AP Comparative Government Terms 1

Power

The ability to influence or control the behavior of others.

Authority

The legitimate or recognized right to exercise power and make decisions.

Legitimacy

The acceptance and recognition of authority or power as valid or rightful. Citizens believe that their government has a right to use their power in the way that they do.

Political Stability

The state of a country or region where the government and political institutions are strong, and there is a general absence of major conflicts, social unrest, or changes in leadership.

Correlation

A statistical relationship between two or more variables where a change in one variable directly influences or brings about changes in another variable.

Causation

A relationship between cause and effect, where one variable directly influences or brings about changes in another variable.

Freedom

The absence of constraints or restrictions on individuals or groups to act or express themselves as they desire.

Equality

The state of being equal in rights, opportunities, or status.

Human Development Index

A composite measure of a country’s development, considering factors such as life expectancy, education, and income.

Gini Index

A statistical measure of income inequality within a country, ranging from 0 (perfect economic equality) to 100 (max. economic inequality).

Freedom House

An organization that assesses political rights and civil liberties worldwide, providing rankings and reports on the state of freedom in different countries.

GDP/Gross Domestic Product

GDP growth rate refers to the percentage change in the country's total economic output over a specific period, typically measured annually.

Nation

A group of people who share a common identity, such as language, culture, or history.

State

A political organization that combines a permanent population with governing institutions to exercise control over a defined territory with international recognition.

Regime

A set of formal rules or institutions that run a country and endure through changes in government.