Edexcel A Level Politics
Additional Member System (AMS) - Answer- 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 se...
Edexcel A Level Politics
Additional Member System (AMS) - Answer- 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' representative.
Affirmative Action - Answer- the policy of favoring historically disadvantaged
members of a community.
altruism - Answer- Concern for the interest and welfare if others based on ration self
interest or a belief that humans are social beings with a capacity for social solidarity.
Anarchical society and society of states - Answer- Theory that the states of the world
can be members of a society despite the anarchical nature of the international
system
Anti-permissiveness - Answer- A rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that
people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right
and wrong.
Assimilation - Answer- The process by which social minorities adopt the values,
customs and beliefs of the majority.
Atomism - Answer- The idea that society is made up of self-interested and self-
sufficient individuals (known as also known as egotistical individualism)
Authoritative works - Answer- Works written by experts describing how a political
system is run, they are not legally binding but are taken as significant guides.
Authority - Answer- 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. From the anarchic perspective authority is
the the right of one person or institution to influence the behavior of, and is seen as
commanding, controlling and corrupting.
Autocratic State - Answer- A state that is ruled by a single person with unlimited
power.
autonomy - Answer- A form of self government or legislation, a combination of
freedom and responsibility in which the individual is not subject to the will of the state
or any other person.
Backbenchers - Answer- MPs or Lords who do not hold any government office.
Bipatisanship - Answer- Attempts within the structure of the US Congress to try and
ensure that the tow main parties must work together in order to fulfill Congressional
functions.
,Bipolarity - Answer- International system revolving around two poles
Black Nationalism - Answer- A reaction to white oppression originating in the mid-
20th century.
Cabinet - Answer- The Prime Minister and senior ministers, most of who lead a
particular government department.
Campaign Finance - Answer- Refers to all funds raised to promote candidates,
political parties or policy initiatives and their agendas during an election.
Capitalism - Answer- An economic system, organised by the market, where goods
are produced for profit and wealth is privately owned
Change to conserve - Answer- The belief that society should adapt to changing
circumstances rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion or revolution
Chauvinist Nationalism - Answer- A form of nationalism that believes one nation is
superior to others, seeing them as a threat to their survival.
Checks and Balances - Answer- The division of power between the three branches
of government where each branch has a direct ability to prevent action from another
branch.
Civic Nationalism - Answer- A form of nationalism based on the active participant of
its citizens and a shared equal vision of equal citizens
class consciousness - Answer- The self-understanding of social class that is a
historical phenomenon, created out of a collective struggle
Class dealignment - Answer- 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.
Classical liberals - Answer- 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.
coalition government - Answer- 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
Codification - Answer- A constitution that is written down in one document
collective responsibility - Answer- Principle by which ministers must support Cabinet
decisions or leave the Executive.
Collectivisation - Answer- The abolition of private property and its replacement by
collective ownership
, Common Law - Answer- Laws made up by judges (rather than statute law) when the
law in question doesn't cover a particular issue or is unclear
Common ownership - Answer- 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 - Answer- The communal organisation of social existence based on the
common ownership of wealth.
Complex Interdependence - Answer- Theory that states and their fortunes are
inextricably tied together.
Congressional caucuses - Answer- These are groups of US legislators who share
special interests and meet to pursue common legislative objectives, e.g. black
caucus, women's caucus and Hispanic caucus.
Confidence and supply - Answer- The rights to remove the government and to grant
or withhold funding. Also used to describe a type of informal coalition agreement
where the minority partner agrees to provide these things in exchange for policy
concessions.
conservative justice - Answer- A justice with a strong belief in 'stare decisis' with s
more narrow view of the US constitution, more likely to believe in a literal
interpretation of the wording, and believing in a generally smaller government.
Constitution - Answer- A set of rules determining where sovereignty lies in a political
system, and establishing the precise relationship between the government and the
governed.
Constitutional rights - Answer- The rights specifically outlined for citizens within the
US Constitution, Bill of Rights and subsequent Amendments.
Conventions - Answer- Traditions not contained in law but influential in the operation
of a political system.
Co-operation - Answer- Working collectively to achieve mutual benefits.
Cosmopolitan integration - Answer- The maximum freedom for minority, as well as
majority individuals, to mix with, borrow and learn from other cultures.
Cultural Feminism - Answer- A form of difference that seeks to challenge the
dominance of male culture in society, instead seeking to promote 'women's values'.
Cultural globalisation - Answer- Growing transmission of ideas, ideas, meanings and
values around the world.
Culture - Answer- Involves values, customs and beliefs that are passed on through
the generations via learning.
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