AP CoGo Unit 1

Legitimacy

the public accepts the idea that institutions have the right to exist

Comparative politics

The study and comparison of domestic politics across countries

Institutions

Organizations or activities that are self perpetuating and valued for their own sake

Politics

The struggle in a group for power that gives one or more the ability to make decisions for the group

Power

The ability to influence others or impose one’s will onto others

Comparative Method

A way to compare cases and draw conclusions

Correlation

Apparent association, a clear connection between two (or more) groups

Causal Relationship

A cause and effect relationship

Normative statement

A value or opinion

Empirical statement

A fact or objective

Qualitative Methods

Evidence and methodology such as interviews, observations, and archival and other forms of documentary research

Quantitative Methods

Using a wider set of cases without area specialization (numbers, stats)

Formal Institutions

Based on officially sanctioned rules that are relatively clear

Informal Institutions

Unwritten and unofficial rules—still just as powerful

Freedom

An individual’s ability to act independently without fear of restriction or punishment

Equality

A material standard of living shared by individuals in a community, society, or country

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total market value of all goods and services produced in a country over the year

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

Try’s to estimate the buying power of an income in each country by comparing similar costs, uses US prices

Gini Index

A mathematical formula that measures the amount of economic inequality in a society

Human Development Index (HDI)

Looks at the total amount of wealth in a society and its distribution and gives equal weight to income, health (life expectancy), and average years of schooling

Causation

Like causal relationship, something causes something

3 advantages of state

States encourage economic development, technological innovation, and domestic stability

Sovereignty

The ability to rule over a group of people or someone’s rule

Democratic Regime

The rules and norms of politics give the public a l;arge role in governance, certain individual rights and liberties

Nondemocratic Regime

Limits public participation and favors those in power

Government

Institutions that make policies

Concept of a State

An organization that maintains control over a territory

Authority

Government’s right to rule, legitimate right to use power to make decisions. (Government officials have authority, state’s have sovereignty)

Democracy

Political power exercised either directly or indirectly by the people through participation, competition, and liberty

Liberal Democracy

A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty; emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights

Direct Democracy

Public participates directly in governance and policy making (ex. Historic Athens)

Indirect Democracy

Public participates indirectly through elected officials

Authoritarian Regime

Power is invested in a small group without public participation

Rule of Law

Laws being made in a constitutional prescribed manner (democratic)

Rule by Law

Manipulatings rules to their personal advantage (authoritarian)

Difference between democratic and authoritarian regimes

Fair elections, uncensored media, rule of law, etc

Democratization

A transition from authoritarian to democratic

Traditional Legitimacy

Built by habit or custom over time, stresses history and highly institutionalized (ex. Monarch)

Charismatic Legitimacy

Built on the force of ideas and the presence of a leader, weakly institutionalized (ex. Trump)

Rational-Legal Legitmacy

Built on rules and procedures and the offices that create and enforce those rules, strongly institutionalized (ex. Elected offical)

Federal System (Feudalism)

Government holds power but also given to secondary region

Unitary

All political power and authority is central in government

Political Legitimacy

The degree to which a government’s right to rule is accepted by the citizens

Sources of Political Legitimacy

Popular elections, constitutional provisions, nationalism, tradition, ideology, policy effectiveness, economic growth, religious heritage

Sustaining Legitimacy

Government action works, efficacy (people feel like they understand politics), tradition, etc

Political Stability

State goal to maintain sovereignty

Sources of Authority

Institution, government, constitution, and popular vote

How rulers stay in power

Fear, rewards, legitimacy

Symmetric Federalism

All regions have same power

Devolution

Transfer of power or funding from national to local governments (less permanent)

Capacity

Ability to wield power to carry out basic tasks

Autonomy

Ability to wield power independent (sometimes of public)