AP Comp Gov Unit 1

empirical data

based on factual/objective statements and statistics

normative data

based on value judgments or subjective opinions

quantitative data

data that is in numbers

qualitative data

descriptive data

Causation

the belief that events occur in predictable ways and that one event leads to another

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Indicator of level of development for each country, constructed by United Nations, combining income, literacy, education, and life expectancy

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measurement of the total goods and services produced within a country.

GINI Index/Coefficient

shows the distribution of income within a country

Freedom House ratings

an organization that studies democracies around the world and ranks countries from 1 to 7 on a freedom scale, 1 being the most free and 7 being the least free

Transparency International

A private organization that compiles statistics about corruption in countries around the world.

Corruption Perception Index (CPI)

An annual list published by Transparency International that ranks countries by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys

Fragile States Index

(formerly called the Failed States Index) is reported by The Fund for Peace which is a non-governmental organization that assesses and ranks countries based on their potential to weaken due to conflicts and domestic turmoil.

regime

the fundamental rules that control access to and the exercise of political power. typically endure from government to government (could be democratic or authoritarian)

state

political organizations that combine a permanent population with governing institutions to exercise control over a defined territory with international recognition

Nation

a group of people with commonalities including race, language, religion, ethnicity, political identity, and aspirations

nation-state

a sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent.

Government

the set of institutions or individuals legally empowered to make binding decisions for a state

a change of government

A change in leaders, without a fundamental change in the system

regime change

the process through which a democratic government is transformed into an authoritarian government (or vice versa)

Sovereignty

independent legal authority over a population in a particular territory

authority

derived from the state's legitimate right to use power to enforce policies and decisions

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

country

a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.

state institutions

formal organizations and systems established to make and implement public policy, most commonly including legislative, executive, judicial, bureaucratic, and military institutions

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law (elections) or by a state or national constitution

state formation

The historical development of a state, often marked by major stages, key events, or turning points (critical junctures) that influence the contemporary character of the state.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

indepdent variable

what the scientist changes in an experiment

dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

inverse correlation

A relationship in which an increase in one factor corresponds to a decrease in another.

positive correlation

a relationship between two variables in which both variables either increase or decrease together

consolidated democracy

A democratic political system that has been solidly and stably established for an ample period of time and in which there is relatively consistent adherence to core democratic principles.

democratization

the process of creating a government elected by the people

authoritarian

A government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power.

Coup d'etat

A sudden overthrow of the government by a small group

patron client system

Powerful government officials deliver state servicing policies and access to power in exchange for the delivery of political support.

liberal democracy

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

Illiberal Democracy

A procedural democracy, with elections, but without real competition, and lacking some civil rights and liberties.

Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

civil liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

civil rights

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

free and fair elections

Elections are free and open to all citizens of voting age each individuals vote counts the same.

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

limited govenrment

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

free press

a press not restricted or controlled by government censorship regarding politics or ideology

transparency

People must be aware of the actions their government is taking.

universal suffrage

Equal voting rights for all adult citizens of a nation

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

rule by law

law is used as a tool by those in power to govern and control the populace, rather than a system where laws are supreme and apply equally to everyone

hybrid regime

typically features elections and some democratic institutions, but these are undermined by authoritarian practices like media control, political repression, or lack of judicial independence.

theocracy

A form of government in which religious leaders rule or religious laws are used as the basis for governing.

monarchy

A political system where only one political party is allowed to govern, and opposition parties are either banned or heavily restricted.

totalitarian

A political system where the state seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, often through coercion, propaganda, and surveillance.

military regime

A government led by military officials, often coming to power through a coup and ruling without democratic legitimacy.

gender and ethnic quotas

Policies that set minimum representation levels for women or ethnic groups in political bodies or organizations to promote inclusion and diversity.

proportional representation

An electoral system where seats in a legislature are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

republic

A form of government where the country is considered a public matter, and leaders are elected rather than inherited.

constitution

A set of fundamental laws and principles that outline the structure, powers, and limits of a government.

federal system

A system of government where power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state or provincial) governments.

unitary system

A system of government where most or all power is held by a central government, with limited authority given to local or regional governments.

centralized power

A system where decision-making authority is concentrated in a single central body or government, with little or no power delegated to lower levels.

decentralized power

A system where decision-making authority is distributed among multiple levels of government or organizations, allowing local or regional bodies to have control over certain policies or areas.

devolution

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

cleavages

Deep and lasting divisions in society (such as ethnic, religious, or economic) that can influence political alignment and conflict.

supranational organization

Institutions where multiple countries work together and agree to follow shared rules or policies, often giving up some national sovereignty (e.g., the European Union).

constituents

The people represented by an elected official, especially in a specific geographic area or district.

rational-legal legitimacy

A form of authority based on established laws, rules, and procedures, where power is held by officials who are selected and operate according to those rules.

charismatic legitimacy

Authority that arises from the personal charm, appeal, or extraordinary qualities of a leader, inspiring loyalty and devotion from followers.

traditional legitimacy

Authority that is accepted because it is based on long-standing customs, practices, or cultural beliefs, often tied to historical or hereditary leadership.

civil society

The collection of non-governmental organizations, groups, and institutions that represent the interests and will of citizens, operating independently from the government.