A Level Politics Exam
Q&A
Democracy - answer-a very general description of various political systems, which are
organised in the best interests of the people
Liberal Democracy - answer-it is expected that citizens should influence decisions, or make
decisions themselves
it is also expected that government should be accountable, in various ways, to the people
Legitimacy - answer-refers to the degree to which the state or its government can be considered
to have the right to exercise power
a state or govt can be said to be legitimate if it has a valid claim to rule
Authority - answer-the right to exercise power rather than the exercise of power itself
Authority is granted to rulers and those in power by those over whom the power is to be
exercised
representation - answer-the political idea is that the people elect or appoint representatives to
make decisions on their behalf , rather than making those decisions themselves
it implies that political institutions should have a membership that is broadly a social cross
section of society in general
Direct Democracy - answer-a political system whereby the people take part themselves in the
running of the country and deciding laws e.g. referendums, public consultation and focus groups
Representative Democracy - answer-representatives elected by people who take control of
decision-making, as it is more practical and the representatives are better informed
Parliamentary Democracy - answer-the political power is held by an elected parliament
representing the people
,political participation - answer-opportunities for, and tendencies of, the people to become
involved in the political process
at a minimum level this will involve voting, but may also involve active work in political parties
and pressure groups
referendum - answer-a popular vote where the people are asked to determine an important
political or constitutional issue
political party - answer-an association of people who have similar political philosophies and
beliefs
a party will seek power and develop an organisation whose purpose is to fight elections
left/right - answer-the two sides of the political spectrum being conservatives and conservatism
on the right with lib dems in the left with liberalism
liberalism - answer-a state of political mind or political movement that places freedom, rights
and tolerance high on its scale of values
conservatism - answer-a state of mind and political movement that is naturally adverse to
excessive change and reform
it is sceptical about strongly help political views, prefers the know to the unknown and generally
supports the retention of traditional institutions and values
socialism - answer-a state of mind and political movement that places such values as equality of
opportunity, social justice and collectivism high in its scale of values
it is either opposed to free market capitalism or proposes measures to moderate the effects of
capitalism
factionalism - answer-where inside of a political party there is a difference in opinion of an issue
in the specifics of an issue such as Bill cash and the EU sceptics inside the larger
Conservatives party which are also against the EU but not as much as Bill cash
Consensus politics - answer-a circumstance where two or more major political parties broadly
agree on most basic policies
, adversary politics - answer-a circumstance where political parties are engaged in considerable
conflict over political issues
election - answer-allows the electorate to choose representatives who will carry out the
business of govt on their behalf
allows participation, voting in elections is the most common form of political participation
consulted at maximum every 5 years
majoritarian - answer-representation where an electoral system is designed to try to ensure that
the person or party elected enjoys a broad majority of support from the electorate
AV ranking candidates so you will give consent to them gaining power
mandate - answer-refers to the authority to govern granted to the winning party at an election by
the voters
suggests that the government may implement policies in its election manifesto
proportional representation - answer-describes any electoral system that converts votes into
seats in a broadly proportional way
electoral reform - answer-the process of making changes to an electoral system, as was
recently seen with the AV referendum, which was a way to reform the UK's electoral system by
changing it
party system - answer-the typical structure of parties within a political system
it describes the normal number of parties that compete effectively
pressure group - answer-an association that may be formal or informal, whose purpose is to
further the interest of a specific section of society or to promote a particular issue
Q&A
Democracy - answer-a very general description of various political systems, which are
organised in the best interests of the people
Liberal Democracy - answer-it is expected that citizens should influence decisions, or make
decisions themselves
it is also expected that government should be accountable, in various ways, to the people
Legitimacy - answer-refers to the degree to which the state or its government can be considered
to have the right to exercise power
a state or govt can be said to be legitimate if it has a valid claim to rule
Authority - answer-the right to exercise power rather than the exercise of power itself
Authority is granted to rulers and those in power by those over whom the power is to be
exercised
representation - answer-the political idea is that the people elect or appoint representatives to
make decisions on their behalf , rather than making those decisions themselves
it implies that political institutions should have a membership that is broadly a social cross
section of society in general
Direct Democracy - answer-a political system whereby the people take part themselves in the
running of the country and deciding laws e.g. referendums, public consultation and focus groups
Representative Democracy - answer-representatives elected by people who take control of
decision-making, as it is more practical and the representatives are better informed
Parliamentary Democracy - answer-the political power is held by an elected parliament
representing the people
,political participation - answer-opportunities for, and tendencies of, the people to become
involved in the political process
at a minimum level this will involve voting, but may also involve active work in political parties
and pressure groups
referendum - answer-a popular vote where the people are asked to determine an important
political or constitutional issue
political party - answer-an association of people who have similar political philosophies and
beliefs
a party will seek power and develop an organisation whose purpose is to fight elections
left/right - answer-the two sides of the political spectrum being conservatives and conservatism
on the right with lib dems in the left with liberalism
liberalism - answer-a state of political mind or political movement that places freedom, rights
and tolerance high on its scale of values
conservatism - answer-a state of mind and political movement that is naturally adverse to
excessive change and reform
it is sceptical about strongly help political views, prefers the know to the unknown and generally
supports the retention of traditional institutions and values
socialism - answer-a state of mind and political movement that places such values as equality of
opportunity, social justice and collectivism high in its scale of values
it is either opposed to free market capitalism or proposes measures to moderate the effects of
capitalism
factionalism - answer-where inside of a political party there is a difference in opinion of an issue
in the specifics of an issue such as Bill cash and the EU sceptics inside the larger
Conservatives party which are also against the EU but not as much as Bill cash
Consensus politics - answer-a circumstance where two or more major political parties broadly
agree on most basic policies
, adversary politics - answer-a circumstance where political parties are engaged in considerable
conflict over political issues
election - answer-allows the electorate to choose representatives who will carry out the
business of govt on their behalf
allows participation, voting in elections is the most common form of political participation
consulted at maximum every 5 years
majoritarian - answer-representation where an electoral system is designed to try to ensure that
the person or party elected enjoys a broad majority of support from the electorate
AV ranking candidates so you will give consent to them gaining power
mandate - answer-refers to the authority to govern granted to the winning party at an election by
the voters
suggests that the government may implement policies in its election manifesto
proportional representation - answer-describes any electoral system that converts votes into
seats in a broadly proportional way
electoral reform - answer-the process of making changes to an electoral system, as was
recently seen with the AV referendum, which was a way to reform the UK's electoral system by
changing it
party system - answer-the typical structure of parties within a political system
it describes the normal number of parties that compete effectively
pressure group - answer-an association that may be formal or informal, whose purpose is to
further the interest of a specific section of society or to promote a particular issue
