AP COMP GOV UNIT 1 TEST

Q: What are some sources of political culture change?

A: Events (war, crisis), political leadership, social/economic shifts, and the passage of time.

Q: What is sovereignty?

A: A state's legal right and ability to carry out policies within its territory.

Q: What is the difference between power and authority?

A: Power is the ability to influence behavior, while authority is the legal right to use power.

Q: What factors limit a state’s sovereignty and capacity?

A: Permeable borders, weak institutions, and external influences.

Q: What is legitimacy in government?

A: The public’s belief that the government has the right to rule and exercise authority.

Q: What are the three types of legitimacy?

A: Traditional (historical customs), charismatic (leader’s personality), and rational-legal (rule of law).

Q: What is the difference between a state, a nation, and a regime?

A: A state has sovereignty over a territory, a nation is a group with a shared identity, and a regime is the system of rules governing the state.

Q: What is the difference between a government and a regime?

A: A government is the people in power at a given time, while a regime is the enduring system of political rules.

Q: What are the characteristics of a democracy?

A: Political power through participation, competition, and liberty.

Q: What distinguishes a liberal democracy from an illiberal democracy?

A: Liberal democracies ensure free elections, civil liberties, and rule of law; illiberal democracies may have elections but lack these protections.

Q: What defines an authoritarian regime?

A: A small group of elites holds power without constitutional accountability to the public.

Q: What is totalitarianism?

A: A highly centralized, repressive regime that controls all aspects of life through ideology and violence.

Q: What is a theocracy?

A: A government controlled by religious leaders, where religious law dictates policy.

Q: What is devolution?

A: The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments.

Q: What is the main difference between a unitary and a federal system?

A: A unitary system centralizes power, while a federal system divides power between national and regional governments.

Q: What is the difference between a parliamentary and presidential system?

A: In a parliamentary system, the legislature selects the executive, while in a presidential system, the people elect the executive separately.

Q: What is a vote of no confidence?

A: A legislative vote that can remove a prime minister in a parliamentary system.

Q: What is judicial review?

A: The power of courts to determine the constitutionality of laws and executive actions.

Q: What is the difference between a bicameral and a unicameral legislature?

A: A bicameral legislature has two houses; a unicameral legislature has one.

Q: What is the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system?

A: A winner-takes-all system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.

Q: How does proportional representation (PR) work?

A: Voters select parties rather than individuals, and seats are distributed based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

Q: What is a mixed electoral system?

A: A system that combines elements of both FPTP and proportional representation.

Q: What are the three types of political change?

A: Reform (minor adjustments), revolution (major changes), and coup d’état (sudden leadership change by force).