AP Comp Gov Petrocco Winter Final

Authoritarian regimes

Political systems where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or small group, with limited political pluralism and civil liberties

Bureaucracy - Whitehall

The administrative system of the UK government, centered in Whitehall, London, responsible for policy implementation

BREXIT

The process of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, completed in 2020

Civil society

Organizations and institutions outside of government that represent citizens’ interests and facilitate civic engagement

Social Cleavages

Deep and persistent divisions in society based on ethnicity, religion, class, or region that shape political conflict

Coalition/ Coalition govt

A government formed by multiple political parties sharing power to achieve a legislative majority

Common law

A legal system based on judicial precedent and court decisions rather than codified statutes

Conservative Party

Major UK political party generally supporting free markets, traditional institutions, and limited government intervention

Consolidated/substantive/liberal democracy

A political system with stable democratic institutions, rule of law, protection of civil liberties, and effective participation

Contagion

The spread of economic, political, or social crises from one country to another

Constituency

A geographic area whose residents elect a representative to a legislative body

Constitution

A set of fundamental principles or established precedents that defines the organization and powers of a government

Democratic consolidation

The process by which a new democracy matures, becoming stable and resistant to authoritarian reversal

Democratic deficit

Perceived lack of democratic accountability or representation in government institutions

Democratic regimes

Governments that operate under competitive elections, rule of law, and protection of civil liberties

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic political system

Devolution

The transfer of powers from a central government to regional or local governments

Economic liberalization

The reduction of state intervention in the economy, promoting free markets and privatization

Electoral system

The rules by which votes are translated into seats in a legislature

EU - Euro zone

The group of European Union countries that have adopted the euro as their official currency

Failed states

Countries with weak institutions, lack of rule of law, and inability to provide basic services

First past the post, SMD

An electoral system in single-member districts where the candidate with the most votes wins

Fixed Term Act 2011

UK law establishing a set schedule for parliamentary elections every five years

Free movement (EU)

The principle allowing EU citizens to live, work, and travel freely across member states

Fusion of powers

A system, typically parliamentary, where the executive and legislative branches are interdependent

GDP/ GDP per capita

Gross Domestic Product measures total economic output

per capita adjusts GDP per person

Gini index

A measure of income inequality, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (maximum inequality)

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of economies, societies, and cultures across the world

Good Friday Agreement - The Troubles

1998 peace agreement ending much of the conflict in Northern Ireland

Government vs. regime vs. state

Government

Regime

rules/norms guiding power

State

permanent institutions of authority

HDI

Human Development Index, a composite measure of health, education, and income

Head of government

Official responsible for day-to-day administration of the government, e.g., UK Prime Minister

Head of state

Ceremonial or symbolic leader representing national unity, e.g., monarch or president

Hereditary peers

Members of the House of Lords who inherit their title

House of Commons

Lower house of UK Parliament, elected by constituencies

House of Lords

Upper house of UK Parliament, consisting of appointed and hereditary members

Illiberal/Hybrid regime

Regimes with elections but limited civil liberties and weak rule of law

Independent courts

Judicial bodies free from political influence

Judicial review

Power of courts to assess the constitutionality of laws or government actions

Judiciary

The system of courts and judges responsible for interpreting and applying the law

Labour Party

UK political party historically representing workers, trade unions, and social-democratic policies

Legitimacy (traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal)

The recognized right to rule

traditional (custom), charismatic (personality), rational-legal (laws)

Lower house vs. Upper House

Lower house usually elected and holds primary legislative authority

upper house may be appointed or hereditary with limited power

Nation

A group of people with shared identity, culture, language, or history

Nationalization of industry

Government takeover of private industries

Neo-liberalism

Economic philosophy favoring privatization, deregulation, and reduced government intervention

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Principle that Parliament has ultimate legal authority in the UK

Party system - One party authoritarian, two party, multi-party

The organization of political parties and their competition

Political culture

Shared beliefs, values, and attitudes about politics in a society

Political socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize political norms and beliefs

Populism

Political approach appealing to “the people” versus elites, often simplifying complex issues

Presidential system

A system where the executive is elected separately from the legislature

Privatization

Transfer of state-owned enterprises to private ownership

Procedural/substantive democracy

Procedural

substantive

outcomes reflect citizens’ rights and welfare

Proportional representation

Electoral system allocating seats based on percentage of votes received

Race to the bottom

Countries lowering regulations or standards to attract investment

Referendum

Direct vote by citizens on a specific policy or issue

Regimes

Systems or patterns of governance

Rule of law

Principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to the law

Separation of power

Division of government authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Shadow cabinet/minister

Opposition members in parliamentary systems who scrutinize government ministers

Single Market - Euro

EU initiative allowing free movement of goods, services, capital, and people

Single-member districts (SMDs)

Electoral districts electing one representative each

Sovereignty

Authority of a state to govern itself without external interference

Supranational

Authority or organization above the national level, e.g., EU institutions

Supreme Court (UK, US, RF)

Highest judicial authority in each country

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods

Thatcher, Margaret

UK Prime Minister (1979-1990) known for neoliberal reforms, privatization, and conservative policies

Third Parties - SNP, Sinn Fein, Reform UK, Lib Dems, Green, Dem Unionist, Plaid Cymru

Political parties outside the main two-party system in the UK

Unicameral vs. Bicameral

One legislative chamber vs. two legislative chambers

Unitary State

Centralized state with most power held by the national government

Vote of no Confidence

Parliamentary motion indicating the government no longer has majority support

Welfare state

Government system providing social services such as healthcare, education, and income support

WTO

World Trade Organization, regulates international trade and resolves disputes

Cloture

Procedure to end a filibuster in a legislative body

Political Action Committees

Organizations that raise and spend money to influence elections in the US

Discretionary and Non-Discretionary spending

Discretionary

Non-Discretionary

Mandatory programs like Social Security

Federal Reserve - monetary policy

US central bank managing interest rates, money supply, and inflation

Filibuster

Legislative tactic to delay or block a vote, often used in the US Senate

Interdependence

Mutual reliance between countries economically, politically, or socially

MNCs

Multinational corporations operating in multiple countries

Asymmetrical Federalism

Federal system where different regions have varying levels of autonomy

Democratic Centralism

Governance system in communist states combining centralized authority with nominal democratic decision-making

Civil Society groups and NGOs

Non-governmental organizations advocating for social, political, or environmental causes

Examples of and gov’t crackdowns against Chechnya

Russian government actions against Chechen independence movements, including military intervention and suppression of civil society

Representation/repression/recognition

Ways states manage ethnic or social groups

Crimea

Region annexed by Russia in 2014, leading to international disputes

Decrees

Orders issued by executives with the force of law

Dual Executive - head of gov/state

System where head of government and head of state are separate individuals

Duma

Lower house of the Russian legislature

Federation Council

Upper house of the Russian legislature

Navalny and opposition leaders

Russian political activists challenging Putin’s authority

Nomenklatura

Soviet system of key administrative positions controlled by the Communist Party