Parliament Key words & definitions

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Legislature
The name given to the political institution whose main role is to pass laws. In the UK this is Parliament.This does not mean that the legislature develop the laws, but certainly that laws are considered legitimate only if passed by the legislature.
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Parliamentary government
A system of politics where government is drawn from parliament and is accountable to parliament. In other words, the government has no separate authority from that of Parliament.
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Westminster model
A description of the political system found in the UK, It is a system where parliament lies at the centre. It is the source of political authority, government is drawn from parliament and not separately elected
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Bicamerialism
A political system where the legislature is divided into two houses as in the UK or US. Sometimes the two houses have roughly equal powers, as in the USA; sometimes one house is dominant and has more power, as in the UK.
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Presidential government
In contrast to parliamentary government, a president normally has a separate source of authority from that of the legislature. This means that the executive (president) is accountable to the people directly, not to the legislature.
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Separation of powers
A constitutional principle that the three branches of government legislature, executive and judiciary- should have separate membership and separate powers and should be able to control each others’ powers.It is largely absent in the UK.
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Fusion of powers
Government has power of Parliament and can dominate parliament. In practical terms it implies that government is drawn from parliament and remains part of parliament
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Representative government
A form of government where political power is largely excercised by elected representatives, through individual MPs
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Responsible government
There are mechanisms by which government is made responsible for its actions and policies. This means it's forced to justify its actions and policies and accept criticism of them where appropriate.
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Second chamber
A second House of Parliament, normally seen as a subordinate to the first house. Currently in the UK this is the House of Lords.
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Card 2

Front

A system of politics where government is drawn from parliament and is accountable to parliament. In other words, the government has no separate authority from that of Parliament.

Back

Parliamentary government

Card 3

Front

A description of the political system found in the UK, It is a system where parliament lies at the centre. It is the source of political authority, government is drawn from parliament and not separately elected

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A political system where the legislature is divided into two houses as in the UK or US. Sometimes the two houses have roughly equal powers, as in the USA; sometimes one house is dominant and has more power, as in the UK.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

In contrast to parliamentary government, a president normally has a separate source of authority from that of the legislature. This means that the executive (president) is accountable to the people directly, not to the legislature.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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