COMP GOV VOCAB FULL

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

A statistical concept, when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable.

Correlation

A statistical concept indicating an apparent connection between variables.

Empirical statement

An assertion of fact that can be proven.

Normative statement

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

Quantitative data

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

Qualitative data

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.

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

Democratic consolidation

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

Corruption

The abuse of official power for personal gain.

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.

Fragile States Index

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

State

Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in 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 and implement laws.

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'état (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 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.

Liberal democracy

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

Authoritarian state

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

Totalitarian state

A political ideology that emphasizes domination of the state over citizens. In totalitarian systems, the government has complete control over 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 to 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.

Transparency

The ability of citizens to know what the government is doing.

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 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.

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.

Theocracy

A system based on religious rule.

Coercion

The use of force, or the threat of force, to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do. Also, a government’s use of force or threats to pressure individual behavior.

Legitimacy

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

Political efficacy

A citizen’s belief that his or her actions can impact the government.

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, 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.

Devolution

Granting of powers by the central government to regional governments.

Patron-clientelism

When those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support.

Head of state

The symbolic representative of a country.

Head of government

The key executive in the policymaking process.

Cabinet head

An official appointed to run a government department with a specific policy area.

Sexenio

The single six-year term for the Mexican president.

Nongovernmental organization (NGO)

A nonprofit group outside the government’s control. NGOs usually focus on social or political issues.

Bicameral

A legislature with two chambers.

Chamber of Deputies

The elected lower house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to pass legislation, levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify elections.

Lower house

The legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has more members, shorter terms, and less prestige than the upper house, but it may be the more powerful body in the legislature.

Senate (Mexico)

The elected upper house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in the states.

Upper house

The legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has fewer members and may have more prestige but less power than the lower house.

Civil society

Groups that form outside the government’s control. Civil society includes voluntary organized groups, online activists, and social movements that exist independently of government institutions as well as independent media, unions, and other social and religious groups.

Mandate

The broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies.

Mixed electoral system

A system for electing members of the legislature that includes both single-member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation.

Single-member plurality system (SMP)

A system in which the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins a seat in the legislature.

Proportional representation (PR) system

A system in which seats in the legislature are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives.

Corporatism

A system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize.

Peak association

An organization authorized by the government to represent a group, such as labor, business, or agriculture.

Pluralism

A system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control.

Political culture

A set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics, and the norms of behavior in the political system.

Civil liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government.

Civil rights

Positive actions taken by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions, such as voting.

Social cleavage

A division in society among social factors such as ethnicity, class, religion, or language.

Political cleavage

A division among citizens according to political beliefs about the role of government and policymaking goals.

Economic liberalism

Economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers.

Globalization

The increased interconnectedness of people, states, and economies.

Protectionist economic policies

A policy designed to protect domestic industry and reduce foreign influence on sectors of the economy.

Nationalized industry

A state-owned company controlled by the government.

Import substitution industrialization (ISI)

Enacting high tariffs and providing incentives to encourage the growth of domestic manufacturing.

Privatization

When a government transfers ownership and control of a nationalized industry to the private sector.

Civil-service system

A method of staffing the bureaucracy based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications, rather than patronage.

Welfare state

Government programs to benefit the health and well-being of citizens.

Parliamentary sovereignty

The principle that parliament’s power is supreme and extends over all aspects of the state.

Monarch

A hereditary ruler who serves for life.

House of Commons

The directly elected lower house of Parliament in the United Kingdom, which holds most of the policymaking power.

House of Lords

The unelected upper house of Parliament in the United Kingdom, which has the power to suggest amendments to bills and delay legislation.

Supreme Court

A high court. In the United Kingdom, it cannot overturn acts of parliament but has the authority to protect civil rights and liberties and rule on cases involving devolution.

First-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system

Another term for an SMD plurality system, in which the candidate with the most votes wins the seat in a legislative district. This is also called a winner-take-all system.

Referendum

A vote on a policy issue sent by the government to the people.

Regulated market economy

An economy in which wages, prices, and production are mostly set by supply and demand, with some regulation, and mostly private control of businesses and natural resources.

National Health Service (NHS)

The government-financed and managed health-care system in the United Kingdom.

Austerity measures

The legitimate power a state has over people within its territory.

Institutions

The executive and bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judiciary.

Executive

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

Bureaucracy

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