APCOGO Key Vocabs to know

Power

The ability to influence or control the behavior of others.

Authority

The legitimate or recognized right to exercise power.

Legitimacy

The citizens' belief that their government has the right to use power or authority in the way that they do.

Political Stability

The state of a country where the government and political institutions are strong, and there is a general absence of major conflicts, social unrest, or changes in leadership.

Political System

The laws, ideas, and procedures that address who should have the authority to rule and what the government's influence on its people and economy should be.

Correlation

A relationship between two or more variables where a change in one variable is generally associated with a change in another variable, but does not have direct causal link.

Causation

A relationship between cause and effect, where one variable directly influences or brings about changes in another variable.

Freedom

The absence of constraints or restrictions on individuals or groups to act or express themselves as they desire.

Empirical Data

Information gathered through direct observation, experience, or experiment, rather than through theory or speculation.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite measure of a country's development, considering factors such as life expectancy, education, and income.

Gini Index (coefficient)

A statistical measure of income inequality within a country, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (maximum inequality).

Freedom House

An organization that assesses civil rights and civil liberties worldwide, providing rankings and reports on the state of freedom in different countries.

Transparency International

A non-governmental organization that publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking countries based on perceived levels of governmental corruption.

Failed States Index

A report that assesses the vulnerability and stability of countries based on social, economic, political, and military indicators.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year, used as a measure of economic activity.

GDP per Capita

The average economic output per person in a country, representing the total economic activity divided by the population.

GDP Growth Rate

The percentage change in the country's total economic output over a specific period, typically measured annually.

Nation

A group of people who share a common identity, such as language, culture, or history.

State

A political organization that has a permanent population, governing institutions, a defined territory, and sovereignty.

Regime

A set of formal/fundamental rules or institutions that run a country and endure through changes in government.

Democracy

A form of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise it through free and fair elections.

Authoritarianism

A form of government characterized by strong centralized power and limited political freedoms.

Government

The group of individuals and institutions responsible for making and implementing public policies and decisions.

Governmental Transparency

The extent to which government actions, decisions, and processes are open, accessible, and accountable to the public.

Governmental Corruption

The abuse of public office or position for personal gain, often involving bribery, embezzlement, or nepotism.

Illiberal Democracy

A political system that appears democratic on paper but in reality there are restrictions on civil liberties, media freedom, and a lack of free and fair elections.

Theocracy

A system of government where religious authorities hold divine authority to govern and religious laws influence political decision-making.

Military Regime

A form of government where military officials have significant control over political and administrative decisions.

Transitional Democracy

A country that is in the process of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system.

Consolidated Democracy

A stable and well-functioning democratic system where the country has progressed to the point that it is unlikely to revert back to authoritarianism.

Democratization

The process of transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a democracy.

Sovereignty

The supreme authority and power of a state to govern itself and make decisions within its territorial boundaries.

Internal Actors

Individuals, groups, or institutions within a country that influence and participate in the political processes and decision-making.

External Actors

Individuals, organizations, or countries from outside a country's borders that influence or participate in its political affairs.

Coup d'etat

The sudden, violent overthrow of a government, often by the military or a faction within the existing power structure.

Separatist Movement

A political or social movement seeking to gain independence or autonomy for a specific region within a country.

Consensus

A general agreement or harmony among a group of people or within a society.

Coercion

The use of force, threats, or intimidation to compel someone to act against their will.

Failed State

A state that is unable to provide essential services to its citizens, maintain law and order, or exercise control over its territory.

Federal System/Federalism

A system of government where power must be divided between a central government and regional governments.

Unitary System

A system of government where all power is concentrated in a central government.

Asymmetric Federalism

A federal system where different regions or states within a country have varying degrees of autonomy and power.

Devolution

The transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from a central government to regional or local governments in a unitary system.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural, historical, or social identity based on common language, traditions, customs, and sometimes ancestral heritage.

Citizen

A legally recognized member of a nation or state, entitled to certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities.

Parliamentary System

A system of government where the executive and legislative branches are closely intertwined and the executive is chosen by the parliament.

Presidential System

A system of government where the executive branch, headed by a president, operates independently of the legislature.

Semi-Presidential System

A system of government that combines elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems, with a president and a prime minister sharing executive powers.

Coalition Government

A government formed by multiple political parties, typically when no single party has a majority in the legislative body.

Head of Government

The highest-ranking executive official who holds the primary responsibility for governing a country and oversees civil service.

Head of State

The highest-ranking executive official in a country who represents the nation and holds ceremonial powers.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental powers and functions among different branches to prevent the concentration of power in a single branch.

Fusion of Powers

A system where the executive and legislative branches are closely intertwined, with members of the executive often being members of the legislature.

Term Limits

The legal restrictions on the number of terms an individual can serve in a political office.

Direct/Popular Mandate

The authority and legitimacy granted to an elected official when a majority of citizens support their policies.

Vote of No Confidence

A parliamentary procedure where the legislative body expresses its lack of confidence in the government and, if passed, removes them from power.

Impeachment

A formal process in which charges are brought against a high-ranking government official for alleged misconduct or violation of their duties.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislative body with only one house or chamber.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body with two houses or chambers.

Executive Authority

The power and responsibility to enforce laws and administer the affairs of the state.

Legislative Authority

The power to make laws and create or amend legislation.

Legislative Independence

The freedom of a legislative body to enact laws without undue influence or control by the executive branch.

Judicial Authority

The power to interpret and apply laws, administer justice, and settle disputes.

Judicial Independence

The freedom that judges and courts have from undue influence or control by other branches of government or powerful interests.

Judicial Review

The legal principle that grants the judiciary the power to review laws and executive actions and rule them unconstitutional.

Civil Society

A range of voluntary citizen associations that are independent from the state.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Private, non-profit organizations that operate independently from the government and aim to address social, environmental, or humanitarian issues.

Political Efficacy

The belief and perception that individuals can influence political processes and decisions.

Political Ideology

A set of values and beliefs about the goals of government, public policy, or politics.

Individualism

The belief in individual civil liberties and freedom over governmental restrictions.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by the private ownership of resources and the pursuit of profit through free market competition.

Neoliberalism

The belief in limited governmental intervention in the economy supporting free trade and privatization.

Communism

The belief in the abolition of private property with near total governmental control of the economy.

Populism

A belief that supports the interests and rights of the common people over that of the elites.

Democratic Socialism

The belief in the reduction of income inequality and the nationalization of major private industries.

Fascism

The extreme nationalist ideology that favors authoritarian rule and the rights of the ethnic majority over that of ethnic minorities and the political opposition.

Political Culture

The collective values and beliefs of the citizenry and the norms of behavior in the political system.

Political Values/Beliefs

The principles and standards that individuals consider important in the realm of politics, guiding their political opinions and actions.

Political Participation

The involvement of individuals in activities and processes that shape political decision-making and governance.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals acquire political knowledge, beliefs and values, usually influenced by family, education, media, and their social environment.

Rule of Law

The principle that everyone, including individuals and the government, is subject to and accountable to the law.

Rule by Law

A system where laws are used to target opposition and serve the interests of those in power who are not accountable to the laws.

Post-Materialism

A theory that suggests a shift in values from material needs to post-materialist concerns such as individual freedoms, quality of life, and environmental sustainability.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections and referendums.

Referendum

A direct vote in which the electorate participates to decide on a specific policy issue or constitutional matter.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental individual freedoms protected by law, such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and privacy.

Civil Rights

Legal protections against discrimination and the rights of individuals to participate fully in political, social, and economic life.

Political or Social Cleavage

Divisions or conflicts within a society along political lines, often related to religious, ideological, or geographical differences.

Electoral System

A set of rules and procedures used to determine the results of an election.

Direct Election

A voting process in which individuals directly cast their votes for a specific candidate or proposal, without any intermediaries.

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a region wins the election, regardless of whether they have obtained a majority.

Single-Member Districts

An electoral system in which a region or district elects a single representative to the legislature.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which seats in the legislature are allocated to political parties in proportion to the votes they receive.

Appointment System

A method of selecting individuals for positions within government or judiciary instead of using an election.

Electoral Regulatory Organization

An independent body responsible for overseeing and regulating electoral processes and ensuring elections are free, fair, and competitive.

Majoritarian Rule

A system where candidates or initiatives must receive 50% + 1 of the votes in order to be elected.

Plurality

A voting system where the candidate or party that receives the most votes, but not necessarily a majority, wins the election.

Political Party

An organized group of individuals with shared political goals, interests, and ideologies, aiming to gain political power and influence policy.

Catch-all Party

A political party that seeks to appeal to a broad range of voters by adopting policies and positions that appeal to different segments of society.

Multiparty System

A political system in which multiple political parties exist and can compete for power and representation.