ap cogo vocab russia/china (quarter 2)

duma

The directly elected lower house of the Russian parliament

that represents the people and has the power to pass laws, confirm the prime minister, and begin impeachment proceedings against the president.

federation council

The appointed upper house of the Russian parliament that represents the regions and has the power to initiate, review, and amend legislation, approve troop deployments, and remove the president.

unitary system

A political system in which the central government has sole constitutional sovereignty and power.

federal system

A political system in which a state's power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government.

devolution

Granting of powers by the central government to regional governments.

asymmetrical federalism

A system in which some regions have more formal power and autonomy than others.

nongovernmental organization (NGO)

A nonprofit group outside the government's control. NGOs usually focus on social or political issues.

unicameral

A legislature with one chamber.

bicameral

legislature with two chambers

socialism

A political ideology in which economic equality is a core value, with the belief that government ownership of the major means of production is a way to reduce income inequality within

the state.

communism

An ideology that advocates state ownership of all property, with the government exercising complete control over the economy.

cleavages

a division in society among political / social factors including ethnicity, class, religion, language, beliefs about role of government / policy making goals

GDP growth rate

The percentage of GDP growth over a period of time.

gross domestic product (GDP)

the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year.

GDP per capita

Gross domestic product divided by population.

gini index

A measure of income inequality within a country.

economic growth

An increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured as the percentage increase in real GDP.

empirical statement

an assertion of fact that can be proven.

normative statement

A value judgment, usually in the form of a should or ought statement.

correlation

A statistical concept indicating an apparent connection between variables.

causation

A statistical concept, when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable.

political socialization

The process through which an individual learns about politics and is taught about society's common political values and beliefs.

political efficacy

A citizen's belief that his or her actions can impact the government.

social movement

large group organized to advocate for political change.

rentier state

A state that relies on the export of oil or from the leasing of resources to foreign entities as a significant source of government revenue.

resource curse

A problem faced by countries that have a valuable and abundant natural resource, which limits diversification of the economy, makes government revenue dependent on the world market, increases opportunities for corruption, and lessens the government's responsiveness to citizens.

economic liberalization

Economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers.

authoritarian

A system without free and fair elections in which civil rights and liberties are restricted.

civil liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from

infringement by the government.

civil society

Groups that form outside the government's control. Civil society includes voluntary organized groups, online activists, and social movements that exist independently of government institutions as well as independent media, unions, and other social and religious groups.

rule of law

A clear set of rules where government officials are subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens.

rule by law

Where the law is applied arbitrarily, and government officials are not subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens.

globalization

The increased interconnectedness of people,

states, and economies.

legislative independence

the degree to which a legislature is free to exercise its powers without influence from other branches/institutions

judicial independence

The ability of judges to decide case according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions.

democratic consolidation

The process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.

HDI

An aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income.

CPI

corruption perceptions index, measure how corrupt a system is believed to be