AP Gov Test 1

Causation

change in one variable directly causes change in another variable

correlation

relationship in which two variables change together, but one does not necessarily cause the other

empirical statement

claim based on observable, measurable evidence that can be tested

normative statement

claim based on values or opinions about what should be

HDI (Human development Index)

measure of development based on life expectancy, education, income

GDP

total value of goods and services produced within a country during a given period

Gini Index

measure of income inequality; higher = greater inequality

Freedom House

organization that evaluates countries based on political rights and civil liberties

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)

index measuring perceived public-sector corruption; higher = less perceived corruption

Fragile States Index

index measuring how vulnerable a state is to instability, conflict, and institutional breakdown

Failed State

state whose government can no longer effectively control territory, maintain order, or provide basic services

State

political organization with a defined territory, permanent population, government, and sovereignty

Government

the people and institutions that make, implement, and enforce public policy

regime

the rules, institutions, and practices that determine how political power is gained or exercised

democracy

regime in which citizens influence government through competitive elections and political participation

Authoritarianism

regime in which political power is concentrated and citizens have limited political freedoms and competition

Liberal democracy

democracy w/ free and fair elections, rule OF law, civil liberties, protection of minority rights

Illberal /Hybrid Democracy (Procedural)

system with some democratic institutions, such as elections, but weak civil liberties, rule of law, or political competition (focuses on LOOKING but not acting like a democracy)

Nation

group of people who share common identity (cuture, language, history, ethniciy)

Quantitative Data

information expressed using numbers or measurable quantities

Qualitative Data

non-numerical information describing characteristics, experiences, behaviors, or ideas

Democratic Consolidation

process by which democracy becomes stable, institutionalized, broadly accepted

Rule of Law

principle that EVERYONE, including government officials, is subject to and constrained by the law

Power

ability to influence behavior, decisions, or political outcomes

Authority

the recognized and legitimate right to exercise power

Sovereignty

a state’s supreme authority over its territory and domestic affairs

Society

the population of a state and the social relationships, groups, and institutions within it

Political Institutions

organizations and rules that structure political behavior and decision making

Coup d’etat

a sudden and usually illegal seizure of government power by a small group, often military or political elites

Revolution

a mass movement that cuases fundamental and often rapid change to the political or social realm

Political reform

gradual or deliberate change to political institutions or policies without overthrowing the entire system

Purchasing Power Parity

method of COMPARING economies by adjusting for differences in the cost of goods and services

Federal System

system in which power is constitutionally divided between national and regional governments

Unitary System

system in which central govt holds ultimate political authority

Devolution

the transfer of political powers from the central government to regional or local governments

Central Government

the national level government with authority over the country as a whole

Subnational government

a government below the national level, such as a state, province, region, or municipality

Asymmetric Federalism

federal system in which some regions have different or greater powers than others

Legitimacy

the public’s belief that a government or ruler has the right to govern

Rational-legal Legitimacy

legitimacy based on laws, constitutions, rules, and formal institutions

traditional legitimacy

based on long-established customs, traditions, or hereditary authority

charismatic legitimacy

based on personal qualities or appeal of a leader

performance legitimacy

legitimacy gained because the government produces desirable results such as economic growth or stability

transparency

degree to which government deciisons, actions, and information are open and accessible to the public

strong state

a state with effective institutions that can enforce laws, maintain order, control territory, and provide services

anarchism

the absence or rejection of centralized governmental authority

independent media

news media that can operate w/o government control or censorship

political stability

the ability of a political system to maintain order and function w/o major disruption or regime breakdown

rule BY law

when rulers use laws to control society but are not themseves meaningfully constrained by those laws

Transitional Democracy

political system moving from authoritarian rule toward democracy, where democratic instituions are not yet fully established