ALL AP Comp Gov Quizlet Terms - 6 Case Countries + ESSENTIAL Terms (Mr. Rhodenbaugh)

authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

autonomy

The ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public/the ability of a person to make choices and control his/her/their life

capitalism

A system of production based on private property and free markets

causal relationship

cause and effect; when a change in one variable causes a change in another variable

civil liberties

Individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime

civil rights

Individual rights regarding equality that are created by the constitution and the political regime

civil society

comprises a range of voluntary associations that are autonomous from the state, including local religious and neighborhood organizations, news media, business and professional associations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

patron-clientelism

A process whereby the state gains support from members of the public by providing specific benefits or favors to a single person or a small group in return for public support

coup

the violent overthrow of a government by a small group

deductive reasoning

Research that works from a hypothesis that is then tested against data (examples)

democratization

a transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime (usually associated with - more competition, fairness and transparency in elections; increased citizen participation; universal suffrage; greater governmental transparency; protected civil rights and liberties; equal treatment of citizens; establishment of the rule of law)

devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to regional, state, or local governments

executive

The branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a state (enforces the laws)

fascism

A political ideology that asserts the superiority and inferiority of different groups of people and stresses a low degree of both freedom and equality in order to achieve a powerful state

federalism

A system in which significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are devolved to regional or local bodies (national, state, local)

formal institutions

Institutions usually based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear

globalization

The process of expanding and intensifying linkages between states, societies, and economies

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

the total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country for a given time period

head of government

The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy

head of state

the executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally

illiberal democracy

A procedural democracy, with elections, but without real competition, and lacking some civil rights and liberties.

independent judiciary

a system of judges and courts that is separate from other branches of government (free from influence of other branches)

inductive reasoning

Research that works from case studies (examples) in order to generate hypotheses

informal institutions

traditions, customs, moral values, religious beliefs, and all other norms of behavior that have passed the test of time

institution

an established organization; a custom, practice, or law that is accepted and used by many people; an organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake

judicial review

the mechanism by which courts can review the actions of government and overturn those that violate the the constitution

laissez-faire

the principle that the economy should be "allowed to do" what it wishes; a liberal system of minimal state interference in the economy

legislature

the branch of government charged with making laws

legitimacy

a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power; (viewed as deserving of power, so power is respected)

liberal democracy

A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights.

liberalism

(1) A political attitude that favors evolutionary transformation (more used in U.S.); (2) An ideology and political system that favors a limited state role in society and the economy, and places a high priority on individual political and economic freedom (more used when discussing world politics and economics)

market

The interaction between the forces of supply and demand that allocates resources

multicausality

When variables are interconnected and interact together to produce particular outcomes (makes it difficult to prove a causal relationship)

nation

a group with shared historical, ethnic, linguistic, or religious bonds that desires self-government through an independent state

nationalism

Pride in one's people and the belief that they have a unique political destiny

neoliberalism (structural adjustment programs/Washington consensus)

A policy of economic liberalization adopted in exchange for financial support from liberal international organizations; typically includes privatizing state-run firms, ending subsidies, reducing tariff barriers, shrinking the size of the state, and welcoming foreign investment

nongovernment organization (NGOs)

a national or international group, independent of any state, that pursues policy objectives and fosters public participation

parliamentary system

a political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices

patron-client relationships

Relationships in which powerful government officials deliver state services and access to power in exchange for the delivery of political support

political economy

the study of the interaction between states and markets

political party systems

One-party system - one political party controls the government

Two-party system - two political parties compete for government positions

Multi-party system - three or more political parties compete for government positions

political ideology

a set of values and beliefs about the goals of government, public policy, or politics (e.g. individualism, neoliberalism, communism, socialism, fascism, populism)

politics

the struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group

populism

A political view that does not have a consistent ideological foundation, but that emphasizes hostility toward elites and established state and economic institutions and favors greater power in the hands of the public

presidential system

a political system in which the chief executive and the legislature are elected independently & the head of state and head of government are combined in one executive office

power

the ability to influence others or impose one's will on them

qualitative

Data in the form of recorded descriptions rather than numerical measurements.

quantitative

Data in the form of numbers

radicals

those with a political attitude that favors, dramatic, often revolutionary change (extreme "left-wing")

reactionaries

those who seek to restore institutions of a real or an imagined earlier order (extreme "right-wing")

regime

The fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality, where power should reside, and the use of that power

regulation

a rule or an order that sets the boundaries of a given procedure

referendum

A national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often a change to the constitution

revolution

Public seizure of the state in order to overturn the existing government and regime

rent seeking

A process in which political leaders essentially rent out parts of the state to their patrons, who as a result control public goods that would otherwise be distributed in a nonpolitical manner

rentier state

A country that obtains much of its revenue from the export of oil or other natural resources. For example, up to 70% of Nigeria's government revenue comes from the sale of oil, therefore Nigeria is a ______________________.

rule of law

A system in which all individuals and groups, including those in government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or authority

rule by law

a system in which the judicial system is subservient to the decisions of the ruling government (leaders of a government change the laws to maintain control)

state

(1) The organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a given territory; (2) A set of political institutions to generate and execute policy regarding freedom and equality

supranational

having power or influence that transcends national boundaries or governments

sovereignty

Independent legal authority over a population in a particular place

social and political cleavages

internal divisions that structure societies and may be based on class, ethnicity, religion, or territory

separatist movements

Campaigns to break away from the national government and form independent countries

theocracy

rule by religion or religious leaders

totalitarianism

A nondemocratic regime that is highly centralized, possessing some form of strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy, using a wide array of institutions

corporatism

A method of co-optation whereby authoritarian systems create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public and restrict those not set up or approved by the state. (Mexico and PRI rule from 1929-2000)

linkage institutions

is a structure within a society that connects the people to the government or centralized authority. These institutions include: elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

centrifugal force

a force that divides people and countries

centripetal force

a force that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state

political socialization

the process by which people decide their beliefs about government and/or ideology/norms of the state and citizenship/partisanship etc.

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation can make a difference

nation-state

a politically defined territory in which the state and national identity coincide

subnational governments

opposite of supranational, means "below the national government" In a federal system this refers to state and local governments that are underneath the national government's authority even though they may have sovereignty to an extent

Positive or coinciding relationship (positive correlation)

when one variable is more positive the other is more positive; when one variable is more negative the other is more negative

Negative or inverse relationship

when one variable is more positive the other is more negative; when the other variable is more negative the other is more positive)

Human Development Index (HDI)

Indicator of level of development for each country, constructed by United Nations, combining income, literacy, education, and life expectancy

foreign direct investment

Investment made by a foreign company in the economy of another country.

theocracy

a system of government in which the ultimate authority is a religious text and/or a religious leader

Shi'ite (Shi'a) vs. Sunni Islam

a significant conflict within Islam after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE; Sunnis believed the caliph (leader of Islam) should be selected and Shiites believed the caliph should be hereditary starting from Ali, who was Muhammads son-in-law

Shia state

Iran is a _________________. The history of Shiite Islam is very important to the legitimacy of the government of Iran.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Shiite religious leader of Iran, led the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran and ordered the invasion of the US Embassy; the first of two Supreme Leaders in Iranian history; founder of the modern Iranian state (the Islamic Republic of Iran)

Constitution of 1979

legitimizes the state, along with the 1989 amendments (written during the last months of Ayatollah Khomeini's life), and mixes theocracy with democracy

Guardian of the Jurist/Jurist Guardianship

Khomeini's concept that the Iranian clergy should rule on the grounds that they are the divinely appointed guardians of both the law and the people. (underlying rationalization for theocracy in Iran under the authority of the Supreme Leader)

Ayatollah Khamenei

Current supreme leader of Iran, very conservative Shi'ite Muslim leader who has continued policies of his predecessor

Hassan Rouhani

Former president of Iran from 2013-2021; Considered to be a reformer in some ways; Iranian presidents have largely alternated from more conservative to more reformer (but keep in mind, anyone who wanted to significantly reform/reshape the regime would be disqualified from running for president)

Ebrahim Raisi

Current president of Iran; elected in 2021; Considered to be very conservative; Iranian presidents have largely alternated from more conservative to more reformer (but keep in mind, anyone who wanted to significantly reform/reshape the regime would be disqualified from running for president)

secular

Non-religious

secularization vs. fundamentalism

Secularization is a shift away from religion due to the shift of the world toward rationality and scientific thinking, while fundamentalism is maintenance of strict adherence to religious code. The tension between secularization and fundamentalism existed throughout the 20th century (fundamentalists have held power since the Iranian Revolution)

the Shah

a title of the former monarch of Iran

Reza Shah Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Replaced his father (Reza Shah Pahlavi) - Shah of Iran installed as dictator after CIA and British assisted coup of democratically-elected Prime Minister Mossadegh

more democracy (reform) vs. more theocracy

central tension of modern Iranian politics (political parties change, leaders change, but voters typically align based on one of these two positions)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

President of Iran from 2005 to 2013; very conservative; re-election was believed to have been corrupt and led to widespread protests in Iran that was called the "Green Movement," but ultimately did not end in any change of government or regime

Iranian Cultural Revolution of 1980-1987

purge of secular leaders/academics/influencers from important positions around the country (in some ways inspired by the Cultural Revolution of China which purged "foreign influences/capitalist ideology etc" from the Chinese Communist Party" - allowed for conservative clerics and Supreme Leader Khomeini to further consolidate the Iranian Revolution of 1979

Guardian Council (Iran)

A 12-person advisory council to the Supreme Leader, with power to select who can run for the presidency and parliament, and to block parliamentary bills it regards as incompatible with Islamic law or contrary to the constitution. 6 members chosen by the Supreme Leader and 6 members chosen by the high court & approved by the Majlis (the high court is selected by the Supreme Leader; so, in effect, all members selected by the Supreme Leader)

Expediency Council (Iran)

Appointed body that mediates between the Majlis and the Guardian Council over legislative disputes (another way to ensure theocratic oversight of democratic institutions without the Supreme Leader needing to expend political capital and be directly involved)

Majlis

Legislature of Iran/Iranian Parliament (290 seats elected from 207 districts, so mostly single-member districts with some multi-member districts in more populated areas like Tehran); has the authority to pass laws, but laws can be dismissed by the Guardian Council or the Supreme Leader

Assembly of Experts (Iran)

86 clerics, and they are elected for 8 year terms. They are required to have a religious degree. Their main job is to select the Supreme Leader (and they have some reviewing powers of Majlis laws) They also have the right to dismiss the Supreme Leader if they deem him to be mentally unable to carry on.

Iran Revolutionary Guard

Paramilitary force charged with defending the regime domestically or abroad (the Iranian military defends the borders of Iran like a traditional military)

Sharia Law

Ultimate legal authority in Iran (supersedes all other law) - based off interpretation of the Quran and other holy texts by Shia clerics