"The politics of the United Kingdom functions within a constitutional monarchy where executive power is delegated by legislation and social conventions to a unitary parliamentary democracy."
The political landscape of Victorian Britain, including the rise of democracy and the growth of the welfare state.
Constitutional Monarchy: A system of government in which a monarch serves as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution.
Parliamentary Reform: The movement to expand political representation and political rights through changes to the parliamentary system.
Reform Act of 1832: An act of the British Parliament that expanded the right to vote and reformed the electoral system.
The Great Exhibition of 1851: An international exhibition held in London to showcase the technological advancements and economic progress of the era.
Chartism: A working-class movement in the 1830s and 1840s that sought to expand suffrage and other political rights for the working class.
Victorian Ideology: A set of beliefs and values that characterized social and political thought during the Victorian era.
The Corn Laws: Import tariffs on grain that helped protect British agriculture but raised the cost of food for working-class consumers.
The Factory Acts: Legislation that regulated working conditions in factories and restricted the employment of children.
The Irish Question: The political and social issue of Ireland's relationship with Britain, including calls for Irish independence and Home Rule.
Imperialism and colonialism: The policy of expanding British power and influence overseas through the establishment of colonies and exploitation of resources.
Liberalism: Advocating individual rights and fostering economic and social reform.
Conservatism: Advocating traditional social and political institutions with limited government intervention.
Radicalism: Advocating rapid and fundamental socio-political change.
Nationalism: Advocating the interests of one's own nation above all others.
Imperialism: Advocating a policy of expanding a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.
Feminism: Advocating for women's rights and equality.
Socialism: Advocating for collective ownership and management of the means of production and distribution of goods and services.
Anarchism: Advocating for the abolishment of government and all forms of hierarchy or authority.
Marxism: Advocating for a classless society based on the principles of socialism and the writings of Karl Marx.
Totalitarianism: Advocating for an all-encompassing, authoritarian government that controls all aspects of society.
Fascism: Advocating for extreme nationalism, authoritarian government, and strict control over individual freedoms.
Democracy: Advocating for a system of government in which power is held by the people through representative or direct means.
Monarchy: Advocating for a system of government in which a single ruler holds absolute power.
Theocracy: Advocating for a system of government in which religious leaders hold power and make decisions based on religious doctrine.
Mercantilism: Advocating for maximizing national wealth through regulation of trade and industry.
Colonialism: Advocating for the exploitation and control of overseas territories for economic gain.
"A hereditary monarch, currently Charles III, serves as head of state."
"The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, currently Rishi Sunak, serves as the elected head of government."
"Executive power is exercised by the British government, appointed on behalf of the monarch."
"Legislative power is vested in the two parliamentary chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords."
"Yes, asymmetrical powers are granted to the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland within the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament, and the Northern Ireland Assembly."
"Since the 1920s, the two dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party."
"A Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government held office from 2010 until 2015, the first coalition since 1945."
"Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each possess a legislature and executive."
"The constitution of the United Kingdom is uncodified, being made up of constitutional conventions, statutes, and other elements. This system of government, known as the Westminster system, has been adopted by other countries."
"The Crown Dependencies, in the immediate vicinity of the UK, are strictly-speaking subject to the Crown (i.e., the Monarch) but not part of the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom."
"British Overseas Territories, as British colonies were re-designated in 1983, which are part of the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom, in most of which aspects of internal governance have been delegated to local governments, with each territory having its own first minister."
"Devolution of executive and legislative powers may have contributed to increased support for independence in the constituent parts of the United Kingdom."
"The principal Scottish pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party forms the current Scottish Government administration."
"In a 2014 referendum on independence, 44.7% of voters voted for independence versus 55.3% against."
"Irish nationalist parties such as Sinn Féin advocate Irish reunification."
"Welsh nationalist parties such as Plaid Cymru support Welsh independence."
"The constitution of the United Kingdom is uncodified, being made up of constitutional conventions, statutes, and other elements."
"This system of government, known as the Westminster system, has been adopted by other countries, especially those that were formerly parts of the British Empire."
"The Parliament of the United Kingdom remains responsible for non-devolved matters and, in the case of Northern Ireland, co-operates with the government of the Republic of Ireland."