Politics Paper 2 Key Words

7/31/2019 Politics Paper 2 Key Words

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Politics paper 2 key words


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What gives any government the right to

rule (legitimacy)?

This question refers to both the system of

government and the individuals who hold office

within the government.

Tradition

Force

Consent

In the UK government is legitimate because, there isno significant movement to change the system of

parliamentary democracy.


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Tradition

if the system of rule has existed for a long period of time itconsidered to be legitimate.

Traditional conservatives often support this justificationbecause the people will accept a government that has evolved

naturally. An example is a hereditary monarchy. In the UK and Sweden

they are just figure heads. But in societies in Saudi Arabia andthe small emirates round the Arabian Gulf such as Bahrainand Dubai.

If these states continue to be stable and free from significantopposition it can be argued that hereditary monarchy is alegitimate form of rule.


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Consent

If a regime has the broad consent of its people

then it can be considered to be legitimate.

The most important criterion for legitimacy

General peace and stability is a sign of

consent.


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Force

A controversial argument that any government, regardless ofhow constituted, could be seen as legitimate if it is able tomaintain peace and security within a country.

Few would accept this especially if there are abuses of human

rights and discrimination against minorities. Though this doesnot make it illegitimate.

Examples are the current Chinese regime.

In 2003 the regime of Sudan Hussein in Iraq was removed byforce because they persecuted ethnic and religious groupsand there was a lack of democracy.


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Problems with consent as a criterion for

legitimacy

In the past people may have consented, but how dowe know that they still consent. There would have tobe regular referendums to approve the system ofgovernment.

Is a majority enough? Should there be a specificpercentage of consent? Should the consensus ofsupport be broader?

If the turnout is low does that mean that there is alack of consent to the system of government, ordissatisfaction with the government? How do weknow that the people consent?


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Legal sovereignty 4

The ultimate source of all legal authority

Parliament is the legal sovereign

All laws in the UK are determined by

Parliament, it either passes laws itself orgrants authority for others to make law.

Due to various treaties the EU has been

permitted limited sovereignty in areas such asthe environment, trade and consumerprotection legislation.


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Examples of the sources of authority

Government elective

Monarch Traditional limited

Parliament- HOL is traditional limited. Hoc iselective the people is the source. Parliament

as a whole is sovereign so is traditional

PM- traditional, indirectly elective some arecharismatic e.g. Winston Churchill


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Political sovereignty

The ultimate source of real political power

At elections the people are politically

sovereign

Between elections the government and the

PM are politically sovereign.

While Parliament reserves the right to defy

the government, most of the time it is the

government that rules.


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The stateincludes

The state is a collective name for the institutions that

administer a country.

Armed forces, security and intelligence establishment

Law enforcement agencies, (courts, police) The bureaucracy or civil service (politically neutral) may stay

in office even if political governments change

Other institutions that may or may not be apart of the

permanent implements of the state and dependant onarrangements in the country e.g. NHS, BBC, Royal Mail

Bodies that exist on a sub central level e.g. local authorities


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Natural justice

Some may say nature is a force which has

some control over the affects of mankind

so some laws of nature could constitute to

justice

Others say nature implies God

There are different ideas from different people

as they have different ideologies


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Legal justice

All adult citizens of the state are treated

equally

No one is above the law not even the

government

All citizens have a right to a fair trial

Based on the constitution


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Social justice

Refers to the way goods are attributed with in

a society


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Communism

An expression of total equality

No one should have significantly more than

any other

The system includes equality in wealth, social

and economic power


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A State

A state refers to a country whose

governments jurisdiction over a territory is

recognised by other states.


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Government

The process of organising the state and giving

political direction

Government is an institution that applies

political principles to running the state


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Legitimacy

The degree to which the state or its

government can be considered to have the

right to exercise power.

A state is legitimate if it has a valid claim to

rule


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Sovereignty

Ultimate political power and the source of all

political authority


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Rule of Law

A set of principles which asserts that all

citizens should be treated equally under the

law including the government itself.

Every citizen is entitled to a fair trial

Overall the government should be conducted

according to the recognised legal code and the

constitution


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Executive

Has 3 main roles

Develop legislation and present it for approval

Arrange the implementation of the laws Running the state

PM, cabinet


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Define: judicial independence

Principle that members of the judiciary should

retain independence from any influence by

government and parties and other political

movements

Essential feature of a democracy


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Define: judicial neutrality

Principle that members of the judiciary shouldavoid allowing their political ideas to affect theirdecisions in cases

Also implies that judges should not show anysystematic bias towards or against any groups insociety

The rule of law states that every citizen should be

treated equally under the law so it vital thatjudges should conduct cases without anypersonal favour to one side or the other.


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What are civil liberties?

The rights and freedoms that citizens enjoy in

relation to the state and its laws.

Freedoms guaranteed by the state and its

constitution (assuming the state has a

constitution)

Examples: the right to vote, stand for office,

freedom of expression, movement,

association and the right to a fair trial


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What is judicial activism?

Practice of some of the higher courts and

judges in actively seeking to assert the rights

of citizens and limit governmental power.

By doing this it means thy are taking an active

role in interpreting and revising the

constitution


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Separation of powers

Principle that the 3 branches of G should be keptseparate

And have their own independent powers

Implies the separation of the judiciary from thegovernment (executive) and Parliament(legislative)

Their should be separate membership

Should be able to control each others powers

Largely absent in the UK


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What is the legislature?

Political institution whose main role is to passlaws

Parliament

In USA it is congress

Doesnt mean it develops laws but that lawsare considered legitimate if passed by the

legislature Often have additional role of scrutinising the

work of G and checking on its power


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Politics Paper 2 Key Words