In the UK, taxes fund general public services, fees pay for specific services received (like a licence), and fines are penalties for breaking laws, aimed at punishment/deterrence, not service provision, with the key difference being purpose: taxes for general good, fees for direct service, fines for wrongdoing.…
Parliament controls UK government spending primarily through the annual Estimates process, where the government seeks authorisation for departmental budgets via Supply Resolutions, culminating in an Appropriation Act, ensuring money is spent as approved, with scrutiny by Departmental Select Committees, the Public Accounts Committee, and…
The UK Prime Minister is powerful, but not because the job comes with a single written list of powers. The power comes from three places: the ability to command a majority in the House of Commons, control of government machinery…
In the UK, a Bill becomes law (an Act of Parliament) after being proposed, debated, and approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and then receiving Royal Assent from the Monarch. The process involves several…
The United Kingdom is both a democracy and a monarchy, but not in equal measure. It functions as a parliamentary democracy where elected representatives hold real political power, while the monarchy remains largely ceremonial. This dual identity often raises questions…
A mandate in government refers to the authority given to an elected official or party to govern, based on the support received from voters. This concept is central to representative democracies, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their…
In politics, a moderate occupies a centrist position on the liberal-conservative spectrum, avoiding extreme stances on various issues. Moderates often seek balanced solutions, willing to negotiate and find reasonable outcomes rather than adhere strictly to partisan ideologies. They may hold…
Politics can lead to war when leaders act without accountability, pursue ideological goals, misjudge their opponents, operate in uncertainty, or prove unreliable in maintaining peace. The ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel are a stark reminder that political rivalries, if…
The European Union’s unprecedented ban on Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik marked a turning point in how Europe confronts disinformation. It was brought up twice to the European Court of Justice for its impact on freedom of expression and information.…
