by settlement or economic domination.

Volksgeist
The ‘spirit’ of a nation, the unique identity of a people based on their culture.

Integral nationalism
An intense, hysterical form of patriotism in which the individual is absorbed into the nation.

Black nationalism
A reaction to white oppression originating in the mid-20th century.

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