Comp Pol Chapter 3 Vocab: Mexico

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

Cabinet head

An official appointed to run a government department with a specific policy area

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 legislature

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 seats 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