British Civilization

A Student's Dictionary

John Oakland

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781317797050
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

British Civilization: A Student's Dictionary is an invaluable reference guide to the British way of life.It explains the often puzzling and confusing terms and phrases used routinely in Britain and by British people.

This easy-reference alphabetical guide sheds light on a comprehensive selection of words, phrases, organizations and institutions. All these are fundamental features of British civilization and society, and include aspects of:

* politics and government
* the Law, economics and industry
* education
* the media
* religion and social welfare
* health and housing
* leisure and transport.

C

Cabinet, the (government) The small group of 20–24 GOVERNMENT MINISTERS who are largely (but not exclusively) the heads of the most important MINISTRIES or DEPARTMENTS in WHITEHALL. They are formally appointed by the MONARCH on the recommendation of the PRIME MINISTER to perform an EXECUTIVE role in collectively deciding (and often initiating) government policy, maintaining control of government and coordinating the work of government departments. The Cabinet normally meets once a week privately at No. 10 DOWNING STREET (the Prime Minister's official LONDON residence) when PARLIAMENT is in session. Although much of the Cabinet's work is done through Cabinet and ad hoc committees, this centring of policy- and decision-making in a small group of people in BRITAIN has traditionally been known as cabinet government. But this role has arguably been reduced and the Cabinet can become a rubber stamp for decisions which are made elsewhere.

Cabinet committees (politics and government) CABINET committees are appointed by the PRIME MINISTER and are composed of Cabinet MINISTERS (sometimes with junior ministers) to consider items of GOVERNMENT business. Some are relatively permanent STANDING COMMITTEES, while others tend to be more temporary ad hoc committees. All may deal with specific areas, problems or issues.

Cabinet government (politics and government) The arguable view that collective CABINET government survives and that the PRIME MINISTER is not the dominant force within GOVERNMENT. In this view, fundamental decisions are taken by the whole Cabinet after discussion and DEBATE in Cabinet.

Cable television (media) TELEVISION pictures can be transmitted by means of signals through a cable (instead of broadcasting) and cable services are paid for by SUBSCRIPTION. The commercial possibilities of cable were not exploited in BRITAIN until the late 1970s, and have progressed relatively slowly since then. The Cable Division of the INDEPENDENT TELEVISION COMMISSION (ITC) has since 1991 been responsible for issuing LICENCES to cable companies, supervising their programmes, and promoting cable development. The ITC will be merged in future under an OFFICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (OFCOM).

Calendar year (society) see ACADEMIC SCHOOL/YEAR

Call to the Bar (law) The procedure by which a STUDENT BARRISTER in ENGLAND and WALES, after passing PROFESSIONAL and ACADEMIC examinations, is admitted to the bar and becomes a full member of the PROFESSION.

Cambridge University (education) One of the two oldest and best-known UNIVERSITIES in ENGLAND (together with OXFORD UNIVERSITY). It has a collegiate structure, being composed of 32 independent COLLEGES, such as King's, Trinity and St John's, the earliest of which were founded in the 13th century. Two colleges are for women only, while the rest are CO-EDUCATIONAL. Currently some 16,500 STUDENTS are in residence in the colleges, of whom over half are women. Cambridge regularly appears near the head of British university rankings for the quality of its teaching and research.

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the (CND) (society) An organization established in 1958 to campaign specifically for the abolition of nuclear weapons in BRITAIN (INDEPENDENT NUCLEAR DETERRENT) and worldwide. It also fights for the reduction of conventional military weapons and had, at its height in the 1970s and 1980s, a membership in Britain of some 50,000 people.

Campus (education) The name for the physical surroundings, area and buildings in which a British INSTITUTION of HIGHER EDUCATION, such as a UNIVERSITY, is located.

Canon law, the (law and religion) The law of the religious COURTS in CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, such as the CHURCH OF ENGLAND and the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, which is based on ancient LEGISLATION and decisions derived from ecclesiastical COUNCILS and the senior hierarchy of the churches. It once had an extensive social and legal importance, but today it deals only with religious matters.

Canterbury Cathedral (religion) Canterbury in Kent became the ecclesiastical CAPITAL of ENGLAND after St Augustine and other Roman monks had converted the pagan SAXONS to CHRISTIANITY in ad 596–7. The CATHEDRAL, constructed between the 11th and 15th centuries, embodies the styles of several architectural periods, and became a centre for religious pilgrimages after the murder there of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. It is the religious seat of the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

Canvass/canvassing (politics) The procedure at ELECTION time in BRITAIN when local and national representatives of the POLITICAL PARTIES visit homes and other venues in a CONSTITUENCY trying to gain information about VOTING intentions, and attempting to persuade VOTERS to vote for their party.

Capital (finance and geography) 1. This term can mean the money and valuables which are available to an individual or organization. In particular, it means the amount of money which has been accumulated by an individual or organization over time to form a total sum. 2. Also refers to the chief city of a country, such as LONDON (in ENGLAND and the UNITED KINGDOM (UK)) or EDINBURGH (in SCOTLAND) as well as the leading city in an English COUNTY (such as Nottingham in Nottinghamshire).

Capital expenditure (finance and economics) The itemized amount of money which is specified to be spent on long-term projects, such as buildings, RAILWAY systems and large items of equipment.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) (finance) A STATE tax levied at the relevant rate of INCOME TAX (currently 10, 20 or 40 per cent depending on levels of personal INCOME) on PROFITS of over £7,200 which an individual or organization makes from the sale or disposal of ASSETS, such as property, material objects or SHARES.

Capital punishment (law) Historically in BRITAIN, the execution by hanging of a CRIMINAL CONVICTED of serious CRIMES such as murder, also known as the death penalty. The punishment was abolished in 1965. It has been replaced by life imprisonment, which normally entails confinement in prison for varying periods of time depending on the severity and nature of the crime.

Cardiff (geography) A CITY on the southeast coast of WALES, with a population of some 273,000. It was created as the CAPITAL in 1955 although a site has been in existence since Roman times. It is a leading industrial area and port, an administrative and commercial centre, and a UNIVERSITY city.

Carol service (religion) A christian religious SERVICE which comprises modern and traditional CHRISTMAS carols (songs or hymns) and selections from the Bible about the birth of Christ. It takes place in the weeks prior to Christmas, usually in a CHURCH, CHAPEL or CATHEDRAL, but also in the open air. Such services are widely popular and are frequently broadcast on TELEVISION and RADIO.

Cartoon (entertainment and media) Drawings, often with accompanying words and sometimes with a satirical or comic intention, which appear in NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES. Can be in single or strip format. Strip formats can be used and animated as cinema films.

Case (law, society and fashion) 1. A legal matter which may or may not come to TRIAL. 2. An item of BUSINESS which comes up for discussion, often on the AGENDA of a formal meeting. 3. A receptacle in which to carry something, associated with items such as suitcases, briefcases, bookcases or spectacle cases.

Case law (law) Another name for the English COMMON LAW which represents the decisions, originally oral but increasingly written, taken by JUDGES in actual COURT CASES. Today the proceedings are published in official Law Reports such as the All England Law Reports.

Cash (money and finance) The coins (such as a 50 PENCE piece) and paper money (such as the five POUND note) which make up the British CURRENCY, which are carried by people and are used in financial transactions, as opposed for example to a written CHEQUE.

Cashcard (finance) A plastic card used to o...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• List of abbreviations
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z