Comp Gov Unit 1

State

Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population within 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.

Bureaucracy

A set of appointed officials and government workers who carry out policies

E.g. paving roads, building schools, providing retirement pensions

Sovereignty

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

Territory

An area with clearly defined border

International recognition

A formal step taken by a state to grant official status to another state and begin treating it as 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 o government

Coup d'etat

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

Revolution

An overthrow of regime based on widespread popular support

Change in government

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

-Occur more often than regime changes

- Typically peaceful

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 set of traditions or aspirations

Nationalism

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

- Can become a tool to strengthen and unify states

- Can force unwilling people to assimilate to the dominant culture, infringe upon civil gifts, and invade other states

Liberal Democracy

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

- e.g. United Kingdom

Authoritarian State

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

E.g. Russia, China, and Iran

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 o 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.

Free election

All citizens have the right and ability to vote

Fair election

parties are free to form and media is independent

Transparency

The ability of citizens to know what the government is doing

Types of Authoritarian Regimes

One-party, military, personalist, theocratic, and electoral authoritarianism

One-party system

A single political party controls the government and other parties are not allowed to win elections

Military Regime

Leadership is controlled by a high-ranking military official, usually following a coup.

Theocratic regime

Based on religious rule

E.g. Iran

Electoral Authoritiarianism

Opposition parties are allowed to exist and win some elected offices, but the ruling party manipulates electoral rules enough to ensure that it maintains virtually all effective power

E.g. Putin

Democratization

The process of transitioning from an authoritarian to a democratic regime

democratic consolidation

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

Democratic backsliding

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

Comparative politics

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

Comparative method

Examining the same phenomenon in several cases and reaching conclusions

Causation

When a change in one variable precipitates change in another variable

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables

empirical statment

An assertion of fact that can be proven

Normative statement

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

Quantitative

Observations made using statistical techniques, which are often conveyed in charts, graphs, tables, and maps.

Qualitative

Text-based descriptions, including explanations of how government and political institutions function

Source analysis

Reading and analyzing text

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

GDP Per Capita

Gross domestic product divided by population

- Rough estimate of standard of living

- Does not show how wealth is distributed

GDP Growth Rate

The percentage of GDP growth over a period of time

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

Transparency International

A nongovernmental organization devoted to reducing corruption by encouraging transparency and accountability

Corruption

The abuse of official power for personal gain

Grand Corruption

- Highest levels of society

- Significant harm

- Often goes unpunished

Petty Corruption

Everyday abuse of power by government workers in their interactions with citizens

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

- Lack of resources

- Corruption

Fragile States Index

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

- 120 points maximum

Power

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

Authority

The legitimate power a state has over people within its territory

Sources of power/authority

Constitutions, elections, religion, popular support, the military, etc.

External Sovereignty

A state is able to defend its territory without relying too much on other states or international organizations

Internal Sovereignty

A state has the sole authority to make and enforce laws and policies within a territory

Coercion

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

Legitimacy

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

Sources of legitimacy

Political efficacy, a constitution, nationalism, tradition, governmental effectiveness and economic growth, shared ideology, religion.

Political efficacy

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

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, sanctity, 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.

Institutions

The executive and bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judiciary

Executive

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

Legislature

A group of lawmakers that passes laws an 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 cofidence

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

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

- President is head of state, PM is head of government

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

- Prevents an executive from consolidating too much power