AP Comp Gov Terms

State

Political institutions with a monopoly of force over a territory.

Nation A psychological sense of identity based on shared ethnicity, language, history, or culture.

Government Leadership/elite that administers or controls the state.

Legitimacy The people’s belief that the government has the right to rule.

Rational/Legal Legitimacy Based on a fair and understandable system of laws applied to everyone.

Traditional Legitimacy Based on customs or historical precedent.

Charismatic Legitimacy Based on a ruler’s engaging personality.

Strong State Performs tasks like defending borders and authority, maintains rule of law.

Weak State Struggles to protect borders, enforce laws, and provide basic services.

Failed State Complete loss of legitimacy and power; high levels of violence/anarchy.

Unitary System All power is held by the central government; state power is limited.

Federal System Power is shared between national and state governments; states retain some authority.

Devolution The process of granting more power from the national government to states.

Political Regime Norms and rules of governmental power; also refers to government system stability across leaders.

Democratic Regime Large public role in governance, protects rights/freedoms, transparency, rule of law, accountability.

Authoritarian Regime Limits public participation, denies rights, restricts freedoms, weak accountability.

Hybrid Regime Combines elements of democratic and authoritarian systems.

Regime Change A total change in the type of government a state follows.

Executive Branch Carries out laws and policies; includes Head of State and Head of Government.

Head of State (HOS) Symbolic, represents people nationally/internationally, voices regime goals.

Head of Government (HOG) Handles day-to-day operations of government.

Legislature Makes laws; can be bicameral (two houses) or unicameral (one house).

Judiciary Interprets laws; can be common law or code law systems; has judicial review.

Judicial Review The judiciary’s ability to overturn unconstitutional laws or executive actions.

Parliamentary System Head of Government elected from legislature; Head of State separate (monarch or official).

Presidential System President is both HOS and HOG; directly elected by citizens.

Semi-Presidential System President and Prime Minister share powers; President directly elected.

Proportional Representation (PR) Seats awarded to parties based on percentage of votes.

Single Member District (SMD/FPTP) One seat per district; only winner’s votes count.

Mixed Electoral System Combines PR and SMD; voters have two votes (candidate + party).

Authoritarian State Elections not free/fair; civil rights limited; includes dictatorships, monarchies, military regimes, one-party states, theocracies, illiberal regimes.

Theocracy State led by religious rulers.

Illiberal/Procedural Democracy Elections not fully free/fair or lack some civil rights/liberties.

Communism Government based on Marx’s writings; aims for economic equality; usually one-party.

Totalitarian Regime Uses force and ideology to control society; exalts a leader.

Personality Cult State glorification of a leader.

Corporatism Large businesses/labor unions included in policymaking; limits smaller actors.

Clientelism Leaders provide favors to individuals/groups for support.

Rentier/Rent-Seeking State Government earns revenue by renting resources to other countries.

Co-Optation Absorbing or compromising groups to gain support.

Political Party Organization with specific beliefs, policies, and vision for a state.

Suffrage The right to vote.

Civil Society Organizations outside government that advance interests.

Grassroots Movement Ordinary citizens pushing for reform.

Revolution Overthrow of a government with broad popular support.

Coup Change of leadership by a small group, often military.

Ethnicity Attributes making a group culturally distinct (customs, language, religion, history).

Political Culture Patterns and norms of relating to politics, including trust, civic knowledge, and efficacy.

Nationalism Belief that a group has its own unique destiny, often wanting a separate state.

Democratization Transition from authoritarian to liberal democracy.

Liberal/Substantive Democracy Free and fair elections; protects civil rights and liberties.

Transparency Citizens’ ability to see government actions.

Civil Rights Protections granted to prevent discrimination.

Civil Liberties Protections against government infringement (e.g., free speech).

Political Ideology Individual beliefs about government roles.

Political Socialization Process of acquiring political beliefs and behaviors.

Pluralism Multiple groups competing in policy-making.

Political Attitudes Views on society and change (Conservative, Liberal, Reactionary, Radical).

Liberalism Favors individual freedom, minimal government intervention, low equality.

Communism (Ideology) Favors economic equality, low freedom.

Social Democracy Regulates capitalism with laws and taxes for social good.

Regulated Democracy High equality and individual rights with government oversight.

Fascism Merges corporations with politics, rejects equality, hostile to individual freedom.

Anarchism Low government, high personal freedom, often violent.

Fundamentalism Religious unity with the state (Christian, Muslim).

Political Cleavage Division over policy issues.

Cross-Cutting Cleavages Different groups join together, strengthening society.

Coinciding Cleavages Groups divided on multiple issues, weakening society.

Political Recruitment Process of selecting current and potential leaders.

Referendum Legislative measure sent to citizens for approval.

Economy Wealth and resources of a country/region, production and consumption of goods/services.

Political Economy Relationship between government policies and the economy.

Economic Liberalization Move toward free market by reducing tariffs, barriers, and government control.

Market Economy Prices, wages, and production determined by supply and demand; less government interference.

Command Economy Government controls wages, prices, production; private property limited.

Social Expenditures Government support for citizens (unemployment, education, healthcare).

Public Goods Government-provided goods/services (roads, water, electricity).

Dependency Theory Colonial legacy causes economic/political dependence for former colonies.

Structural Adjustment Programs requiring tax reduction and spending cuts to improve budgets.

Post-Materialism Societies focus on higher goals once basic needs are met.

Globalization Increasing interconnectedness of the world politically, economically, and socially.

Sovereignty Government’s ability to rule without internal/external influence.

Developed Country High GDP per capita, high HDI, service-based economy, rights protected.

Developing Country Emerging economy, improving rights and freedoms.

Underdeveloped Country Low GDP per capita, agricultural economy, limited rights/freedoms.

Least Developed Country Poorest countries with weak states and high social violence.

Multinational Corporation (MNC) Company operating in multiple countries.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Investment by foreign entities in domestic companies.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Independent organization providing services or advocacy.

Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) Organization of multiple governments cooperating on issues.

Normative Statement Judgment about what should be.

Empirical Statement Verifiable fact.

Causation Change in one variable causes change in another.

Correlation Apparent connection between variables.

HDI (Human Development Index) Measures life expectancy, birth/death rates, education, quality of life.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) Total value of goods/services produced.

GDP per capita GDP divided by population.

Gini Index Measures income inequality.

Freedom Index Measures civil rights and liberties.