COGO KVQ (copy)

FREEDOM HOUSE

An independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world; measured by political rights and civil liberties; Not free/Partly Free/Free

NORMATIVE

Making comparisons/classifications based on philosophies, norms or “should” as opposed to drawing conclusions based on facts

EMPIRICAL

A political scientist would use this type of statement to draw conclusions compared to one based solely on opinion or observation

CORRELATION

Exists when there is an association between two or more variables. The idea that if a political system liberalized its economy the political systems liberalize as well

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES/INDUSTRIALZIED DEMOCRACIES/CONSOLIDATED DEMOCRACIES

High per capita GDP, well-developed infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Rapid economic growth, but still rather low per capita GDP, weaknesses in infrastructure, healthcare, and/or education

HDI

A measure of a country’s standard of living, including health and education

GINI INDEX

Aformula that measures economic inequality within a country

STATE

A political system that has sovereignty over a population in a defined territory, including being independent; based on the recognized right to self-determination based on legitimacy

NATION

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

GOVERNMENT

Is more fluid than a regime because of leaders changing via the electoral process

REGIME

Are the more permanent norms about how political power is distributed and used within a political system.

LEGITIMACY

A key concept stressing the degree to which people accept and endorse their regime whether by law, charisma, or tradition

DEMOCRATIC

A regime that adheres to the rule of law, free and fair elections, independence institutions, competition, and an open civil society. Also known as liberal, substantive, consolidated.

AUTHORITARIAN

A regime that restricts civil liberties, using the law and institutions to maintain power, restricts civil society, disregards human rights; Also known as illiberal, hybrid, procedural

THEOCRACY

maintains religious laws and has religious courts to interpret all aspects of law. Rule and authority by religious texts and/or clerics

DEMOCRATIZATION

The transformation process by which a non-democratic state changes to a government that allows free and fair elections. This eventually leads to a greater protection of civil rights and liberties and greater political and economic competition

COUP

The attempt to remove government officials by a small amount of people, typically conducted by military forces as seen in Nigeria post

FEDERAL

A system/power structure where the political power is divided and shared between the national government and regional and or state governments.

UNITARY

A system/power structure where all of the power is geographically held by the central government

COUP

The attempt to remove government officials by a small amount of people, typically conducted by military forces as seen in Nigeria post

REVOLUTION

The overthrow and replacement of a regime based upon broad popular support as seen in Iran by the monarchy becoming a theocracy

DEVOLUTION

British Parliament decentralizing/transferring power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to reduce dissent is an example of

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

As seen in the United Kingdom, the type of executive branch system in which the members of the legislative branch elect the chief executive; known as the head of government

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

As seen in Mexico and Nigeria, the type of executive branch system set up in which the chief executive is elected independent of the legislature; Single executive who serves as both the head of government and the head of state

HEAD OF STATE

Executive branch position. Symbolic leader of a state representing the people; conducts many ceremonial duties.

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT

The executive tasked with running the government, making day to day economic and other political decisions.

CABINET

In parliamentary systems it is the key body that forms policy proposals; In presidential systems, the advisory body is appointed by and can be dismissed by the president

BICAMERAL

A two house legislature. This characteristic of UK, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia's

UNICAMERAL

One house legislature. As seen in Iran and China.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

The method in a parliamentary system to remove the prime minister/cabinet.

IMPEACHMENT

The process provided to legislatures in most presidential systems which provides for the removal of the executive.

JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

Courts should not be subject to improper influence from the other branches of government or from private or partisan interests. By adhering to this principle, the following can foster democracy by protection of civil rights, fair elections, accountability of officials, separation of powers, etc.

RULE OF LAW

A system operating predictably under a known and transparent set of procedural rules; also known as constitutionalism; A necessary part of a liberal democracy. In all disputes, no matter how important or influential the person is, the law is applied

RULE BY LAW

As opposed to judicial decisions, China and other authoritarian regimes use the law unfairly and unpredictably to punish opposition.

JUDICIAL REVIEW

The power of the judiciary to rule on whether laws and government policies are consistent with the constitution or existing laws; Only used when the institution operates independently of other branches

COMMON LAW

Found in the United Kingdom; this legal system is in effect judicial made law/legal precedent that is made by the judge’s rulings

SINGLE MEMBER/FPTP

In an electoral district, a constituency will send 1 member to parliament. If candidate A gets 45% of the votes and candidate B gets 23% of the votes, candidate A wins and is sent to parliament to represent the district in the House of Commons.

TWO PARTY SYSTEM

The United Kingdom’s party system features competition primarily between the Conservative and Labour parties, with first-past-the-post election rules favoring the major parties) Small parties may exist but play no significant role in national electoral outcomes. 

PROPORTIONAL REP

Seen as an electoral system in Mexico and Russia's legislatures. Encourages a multi-party system; an electoral system in which voters select parties rather than individual candidates and parties are represented in legislatures in proportion to the shares of votes they win

MULTIPARTY SYSTEM

As seen in Mexico, a party system with several important political parties, none of which generally gains most of the seats in the national legislature

MAJORITY RUNOFF

In Russia, Iran, and Nigeria, if there is no majority winner in Round 1, the top two candidates with the most votes in Round 1 face off in Round 2.

ONE PARTY DOMINANT

As seen in China, has rules that allow only the Communist Party of China to control governing power to maintain the values of centralism and order while allowing eight other parties to exist to broaden discussion and consultation.

REFERENDUM

National ballot called by the gov’t on a policy issue. Allows the public to make direct decisions about policy. When the people of Scotland were given the direct vote on whether to declare independence from the United Kingdom.

CIVIL SOCIETY

For example, NGO’s, professional associations, trade unions, student groups, women’s groups, religious bodies and other voluntary association groups that operate independently of the government. Can act as a check on state power, therefore, in China, this is not as robust as in the United Kingdom

CLEAVAGES

Factors that separate groups in society; ethnicity as seen in Nigeria and Mexico. Rural and urban divide in China

NGO (INGO)

Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, Red Cross; operate within civil society

POLITICAL CULTURE

History, culture, values, beliefs, traditions that influence political behavior; Defines the public’s expectations toward the political process and its role within the process

PLURALISM

As found in more democratic and free societies; promote competition among autonomous groups not linked to the state. This is a situation in which power is split among many groups that compete for the chance to influence the government’s decision making.

CORPORATISM

Found in more authoritarian regimes, in which the government controls access to policy making by relying on state

POST-MATERIALISM

When citizens value “higher order” concerns, such as improving education and the environment. Beliefs in the importance of policy goals beyond one’s immediate self-interest, as well as one’s prosperity and security

POPULISM

Political philosophy and ideology; appeal to regular people and their right to have control over their government rather than a small group of political insiders or a wealthy elite.

SOCIALISM

belief in the reduction of income disparities and the nationalization of major private industries; UK has a national health care system.

NEOLIBERALISM

An ideology; belief in limited governmental intervention in the economy and society; supports privatization, free trade, deregulation, and the elimination of state subsidies.

INDIVIDUALISM

An ideology; belief in individual civil liberties and freedom supersedes governmental restrictions.

FASCISM

ideology that has extreme nationalist beliefs that favors authoritarian rule and the rights of the ethnic majority over that of ethnic minorities and the political opposition

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION

NATO, European Union, NAFTA, OPEC, United Nations, where member states give up sovereignty

GLOBALIZATION

Including economic networks that are growing more interconnected, a worldwide market with actors unconstrained by political borders, and a reduction in state control over economies

RENTIER STATE

Including Nigeria; obtain a sizable percentage of total government revenue from the export of oil and gas or from leasing the resource to foreign countries.

COMMAND

An economy in which the allocation of resources is centrally made with little regard for supply and demand

MARKET

An economy that relies on the interaction of supply and demand to allocate resources and set prices.

ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION

Occurs when a state reduces its economic role and embraces free market mechanisms such as eliminating subsidies and tariffs, privatizing government owned industries, and opening the economy to foreign direct investment.

COMMUNISM

Advocates for a takeover of all resources and abolishing private property to ensure true equality.

AUSTERITY

Measures taken by governments to reduce their growing budget deficits.