AQA A-Level Politics Year 13: Key Terminology Quick Reference Guide | AQA A-Level 政治 Year 13：关键术语速记指南

📚 AQA A-Level Politics Year 13: Key Terminology Quick Reference Guide | AQA A-Level 政治 Year 13：关键术语速记指南

Mastering political terminology is essential for AQA Year 13 students, not only to score highly on the short‑mark definitions but also to build sophisticated essay arguments. This guide sets out the most frequently examined terms from UK Government & Politics and core ideologies, and pairs each with a memorable ‘quick‑grab’ explanation to speed up revision.

掌握政治术语对 AQA Year 13 学生至关重要，不仅可以在简答题定义题中拿高分，还能搭建出有深度的论文论证。本指南列出英国政府与政治以及核心意识形态中最常考的术语，并为每个术语配上一个好记的“快速抓住要点”的解释，加快复习速度。

1. Legitimacy | 合法性

Legitimacy refers to the rightful acceptance of political authority by the governed. In the UK, legitimacy stems from democratic elections, the rule of law, and historical continuity (the royal prerogative). A government with high legitimacy can push through controversial policies without facing mass disobedience.

合法性是指被统治者对政治权威的正当认同。在英国，合法性来源于民主选举、法治和历史延续（王室特权）。具有高度合法性的政府可以推行有争议的政策，而不必面对大规模的不服从。

Quick memory trick: Legitimacy = ‘lawful and widely accepted power’. Think of a driving licence – it is not enough to own a car; society must accept your right to drive it.

速记技巧：合法性 = “合法且被广泛接受的权力”。想想驾照——光有车不够，社会必须认可你开车的权利。

---

2. Sovereignty | 主权

Sovereignty denotes the ultimate, supreme political authority within a territory. Legal sovereignty in the UK lies with Parliament (parliamentary sovereignty), meaning it can make or unmake any law. Political sovereignty rests with the electorate, while pooled sovereignty describes EU membership (now historic) where some powers were shared.

主权指一国内部的终极最高政治权威。在英国，法律主权属于议会（议会主权），意味着议会可以制定或废止任何法律。政治主权属于选民，而集合主权则描述欧盟成员身份（现已为历史）中部分权力被共享的状态。

Memory aid: ‘Queen in Parliament is legally sovereign; people through elections are politically sovereign.’

记忆辅助：“议会中的女王在法律上拥有主权；通过选举的人民在政治上拥有主权。”

---

3. Parliamentary Sovereignty | 议会主权

The doctrine that Parliament is the supreme law‑making body, not bound by its predecessors nor able to bind its successors. Key implications: no higher court can strike down an Act of Parliament as unconstitutional; EU law (under the European Communities Act 1972) temporarily qualified this principle until Brexit.

议会是最高的立法机构，不受其前任约束，也不能约束其后继者的原则。关键影响：没有更高级的法院可以以违宪为由推翻议会法案；欧盟法律（根据1972年《欧洲共同体法》）在脱欧前临时限制了这一原则。

Examiner favourite: link it to the HRA 1998 – judges can issue a declaration of incompatibility but cannot strike down an Act, upholding parliamentary sovereignty.

考官最爱：将其与《1998年人权法案》联系起来——法官可以发布不兼容声明，但不能推翻法案，从而维护议会主权。

---

4. Rule of Law | 法治

The principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to the law and that laws must be clear, fair, and applied equally. A.V. Dicey’s three pillars: no arbitrary power, equality before ordinary law, and the constitution emerges from judicial decisions.

所有人，包括政府在内，都要遵守法律，法律必须明确、公平并平等适用的原则。A.V. 戴雪的三项支柱：无专断权力、普通法律面前人人平等、宪法源于司法判决。

Revision shortcut: ‘No one is above the law – even ministers can be judicially reviewed.’

复习捷径：“没有人凌驾于法律之上——即使部长也可以被司法审查。”

---

5. Devolution | 权力下放

Devolution is the statutory transfer of powers from central government to regional parliaments or assemblies. Asymmetric devolution in the UK means Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland enjoy different degrees of legislative and executive autonomy. It is not federalism – Westminster retains legal sovereignty.

权力下放是通过法律从中央政府向地区议会或大会转移权力。英国的非对称权力下放意味着苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰享有不同程度的立法与行政自治权。它不是联邦制——威斯敏斯特保留法律主权。

Think: ‘Power lent, not given away.’ A devolved parliament could theoretically be abolished by Westminster.

想一想：“权力是借出的，而不是给出。” 理论上，威斯敏斯特可以废除下放的议会。

---

6. Cabinet Government vs Prime Ministerial Government | 内阁政府 vs 首相政府

Cabinet government describes a system where the Prime Minister is first among equals, and decisions are collective. Prime ministerial government suggests PM domination, bypassing Cabinet through bilateral meetings and special advisers (sofa government). In Year 13 essays, use the ‘forces’ framework: spatial leadership, party majority, media focus, and events.

内阁政府描述的是首相为同等者之首、集体决策的体制。首相政府则意味着首相主导，通过双边会晤和特别顾问（沙发政府）绕开内阁。在 Year 13 论文中，使用“动力”框架：空间领导力、政党多数、媒体聚焦与事件。

Speedy recall: ‘Is it Cabinet or sofa? Check PM’s majority and personality.’

快速回忆：“是内阁还是沙发？看首相的多数席位和个性。”

---

7. Judicial Review | 司法审查

A court proceeding where judges examine the lawfulness of decisions made by public bodies. Grounds include illegality, irrationality (Wednesbury unreasonable), procedural impropriety, and, under the HRA, proportionality. Judicial review upholds the rule of law but does not check the merits of a decision.

法官审查公共机构所做决定合法性的法庭程序。理由包括非法性、不合理性（温斯伯里不合理）、程序不当，以及根据《人权法》的比例原则。司法审查维护法治，但不审查决定本身的好坏。

Exam tip: link to ultra vires – a public body acting beyond its legal powers.

应试提示：联系越权原则——公共机构超越其法律权限行事。

---

8. Pluralism vs Elitism | 多元主义 vs 精英主义

Pluralism argues political power is dispersed among many competing groups, with the state acting as a neutral referee. Elitism holds that a small, concentrated group – such as the establishment, civil service chiefs, or corporate leaders – truly holds power, often at the expense of ordinary citizens.

多元主义认为政治权力分散在许多相互竞争的群体之间，国家充当中立裁判。精英主义则认为一个小型集中的群体——如建制派、高级文官或企业领袖——真正掌握权力，往往牺牲普通公民的利益。

Remember through examples: pressure group influence (pluralist) vs the ‘old boys’ network’ (elitist).

通过例子记住：压力团体的影响（多元主义） vs “老同学关系网”（精英主义）。

---

9. New Right Ideology | 新右派意识形态

A fusion of neo‑liberal economics (free markets, minimal state intervention, monetarism) and neo‑conservative social policies (traditional values, strong law and order, national sovereignty). Think Thatcher and Reagan. The New Right advocates rolling back the state economically but rolling forward the state socially.

新自由主义经济学（自由市场、最小国家干预、货币主义）与新保守主义社会政策（传统价值观、强硬法律和秩序、民族主权）的融合。想想撒切尔和里根。新右派主张在经济上缩减国家，但在社会上加强国家角色。

Shorthand: ‘Free economy, strong state.’

简记：“自由经济，强大国家。”

---

10. One Nation Conservatism vs Thatcherism | 一国保守主义 vs 撒切尔主义

One Nation Conservatism (Disraeli, Macmillan) stresses paternalism, welfare, and social cohesion to bridge the gap between rich and poor. Thatcherism rejects this, prioritising individualism, free‑market discipline, and a limited state. In AQA essays, contrast the two to explain Conservative Party factions.

一国保守主义（迪斯雷利、麦克米伦）强调家长主义、福利和社会凝聚力，弥合贫富差距。撒切尔主义拒绝这一点，优先考虑个人主义、自由市场纪律和有限国家。在 AQA 论文中，对比两者来解释保守党内的派系。

Hook: ‘One Nation hugs society; Thatcherism shakes it.’

钩子：“一国保守主义拥抱社会；撒切尔主义摇醒它。”

---

11. Socialism: Fundamentalist vs Social Democracy | 社会主义：原教旨主义 vs 社会民主主义

Fundamentalist socialism (Marxism, hard left) advocates common ownership of the means of production and aims to replace capitalism. Social democracy (Keynesian social justice, the Third Way) accepts capitalism but seeks to tame it through redistribution, welfare, and regulation.

原教旨社会主义（马克思主义、强硬左派）主张生产资料公有，旨取代资本主义。社会民主主义（凯恩斯主义社会正义、第三条道路）接受资本主义，但试图通过再分配、福利和规制来驯服它。

Useful contrast for essays: Clause IV old vs new – Labour’s constitutional commitment to nationalisation (1918) vs Blair’s revision (1995).

对论文有用的对比：旧第四条款 vs 新第四条款——工党对国家化的宪法承诺（1918年） vs 布莱尔的修订（1995年）。

---

12. Electoral Systems: Quick Terminology | 选举制度：快速术语

System	Key Feature	例/Used
FPTP	Simple plurality in single‑member constituencies; strong, single‑party government tendency	UK general elections
AMS (Additional Member System)	Constituency FPTP + regional proportional top‑up; mixed‑member proportional	Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd
STV (Single Transferable Vote)	Preferential voting in multi‑member constituencies; high proportional outcomes	Northern Ireland Assembly
SV (Supplementary Vote)	First and second preference; winner must secure broad support; used for London Mayor	Mayoral elections (until changed to FPTP)

Electoral terminology often appears in 3‑mark definitions or 9‑mark explain questions. Master these four systems, and always link them to ‘mandate’, ‘representation’, and ‘accountability’.

选举术语经常出现在 3 分的定义题或 9 分的解释题中。掌握这四种制度，并始终将它们与“授权”、“代表性”和“问责制”联系起来。

Published by TutorHao | Politics Revision Series | aleveler.com

更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）