Assessment objectives and synoptic skills Key Terms

Unwritten Constitution

A constitution that is not codified in a single document but is made up of statutes, common law, conventions, and historical documents.

Impeachment

A formal process by which a legislator can remove a public official, such as a US President, from office for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Constitutional Convention

A non‑statutory, historically developed practice that guides political conduct and is considered binding on political actors, though not enforceable by law.

Electoral College

A constitutionally established body of electors in the United States who formally elect the President and Vice‑President, balancing federal and popular interests.

Constitutional rule

A formal, legally enforceable requirement that governs the operation of a state’s institutions.

Political convention

An unwritten, widely accepted practice that guides political behaviour and decision-making.

Parliamentary scrutiny

The process by which Parliament examines and evaluates government actions and policies, often through debates, questions, and committee investigations.

Electoral disproportionality

The extent to which the distribution of seats in a legislature does not match the distribution of votes received by parties.

Political skill

The ability to apply political knowledge in a practical context.

Synoptic analysis

A method of analysing political phenomena that integrates knowledge, skills and values.

Constitutional Convention

A non‑statutory rule of conduct that is accepted as binding but not enforceable by law.

Separation of Powers

The allocation of executive, legislative and judicial functions to separate branches to prevent concentration of authority.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

The doctrine that Parliament has supreme legal authority and can legislate on any matter.

Separation of Powers

The allocation of governmental functions into distinct branches to prevent concentration of power.

Constitutional Convention

A non-legal, politically binding rule that guides the conduct of political actors, enforced through political, not legal, means.

Collective Ministerial Responsibility

A convention requiring all ministers to support government policy publicly, with resignation as the penalty for dissent.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent concentration of power.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess the constitutionality of laws and actions by the government.

Unwritten constitution

A constitution that is not codified in a single written document but is made up of statutes, conventions, judicial decisions and works of authority.

Electoral College

The body of electors in the United States who formally elect the President and Vice‑President, based on a state‑by‑state allocation of votes.