Comp Gov Vocab

Empirical statement

An assertion of fact that can be proven

Normative statement

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

State

Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory

Government

Institutions and individuals, such as the executive, legislative, 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.

Sovereignty

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

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 of government

Coup d’etat (coup)

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

Revolution

An overthrow of a regime based on widespread popular support

Change in government

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

Nation

A group of people who share a sense of belonging 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

Power

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

Authority

The legitimate power a state has over people within its territory

Coercion

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

Legitimacy

The citizens’ belief that the government has a right to rule

Political efficacy

A citizen’s belief that their actions can impact the government

Traditional legitimacy

The right to rule based on society’s long-standing patterns and practices

Charismatic legitimacy

The right to rule based on personal virtue, heroism, or other extraordinary characteristics

Rational-legal legitimacy

The right to rule based on an accepted set of laws

Stability

Ability of a particular regime to persist in the same form without making major changes, even in the face of internal/external challenges

Subnational governments

Government in towns cities, states, provinces, etc.

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

Asymmetric federalism

A federal state where some state’s provinces have special powers that others do not.

Devolution

Granting of powers by the central government to regional governments

Civil society

Groups that form outside the government’s control

Political culture

Set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics.

Political socialization

Process through which an individual learns about politics and is taught about society’s common political values and beliefs.

Postmaterialism (??)

Set of values in a society where most citizens are economically secure enough to move beyond immediate economic (materialist") concerns to “quality of life” issues like human rights, civil rights, women’s rights, environmentalism, and moral values

Individualism (??)

Belief that people should be free to make their own decisions and the government should not unnecessarily regulate individual behavior or restrict civil liberties

Political idealogy

Individual’s set of beliefs and values about government, politics, and policy

Neoliberalism

Economic ideology. Philosophy favoring economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers

Communism

Economic AND political ideology. Advocates state ownership of all property, with government exercising complete control over the economy

Socialism

Economic ideology (??). Ideology where economic equality is a core value, with the belief that government ownership of major means of production is a way to reduce income inequality within the state

Fascism

Nationalist political ideology where nationalism and primacy of the state are core beliefs. It emphasizes rights of the majority, oppresses the minority, and supports strong authoritarian rule

Totalitarianism

Political ideology (???) that emphasizes domination of state over citizens and where the state has complete control over citizens’ lives

Populism

Political ideology based on the idea that the government should put the rights and interests of the common people above the elites

Formal political participation

Voting in elections and on referendums, contacting government officials, joining political groups, working on a campaign, and donating money to a cause or candidate

Informal political participation

Protest, civil disobedience, and political violence, including terrorism

Protest

Public demonstration against a policy or in response to an event, often targeting the government

Political violence

Use of physical force by non-state actors for political ends

Terrorism

Political violence or the threat of violence that deliberately targets civilians to influence the behavior and actions of the government

Social cleavage

Division based on ethnicity, race, religion, class, or territory

Political cleavage

Division based on different ideas about the role of government and policymaking goals

Ethnic group

Can cause social cleavage; group of people who see themselves as united by one or more cultural attributes or a common history

Race

Can cause social cleavage; group of people socially defined mainly on the basis of perceived common physical characteristic

Social class

Group of people who perceive themselves as sharing a societal status based on a common level of wealth, income, type of work, or education

Interest group

Association of individuals or businesses that attempts to influence the government

Interest group pluralism

System in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside government control. Usually more, smaller interest groups, and multiple may compete for influence on the same issue,

Interest group corporatism

System in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize. Usually fewer, larger, more organized interest groups.

Single-peak association

In corporatist systems. Interest group that brings together all interest groups in a particular sector to influence and negotiate agreements with the government.

Social movement

Group that has loosely defined organizational structure and seeks major socioeconomic or political change through collective action

Grassroots movement

Citizens at the local level banding together to advocate for a cause

Institutions

Executive and bureaucracy, legislature, and judiciary

Executive

Chief political power in a state, usually a president or prime minister

Bureaucracy

A large set of UNELECTED officials who implement the laws

Legislature

Group of lawmakers that passes laws and represents citizens

Judiciary

System of courts that interprets the law and applies it to individual cases

Parliamentary system

System where the executive and legislature are fused.

Prime minister

Head of government in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. The PM is a member of the legislature and 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 (PM)

Representative in legislature elected by citizens

Vote of no confidence

In parliamentary systems, a vote by parliament to remove a government (PM and cabinet) and select a prime minister. PM can also be removed if they lose their individual seat in parliament (uncommon) or if they are replaced by their own party

Presidential system

System in which the executive and legislature are elected independently and have separate and independent powers

Separation of powers

Division of power among the major branches of government

Divided government

When one or both houses of legislature are controlled by a political party other than the party of the president

Semi-presidential system

System that divides executive power between a directly elected president and a prime minister

Head of state

Official representative of country, especially in foreign affairs. Often ceremonial, but the head of state and head of government (???- cant make laws, can they??) are the same person in a presidential system

Head of government

Implements laws and policies; oversees the bureaucracy

Term limit

Restriction on the number of terms the executive may serve

Term of office

Specified number of years an executive can serve

Impeachment

Process of removing a president from office before the end of their term

Cabinet

Heads of major departments or ministries in the bureaucracy

Legislative oversight

Power of the legislature to hold cabinet officials and members of the bureaucracy accountable for their actions and policies

Unicameral legislature

Legislature with one chamber

Bicameral legislature

Legislature with two chambers (often in federal states, but unitary ones can also have a bicameral legislature, with one chamber representing other interests)

Legislative independence

Degree to which a legislature is free to exercise its powers without influence from other branches/institutions. Legislatures should be able to remove executives, approve budgets/extend civil liberties, and oversee the bureaucracy

Judicial review

Authority to overturn laws/executive policies that are unconstitutional

Common law

Legal system where previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases

Code law

Legal system where judges follow the law written by the legislature, and previous court decisions do not serve as precedent

Judicial independence

Ability of judges to decide cases according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions

Electoral system

Formal rules and procedure for selecting the executive or members of the legislature

Plurality system

Candidate with the most votes in a single election, not necessarily the majority, wins

Mandate

Broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

Two-round system

System where second election is held between top two vote-getters in the first election IF there is no majority in the first election

Runoff election

Name for second election in a two-round system

Multimember district system (MMD)

Method for electing members of a legislature where two or more representatives are elected from a district

Single-member district system (SMD)

System for electing members of the legislature where candidate who earn the most votes in a district wins a seat in the legislature

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

Election rule in an SMD system where the candidate with a plurality wins a seat in the legislature

Proportional representation

System for electing members of the legislature where seats are awarded according to the percentage if votes a party receives

Threshold

Minimum percentage of the vote needed to gain representation in legislature

Mixed electoral system

System for electing legislature that includes both single-member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation (voters cast two ballots, one for a district candidate, and one for a party)

Part system

Number and strength of political parties within a state

One-party state

Country where only one party is allowed to control the government

Dominant party system

System where multiple parties exist, but one party dominates the executive branch and wins most of the seats in the legislature

Two-party system

System where only two parties are able to garner enough votes to win an election, though more may compete

Multiparty system

System where more than two parties can win a national election and control the government