1. UK Government: Relations between branches Key terms
Edexcel Politics A-level
UK Government:
Relations between branches
Key terms

2. Supreme Court
The highest court in the UK political system.

3. Judicial neutrality
The principle that judges should not be influenced by their personal political opinions and should remain outside of party politics.

4. Judicial independence
The principle that judges should not be influenced by other branches of government, particularly the Executive.

5. Judicial review
The power of the judiciary to review, and sometimes reverse, actions by other branches of government that breach the law or that are incompatible with the Human Rights Act.

6. Elective dictatorship
A government that dominates Parliament, usually due to a large majority, and therefore has few limits on its power.

7. European Union (EU)
A political and economic union of a group of European countries.

8. Four freedoms (EU)
The principle of free movement of goods, services, capital and people within the EU’s single market.

9. Legal sovereignty
The legal right to exercise sovereignty – i.e. sovereignty in theory.

10. Political sovereignty
The political ability to exercise sovereignty – i.e. sovereignty in practice.

11. Ultra vires
Literally ‘beyond the powers’. An action that is taken without legal authority when it requires it.

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