18 concepts the spec wants you to use precisely, drawn from the Panther database. Read them, then test yourself.
In test mode, tap a concept to reveal its definition.
The concepts
By-election(tap to reveal)- A one-seat election held between general elections to fill a vacancy.
Consent(tap to reveal)- The agreement of people to be governed. Without it, government lacks legitimacy.
Democracy(tap to reveal)- Government by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
Direct democracy(tap to reveal)- A system where citizens vote on important issues themselves, rather than leaving decisions to elected representatives.
Exit poll(tap to reveal)- A survey of voters as they leave polling stations, used to predict the result before counting is done.
General election(tap to reveal)- An election where all 650 MPs are elected at once. The main way the UK chooses its government.
Local elections(tap to reveal)- Elections to councils and local mayors. Often used to judge how the government is doing mid-term.
Popular sovereignty(tap to reveal)- The idea that the people are the ultimate source of political power and that government authority comes from and depends on the consent of those governed.
Referendum(tap to reveal)- A direct public vote on a specific question. In the UK, Parliament can technically ignore the result but rarely does.
Turnout(tap to reveal)- The percentage of eligible voters who actually vote. Low turnout in the UK has raised democratic concerns.
Voter ID(tap to reveal)- The 2023 UK requirement to show photo ID before voting. Critics say it stops disadvantaged groups voting.
Absolute rights(tap to reveal)- Rights that can never be taken away under any circumstances - like the ban on torture.
Accountability(tap to reveal)- Being answerable for decisions and actions to those affected by them.
Active citizenship(tap to reveal)- The idea that being a good citizen means getting involved in your community and democracy, not just voting every few years.
Adversarial politics(tap to reveal)- The confrontational style of UK politics, where parties face each other and compete to win arguments.
Agenda setting(tap to reveal)- The ability to decide which issues politicians and the public pay attention to.
Autocracy(tap to reveal)- A system where one person has total power and faces no checks on what they can do.
Bill of rights(tap to reveal)- A document listing fundamental rights that the state must protect. In the UK, the Human Rights Act serves this function.