Untitled Flashcards Set

Defined Boundary

Created by legal agreements or treaties.

Delimited Boundary

Shown on maps by an agreed-upon line.

Demarcated Boundary

Physically marked boundaries (fences, walls, rivers, etc.).

Definitional Dispute

Conflict over the legal meaning of a boundary.

Operational Dispute

Conflict over boundary enforcement or management.

Allocational Dispute

Conflict over resource use near a boundary.

Territorial Waters

0–12 nautical miles; state has full legal control.

Contiguous Zone

12–24 nautical miles; laws for taxes and customs.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

24–200 nautical miles; access to natural resources.

International Waters

Beyond 200 nautical miles; open for everyone.

Internal Boundaries

Boundaries within states, such as voting districts and school districts.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing boundaries to reflect population shifts.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.

Cracking

Splitting voters across multiple districts to weaken influence.

Packing

Concentrating voters into one district to limit their impact elsewhere.

Unitary State

A government system where power is controlled by the central government.

Federal State

A government system where power is divided between central and smaller units.

Devolution

The transfer of political power to smaller levels of government.

Supranational Organizations

Organizations formed by multiple countries for shared goals.

Sovereignty

A state's ability to govern its own territory independently.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors that divide or destabilize a country.

Centripetal Forces

Factors that unify and strengthen a country.

Failed State

A government that has lost control and cannot provide basic services.

Ethnonationalism

The desire for a group to form its own independent state based on shared identity.

Nation-State

A country with people who share a common language, culture, and identity.

Gerrymandering

Drawing electoral boundaries to benefit a political group.