AP Comparative Politics Killer Vocab

Referendum

A process by which a policy issue, amendment, or constitution is sent to the voters for approval.

Judicial Review

When a court has the power to overturn a law passed by the legislature.

Structural Adjustment Program

Fiscal policy changes imposed by international lenders that include tax increases and cuts to social services.

Civil Society

Voluntary social organizations outside of government representing various interests.

Grassroots Movement

A movement driven by the politics of ordinary citizens.

Rational-Legal Legitimacy

The right to rule based on a widely accepted system of laws and procedures.

Cooptation

Granting special favors in exchange for a benefit. "Buying off" critics.

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian system to a liberal democracy.

Corporatism

When groups, such as business and/or labor, work closely with the government in policy-making.

Liberal Democracy

A system with political competition, economic freedom, civil rights and liberties, and open access to information.

Authoritarian Regime

A system of government where elections are not free or fair and civil rights and liberties are restricted.

Illiberal Democracy/Hybrid Regime

A procedural democracy, with elections that may be flawed, and lacking some civil rights and liberties.

Communism

The theory that in a struggle over resources, the elite will dominate. Eventually the proletariat will create a classless state.

Developed Nations

Countries with a high standard of living and strong economies.

Nationalism

Pride in one's people, and the belief that they have their own unique political destiny.

Civil Liberties

Protections individuals have against government action.

Rentier State

A state that derives a significant portion of its revenue by leasing resources to foreign concerns.

Civil Rights

Protections that governments provide for members of specific ethnic, religious, gender, or minority groups.

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables.

Traditional Legitimacy

The right to rule because "it has always been that way."

Revolution

The overthrow and replacement of a regime based upon broad popular support.

Political Culture

The history, values, beliefs, and traditions that influence political behavior.

Institutions

The executive, legislature, judiciary, and bureaucracy.

Regime

The fundamental norms and rules established by administrations over time.

Reactionary

Those who want to restore political, social, and economic institutions that existed in the past.

Theocracy

system of government in which priests rule under the name of God or a god

Unitary

forming a single or uniform entity

Political Ideology

Views about the policy-making, the government's role, the pace of change, and freedom and equality.

Political Recruitment

Methods for identifying, training, and selecting those who will serve in government.

Nation

A group of people with a psychological sense of identity based upon cultural, geographic, or linguistic ties.

State

Institutions, people, and groups that have the power to effect change, including a monopoly of force.

Crosscutting Cleavage

A division that include people with differences, strengthening society.

Coinciding/Cumulative Cleavage

exacerbating feeling of difference, weakening society.

Bicameral (Legislature)

having two bodies or chambers

Devolution

The process of decentralizing power from national governments that stops short of federalism.

Command (Economy)

An economy centrally planned and controlled by the government.

Market (Economy

An economy with little government control where wages and prices are determined by supply and demand

Common law

A system where court cases decided by the highest court serve as precedent for future decisions and have the force of law.

Political Socialization

The methods by which someone is influenced in developing their viewpoint about government and politics.

Transparency

The ability of citizens to know what government officials are doing and how money is being spent.

Post materialist

A society where people's basic needs are met, and they can concern themselves with broader world issues, like poverty and the environment.

Welfare State

A state where the government provides for people's basic needs, like medical care and pensions.

Code Law

A system of law where the rules are written in the form of statutes (legislation).

Single Member District, First Past the Post

Winner-take-all. Whoever wins the most votes gets the one seat available in an election.

Political Economy

The relationship between political and economic systems.

Proportional Representation

Votes for parties, rather than candidates. Parties are represented in the legislature according to the percentage of votes received.

Globalization

The process of expanding and intensifying the interconnectedness among states, societies, and economies.

Gini Index

A formula that measures economic inequality within a country.

Federal

A system where the national government has the most power, but the power of subnational governments is protected.

Normative statement

A statement that includes a value judgment.

Empirical statement

a verifiable fact

Hybrid regime

A system of government with both democratic and authoritarian elements.

Pluralism

when many groups compete in policymaking

Dependency Theory

The belief that colonization leaves a legacy of poverty and poor governance.

Charismatic Legitimacy

the people's belief that the government has the right to rule based on a ruler's engaging personality

Sovereignty

The ability to carry out actions independent of internal or external forces.

Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A rough measure of average income in a country.

Neoliberal Market Reforms (Neoliberalism, Economic Liberalization)

Reforms that focus on free trade and the privatization of industry.

Causation

is when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable

Political Legitimacy

Generally accepted view that a government has the right to rule.

Run off election

An election between the top two vote getters.

Corruption

Using an entrusted position for personal gain.

Developing Countries

Countries attempting to improve their economic status. Currently with low average income and less sophisticated infrastructure. Might be described as the "third world."

Human-Development Index

measures life expectancy, birth and death rates, education, quality of life.

Underdeveloped Countries

The poorest countries. The bottom 12. Might be described as the "fourth world."

Gross Domestic Product

The total value of goods and services produced in a country.