Key Terms in AP Comparative Government

Comparative Politics

The study of similarities and differences between states, how different government systems operate, and why political changes occur

Causation

When a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables

Empirical statement

An assertion of fact that can be proven (look at qualitative vs. quantitative data)

Normative statement

A value judgment, usually in the form of a should or ought statement

Human Development Index (HDI)

An aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year (also know: GDP per capita, GDP growth rate)

Gini Index (coefficient)

A measure of income inequality within a country

Freedom House

A nongovernmental organization that advocates for democracy and human rights and measures freedom around the world

Democratic consolidation

The process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism

Corruption

The abuse of official power for personal gain

Corruption Perceptions Index

A measure of how corrupt a system is believed to be

Strong state

A state that is capable of providing necessary government services to its citizens

Failed state

A state that has lost control over all or part of its territory

Fragile state Index

A measure of state strength, highlighting concerns about fragile and failed states

State

Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory

Government

Institutions and individuals, such as the executive, legislature, judiciary, and bureaucracy, that make legally binding decisions for the state and that have the lawful right to use power to enforce those decisions

Sovereignty

A state's ability to act without internal or external interference

International recognition

A formal step taken by a state to grant official status to another state and begin treating it a member of the global community

Regime

A type of government, such as liberal democracy or authoritarian

Regime change

A change in the fundamental rules and system of government

Coup d'etat (coup)

An overthrow of government by a small number of people, often military leaders

Revolution

An overthrow of a regime based on widespread popular support

Change in government

A change in leaders, without fundamental changes in the system of government

Nation

A group of people who share a sense of belonging and who often have a common language, culture, religion, race, ethnicity, political identity, or a set of traditions or aspirations

Nationalism

When a group has a strong sense of identity and believes it has its own destiny

Liberal democracy

A system with free and fair elections in which a wide array of civil rights and liberties is protected

Authoritarian state

A system without free and fair elections in which civil rights and liberties are restricted

Totalitarian state

A type of authoritarian government where the state controls nearly all aspects of citizens' lives

Illiberal, flawed, or hybrid democracy

A system in which elections may be marred by fraud and the state protects some civil rights and liberties but restricts others

Rule of law

A clear set of rules where government officials are subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens

Rule by law

Where the law is applied arbitrarily, and government officials are not subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens

Transparency

The ability of citizens to know what the government is doing

Democratization

The process of transitioning from an authoritarian to a democratic regime

Democratic backsliding

Decline in the quality of democracy, including a decrease in citizen participation, rule of law, transparency, and accountability

Power

The ability to make someone do something they would not otherwise do

Authority

The legitimate power a state has over people within its territory

Theocracy

A system based on religious rule

Coercion

The use of force, or the threat of force, to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do

Legitimacy

The citizens' belief that the government has the right to rule

Political efficacy

A citizen's belief that his or her actions can impact the government

Traditional legitimacy

The right to rule based on a society's long-standing patterns and practices

Charismatic legitimacy

The right to rule based on personal virtue, heroism, or other extraordinary characteristics

Rational-legal legitimacy

The right to rule based on an accepted set of laws

Unitary system

A political system in which the central government has sole constitutional sovereignty and power

Federal system

A political system in which a state's power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government

Devolution

Granting of powers by the central government to regional governments

Patron-Clientelism

When those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support

Head of state

The symbolic representative of a country

Head of government

The key executive in the policymaking process

Sexenio

The single six-year term for the Mexican president

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

A nonprofit group outside the government's control

Bicameral

A legislature with two chambers

Chamber of Deputies

The elected lower house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to pass legislation, levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify elections

Lower house

The legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has more members, shorter terms, and less prestige than the upper house, but it may be the more powerful body in the legislatures

Senate

The elected upper house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in the states

Upper house

The legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has fewer members and may have more prestige but less power than the lower house

Civil society

Groups that form outside the government's control

Mandate

The broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

Mixed electoral system

A system for electing members of the legislature that includes both single-member districts and seat awarded through proportional representation

Single-member plurality system (SMD)

A system in which the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins a seat in the legislature

Proportional representation (PR) system

A system in which seats in the legislature are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives

Corporatism

A system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

Peak association

An organization authorized by the government to represent a group, such as labor, business, or agriculture

Pluralism

A system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control

Political culture

A set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics, and the norms of behavior in the political system

Civil liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government

Civil rights

Protections granted by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions, such as voting

Social cleavage

A division in society among social factors such as ethnicity, class, religion, or language

Political cleavage

A division among citizens according to political beliefs

Economic liberalism

Economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers

Globalization

The increased interconnectedness of people, states, and economies

Protectionist economic policies

Policies designed to protect domestic industry and reduce foreign influence

Nationalized industry

A state-owned company controlled by the government

Import substitution industrialization (ISI)

Enacting high tariffs and providing incentives to encourage the growth of domestic manufacturing

Privatization

When a government transfers ownership and control of a nationalized industry to the private sector

Institutions

The executive and bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judiciary

Executive

The chief political power in a state, usually a president or prime minister

Bureaucracy

A large set of unelected officials who implement the laws

Legislature

A group of lawmakers that passes laws and represents citizens

Judiciary

The system of courts that interprets the law and applies it to individual cases

Parliamentary system

A system in which the executive and legislature are fused

Prime Minister (PM)

The head of government in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In a parliamentary system, the PM is a member of the legislature and is selected by the majority party.

Coalition government

When two or more parties agree to work together to form a majority and select a prime minister

Member of Parliament (MP)

A representative in the legislature elected by citizens

Vote of no confidence

In parliamentary systems, a vote by parliament to remove a government (the prime minister and cabinet) from power

Presidential system

A system in which the executive and legislature are elected independently and have separate and independent powers

Separation of powers

A division of power among the major branches of government

Divided government

When one or both houses of the legislature are controlled by a political party other than the party of the president

Semi-presidential system

A system that divides executive power between a directly elected president and a prime minister

Term limit

A restriction on the number of terms the executive may serve

Term of office

A specified number of years that an executive can serve

Impeachment

The process of removing a president from office before the end of his or her term

Cabinet

The heads of major departments, or ministries, in the bureaucracy

Legislative oversight

The power of the legislature to hold cabinet officials and members of bureaucracy accountable for their actions and policies

Unicameral legislature

A legislature with one chamber

Common law

A legal system in which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases

Code law

A legal system in which judges follow the law written by the legislature, and previous court decisions do not serve as precedent

Judicial independence

The ability of judges to decide cases according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions

Civil-service system

A method of staffing the bureaucracy based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualification, rather than patronage