BCS Written Political Science key terms

The principle that a constitution has certain core features-such as separation of powers or judicial review-that the amending power cannot destroy, even though it may modify lesser provisions.

The rule that the constitution is the highest law of the land, so that any statute or executive action inconsistent with it is void to the extent of the inconsistency.

The power of courts to examine laws and government actions against the constitution and to declare them invalid when they exceed constitutional limits.

The principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to law administered by ordinary courts, and that power must be exercised under known, general rules rather than arbitrary will.

A guarantee that the state will follow fair, established legal procedures before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property, including notice and a hearing.

Two minimum fair-hearing standards-no one may judge their own cause, and both sides must be heard-applied by courts and tribunals to administrative decisions.

The lawful freedom of a public official to choose among permitted courses of action; it must be exercised honestly, reasonably, and for the purpose the law intended.

The obligation of public officials to answer for their decisions and use of resources to a higher authority or the public, and to accept consequences for failure.

Openness in government decision-making and information, so citizens can learn how and why public power is exercised and can hold officials to account.

The legal entitlement of citizens to obtain information held by public bodies, subject to narrow exemptions, which supports transparency and informed participation.

The division of state authority among legislature, executive, and judiciary, each with distinct functions and checks on the others, to prevent concentration of power.

Institutional devices-such as vetoes, judicial review, and confidence votes-that let each branch of government restrain and monitor the others.

A parliamentary system in which the executive is drawn from and accountable to the legislature, with a ceremonial head of state and a prime minister leading the government.

A legislature composed of two chambers that must both approve legislation, often designed to provide second scrutiny or represent territorial or other interests.

A system in which power is constitutionally divided between a central government and regional units, each exercising final authority over some matters within its own sphere.

The transfer of specified powers from a central government to regional or local bodies by statute, where the centre retains ultimate legal sovereignty.

The dispersal of authority, functions, and resources from central agencies to local governments or field offices, intended to improve responsiveness and service delivery.

Elected or constituted bodies at district and lower levels that administer local public services under powers granted by national law and are accountable to residents.

The organisation, staffing, budgeting, and management of government agencies that implement public policy and deliver services to citizens.

A hierarchical, rule-governed administrative structure with defined offices, written records, and career officials, valued for predictability but criticised for rigidity.

A reform approach that applies private-sector techniques-performance targets, contracting, competition, and customer orientation-to improve efficiency and responsiveness in public services.

The conduct of public affairs through participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus, equity, effectiveness, and accountability, aimed at serving the public interest.

The use of public appointments, contracts, or benefits to reward political supporters or allies, which undermines merit-based administration and impartiality.

A relationship in which politicians provide targeted benefits or favours to particular voters or groups in exchange for political support, weakening programmatic accountability.

The abuse of entrusted public or private power for private gain, including bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, and trading influence, which erodes trust and development.

The 1971 armed struggle through which Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, achieved independence after mass resistance to West Pakistani political and economic domination.

The honorific title meaning 'Friend of Bengal', used for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader whose 7 March 1971 speech and 26 March declaration galvanised the independence struggle.

The provisional government of Bangladesh formed in April 1971, which issued the Proclamation of Independence and directed the war from exile.

The Bengali nationalist campaign, especially its 21 February 1952 climax, demanding that Bangla be a state language of Pakistan; it is commemorated as International Mother Language Day.

The Indo-Aryan language written in its own script and spoken by most people of Bangladesh; it is the state language and a central marker of national identity.

Bengali poet, novelist, and songwriter who won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature and wrote the national anthems of both Bangladesh and India.

Bengali poet, musician, and essayist known as the rebel poet, celebrated for works of protest and communal harmony; he was declared Bangladesh's national poet.

A fourteen-line poem, usually in iambic pentameter, organised into a defined rhyme scheme and often turning to a new idea in its final lines.

A figure of speech that describes one thing in terms of another without using 'like' or 'as', implying a resemblance that shapes how the reader perceives it.

A poem in which a single speaker addresses an implied audience at a critical moment, revealing character and situation through what is said and left unsaid.

The amount by which a government's total expenditure exceeds its total revenue in a given period, usually financed by borrowing.

The accumulated stock of money owed by government to domestic and foreign creditors, arising from past deficits and used to finance public spending.

An annual statement of the government's estimated revenue and expenditure, presenting taxation proposals and spending priorities to the legislature for approval.

A sustained rise in the general price level that reduces the purchasing power of money and is commonly measured by changes in a consumer price index.

The total market value of final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a period, used as the main measure of economic size and growth.

A composite index combining life expectancy, education, and income indicators to compare countries on average achievement in basic human development.

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing economic, social, and environmental goals.

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions, which raise sea levels and intensify hazards such as cyclones and floods.

Policies and practices that anticipate hazards, reduce exposure and vulnerability, and strengthen preparedness so that communities suffer less harm from disasters.

A seasonal reversal of prevailing winds, especially over South Asia, that brings heavy summer rainfall and strongly shapes agriculture and flooding.

A low-lying landform built where a river splits into distributaries and deposits sediment as it enters a sea or lake, often densely populated and flood-prone.

A grouping of states formed during the Cold War that sought independence from both major power blocs and promoted sovereignty and development cooperation.

The supreme legal authority of a state within its territory and its independence from external control in conducting its internal and foreign affairs.

A security arrangement in which states agree that aggression against one member will be met by a joint response from all, as envisaged in the UN Charter.

The deployment of multinational forces, usually under UN mandate, to help maintain ceasefires, protect civilians, and support political settlement in conflict zones.

The deliberate arrangement of an argument into introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, with each paragraph developing one controlling idea linked to the thesis.

A single sentence that states the central claim of an essay and signals the line of reasoning the following paragraphs will develop and defend.

The strongest opposing view to a writer's claim, presented fairly and then answered, which strengthens an essay by showing awareness of alternative positions.

The process by which green plants and algae use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make sugars, releasing oxygen as a by-product.

The warming of a planet's surface when atmospheric gases trap outgoing infrared radiation, a natural process intensified by human emissions.

The variety of living species, genetic differences within species, and ecosystems in a region, which underpins ecosystem stability and human well-being.

A numerical measure between zero and one of how likely an event is, calculated from equally likely outcomes or estimated from observed frequencies.

The mean is the arithmetic average of values, while the median is the middle value when data are ordered; the median resists distortion by extreme values.