POL SCI 124 review

What is the makeup of Britain?

Scotland, Wales, England, N. Ireland

Welfare State

Provides benefits, healthcare, and unemployment assistance

Insularity

Culturally closer to the US than Europe

Sources of Power

Unwritten constitution, democratic & parliamentary system

Free Market Economy

Economic system promoting personal wealth creation

Protestant Dominant

Historical religious influence, Martin Luther, Henry 8th

Unitary System

Centralized government with limited federalism

Devolution

Increasing powers to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Collective Responsibility

PM & cabinet's duty to govern collectively

Bicameral Legislature

Two-house system with House of Commons as real power

Shadow Cabinet

Opposition party's cabinet ready to replace

Plurality

Winner-takes-all system promoting a two-party setup

Supreme Court

Highest court, no power of judicial review before 2005

Mao Tse-tung

Leader of China 1949-1976, implemented Maosim

Deng Xiaoping

Introduced Socialist Market Economy post-Mao era

Hu Jintao

Served as General Secretary of the Communist Party (2002-2012)

Wen Jiabao

Premier of China (2002-2012), oversaw economic growth

Xi Jinping

Current leader of China, made it possible to rule indefinitely

Politburo

Selects the leader of China, not elected by the people

Communist Party

True source of power in China, approves all government decisions

Rule of Law

Everyone must abide by the law, no one is above it

Tiananmen Square massacre

1989 protests suppressed, showing govt. intolerance

Cleavages

Divisions in society, like urban-rural and ethnic divides

Hong Kong

Operates under 'One country, Two systems' with China

Taiwan

Debate whether it is part of China or not

Empirical v. Normative

Distinguishing between fact-based and judgment-based statements

Sovereignty

State's ability to rule and implement policies within its borders

Nations

Groups sharing a common political identity

Nationalism

Extreme pride in one's country or ethnic group

Democracies

Political systems where citizens vote for representatives

Presidential System

Citizens vote for legislative and executive representatives

Legislative rep

Individuals responsible for making laws

Executive

Head of state such as president, prime minister, or dictator

Supreme Court

Part of the judicial branch in democracies

Checks and balances

System preventing concentration of power in one branch

Parliamentary Systems

Form of government where parliament has legislative power

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Parliament holds ultimate authority in governance

Authoritarian Regimes

Ruled by small elite groups with limited citizen input

Political and Economic Change

Different types of change including reform, revolution, and coup d'etats

Radicalism

Advocating rapid and drastic change

Liberalism

Supporting progressive reform

Conservatism

Desire to maintain the existing status quo

Reactionary

Wishing to return to past traditions or systems

Command v Market Economy

Contrasting state-controlled and capitalist economic systems

Federal System

Government with multiple levels of authority

Supranational

International organizations with multiple member states

Electoral System

Methods for electing representatives such as first-past-the-post or proportional representation

Purchasing Power Parity

Comparing citizens' purchasing power across different currencies

Gini Index

Measuring economic inequality in a society on a scale from 0 to 1

Human Development Index (HDI)

Indicator of citizens' well-being using factors like literacy and life expectancy

Population of Iran

89 million

Urban Population Percentage

77% of the population lives in urban areas

Iran’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

$21,000 GDP per capita, ranking 78th in purchasing power

Muslim Population

89 million Muslims in Iran, constituting 99% of the population, with 89% being Shia

Size Comparison

Slightly larger than Alaska, ranking as the 18th largest country

Executions

314 executions carried out in Iran, ranking 2nd in the world

Stoning

A form of punishment still utilized in Iran

Authoritarianism

Political system characterized by centralized control and limited political freedoms

Totalitarianism

A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God

Unicameral

A legislative body with a single chamber

Majlis

The Iranian Parliament, democratically elected by the people, with the power to enact laws

Guardian Council

A body responsible for ensuring legislation complies with Islamic principles and the Iranian Constitution

Jurist Guardianship

Concept where Islamic jurists have authority over the people

Ayatollahs

Title for Shi'a experts in Islamic studies, influential in Iranian politics

OPEC Membership

Iran is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Bonyades

Religious foundations in Iran that contribute to about half of the country's budget

Sharia Law

Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet

Population of Iran

89 million

Urban Population Percentage

77% of the population lives in urban areas

Iran’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

$21,000 GDP per capita, ranking 78th in purchasing power

Muslim Population

89 million Muslims in Iran, constituting 99% of the population, with 89% being Shia

Size Comparison

Slightly larger than Alaska, ranking as the 18th largest country

Executions

314 executions carried out in Iran, ranking 2nd in the world

Stoning

A form of punishment still utilized in Iran

Authoritarianism

Political system characterized by centralized control and limited political freedoms

Totalitarianism

A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God

Unicameral

A legislative body with a single chamber

Majlis

The Iranian Parliament, democratically elected by the people, with the power to enact laws

Guardian Council

A body responsible for ensuring legislation complies with Islamic principles and the Iranian Constitution

Jurist Guardianship

Concept where Islamic jurists have authority over the people

Ayatollahs

Title for Shi'a experts in Islamic studies, influential in Iranian politics

OPEC Membership

Iran is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Bonyades

Religious foundations in Iran that contribute to about half of the country's budget

Sharia Law

Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet