Edexcel A-Level Politics: Key Terms with
Verified Solutions 2025-2026
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -
Supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Sufferage - CORRECT ANSWER -The right to vote in political elections
Democratic participation - CORRECT ANSWER -
Taking action which will impact the current political situation
Direct democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -Citizens make decisions of publicEimportance, not elected officials
Representative democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -
Citizens elect government officials to represent them on their behalf
DelegateEtheory - CORRECT ANSWER -
Government officials have a duty to represent the views of the people who elected them, regardless of p
ersonal bias.
Mandate theory - CORRECT ANSWER -MPsEcarry out everything they said they'd do in their manifesto
Burkean theory - CORRECT ANSWER -MPs use personal judgement to decide what's best for citizens
Representation of the People Act (1918) -ECORRECT ANSWER -
Eligible women and men 21+ (18+ if serving in the army) had suffrage.
Equal FranchiseEAct (1928) - CORRECT ANSWER -Gave women equal voting rights to men in the UK.
When was the UK votingEage lowered from 21 to 18? - CORRECT ANSWER -1969
, General elections - CORRECT ANSWERE-
MPs are elected every 5 years from different parties. The leader of the party with the most MP votes bec
omes the Prime Minister
Devolved assembly elections - CORRECT ANSWER -
Every 5 years in Scotland, Wales & NI Used to elect members of devolved bodies.
What voting system do Scotland and Wales use for devolved assembly elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Additional Members System
WhatEvoting system does Northern Ireland use for devolved assembly elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Single Transferable Vote
Local electionsE- CORRECT ANSWER -
Every 4 years, elections for councillors, crime commissioners and sometimes mayors.
WhatEvoting system do England & Wales use in local elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -First Past the Post
WhatEvoting system do Scotland and Northern Ireland use in local elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Single Transferrable Vote
By-elections - CORRECT ANSWER -
These occur when there is a vacancy due to an elective representative stepping down or dying
Referendums - CORRECT ANSWER -
Measure public's opinion. Voters given two opposing options & every vote counts towards final result, ra
ther than each constituency.
Majoritarian - CORRECT ANSWER -Electoral systems designed to serve the majority
Proportional - CORRECT ANSWER -Electoral systems designed to reflect the diversity of a population
Verified Solutions 2025-2026
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -
Supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Sufferage - CORRECT ANSWER -The right to vote in political elections
Democratic participation - CORRECT ANSWER -
Taking action which will impact the current political situation
Direct democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -Citizens make decisions of publicEimportance, not elected officials
Representative democracy - CORRECT ANSWER -
Citizens elect government officials to represent them on their behalf
DelegateEtheory - CORRECT ANSWER -
Government officials have a duty to represent the views of the people who elected them, regardless of p
ersonal bias.
Mandate theory - CORRECT ANSWER -MPsEcarry out everything they said they'd do in their manifesto
Burkean theory - CORRECT ANSWER -MPs use personal judgement to decide what's best for citizens
Representation of the People Act (1918) -ECORRECT ANSWER -
Eligible women and men 21+ (18+ if serving in the army) had suffrage.
Equal FranchiseEAct (1928) - CORRECT ANSWER -Gave women equal voting rights to men in the UK.
When was the UK votingEage lowered from 21 to 18? - CORRECT ANSWER -1969
, General elections - CORRECT ANSWERE-
MPs are elected every 5 years from different parties. The leader of the party with the most MP votes bec
omes the Prime Minister
Devolved assembly elections - CORRECT ANSWER -
Every 5 years in Scotland, Wales & NI Used to elect members of devolved bodies.
What voting system do Scotland and Wales use for devolved assembly elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Additional Members System
WhatEvoting system does Northern Ireland use for devolved assembly elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Single Transferable Vote
Local electionsE- CORRECT ANSWER -
Every 4 years, elections for councillors, crime commissioners and sometimes mayors.
WhatEvoting system do England & Wales use in local elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -First Past the Post
WhatEvoting system do Scotland and Northern Ireland use in local elections? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Single Transferrable Vote
By-elections - CORRECT ANSWER -
These occur when there is a vacancy due to an elective representative stepping down or dying
Referendums - CORRECT ANSWER -
Measure public's opinion. Voters given two opposing options & every vote counts towards final result, ra
ther than each constituency.
Majoritarian - CORRECT ANSWER -Electoral systems designed to serve the majority
Proportional - CORRECT ANSWER -Electoral systems designed to reflect the diversity of a population
