Comp Gov U1 Vocab

causation

when a change in variable precipitates a change in another variable

correlation

an association between two or more variables

human development index (HDI)

statistic composite index of indicators, including life expectancy, education, and per capita income

gross domestic product (GDP)

total value of goods and services produced in a country during one year

GDP per capita

total value of goods and services produced in a country during one year divided by population

GDP growth rate

rate at which total value of goods and services produced in a country changes from one year to another

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality within a country

freedom house index

measure of political rights and civil liberties within a country

Corruption perceptions index

a measure of the degree which citizens believe officials use their positions for private gain

fragile states index

measure of the degree to which a state is weak and fragile

state

government with independent legal authority over a population in a particular territory

regime

system (like authoritarian or democratic) that is the framework of government

government

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

regime change

change in fundamental rules and system of government

change in government

change in leaders, without fundamental change in system

liberal democracy

A system with free and fair elections and civil rights and liberties

democratization

transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system

democratic consolidation

process by which a democratic regime matures making it unlikely to become authoritarian

illiberal/procedural democracy or hybrid regime

system that holds contested elections, but with limited competitiveness and minimal civil liberties and transparency

authoritarian state

regime lacking free and fair elections and restricts civil rights and liberties

one party state

state allowing only one party to control government

theocracy

state based on religious rule

totalitarian government

state with complete political, social, cultural control over citizens

military regime

form of government where political power resides with the armed forces, often led by a general

sovereignty

state’s right and power to govern itself without internal or external influence

legitimacy

state’s legitimate right to use power to enforce policies and decisions

nation

group of people with shared traits (like religion or race)

rule of law

principal that a state should not be ruled by arbitrary decisions made by officials, and that no one is above the law

rule by law

when the judicial system makes decisions according to the wishes of government officials, instead of using legal principles

transparency

ability of citizens to see what government is doing, including openness and accountability

corruption

use of an official position for personal gain

revolution

overthrow of the political system with wide popular support

coup

seizure of power from a governemnt, usually by a small group

unitary system

system where power is concentrated at the national level, where the power of subgovernment is not protected

federal system

system where power is divided among different levels of government, with some subgovernment power protected

devolution

when national government delegates power to regional governement

traditional legitimacy

right to rule based on long standing customs and beliefs

charismatic legitimacy

right to rule based on leader’s personality

rational/legal legitimacy

right to rule based on an institutionalized system of laws

private capital

money invested in a business by an individual or a group of individuals

foreign direct investment (FDI)

money invested in a business which is located in another country