Comprehensive Political System and Electoral System Terms for Study

Proportional Representation System

An electoral system in which citizens vote directly for parties which receive seats in the legislature in proportion to their votes.

Political Socialization

The process of gaining your political beliefs and values through family, education, media, or government direction.

Sovereignty

The recognized authority to rule a territory or people without outside interference and a monopoly of coercion.

Political Participation

Formal activities include voting, running for office, and joining political parties that allow citizens to influence the government.

Head of Government

The secondary executive responsible for running the government and overseeing the implementation of domestic and economic policies.

Civil Service

Non-partisan employees of government departments who implement the public policy and are part of a bureaucratic hierarchy.

Political Culture

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

Social Cleavage

Divisions within a country based on elements of identity like ethnicity, language, culture, religion, region, age, and class.

Judicial Independence

The principle that courts and judges operate free from political interference, allowing them to interpret and apply laws impartially.

Cabinet

Appointed executive officials who head government departments, advise the chief executive, and implement policies passed by the legislature.

Unitary System

A political arrangement in which all sovereignty lies with the central government to rule over the regions.

Corporatist Interest Group System

Where a few interest groups have exclusive access or are controlled by the government to create government policy.

Illiberal Democracy

A country that follows the form of democracy with constitutional structure and elections but without protected civil liberties.

Political Ideology

A system of beliefs about humanity, society, and government.

Presidential System

A system of government where the executive is separate from and independent of the legislature.

Globalization

The increasing economic interdependence between countries that result in cultural, political, and technological diffusion.

Democratic Regime

A government characterized by meaningful electoral competition, protection of civil liberties, and checks on executive power.

State

A country with sovereign political institutions that rule over recognized borders and permanent population.

Supranational Organization

An international organization in which members must give up a degree of sovereignty for the common benefit.

Consolidated Democracy

A system that has matured in its democratic principles, liberties, institutions, and practices.

Single-Member District System

An electoral system where voters choose a representative for a geographic district in which the winner gets a plurality of the vote.

Federalism

The constitutional division of power between central and regional governments to give more regional autonomy.

Head of State

Chief executive who represents and symbolizes the country as a whole.

Authority

The power and capacity to make binding decisions and command obedience within a political system.

Political Legitimacy

The perceived rightful authority to rule a country.

Demographic Change

Shifts in population structure over time in terms of age, gender, migration, or social class.

Parliamentary System

A system of government where the executive is selected and accountable to the legislature.

Pluralist Interest Group System

Many autonomous interest groups compete with each other and have open access to the government.

Rule of Law

The restriction of government and private powers to the authority of legal principles.

Civil Rights

Legal protections ensuring equal treatment under law regardless of group membership.

Civil Liberties

Freedoms of the people that should be protected by or from the government.

Political Efficacy

The ability of the people to understand how the government functions and believe that they can influence government action.

Regime

A system of governance that creates enduring political institutions with formal and informal rules.

Political Stability

The ability of a political system to endure crises without the threat of regime change.

Corruption

Dishonest abuse of political power for personal gain.

Party System

The power, influence, or strength of political parties and the degree of competition between them.

Government Transparency

The ability of citizens to observe the government's policy making process.

Democratization

The ongoing process of transition from an authoritarian regime toward democratic governance.

Economic Liberalization

Freeing the economy from government influence through reduced taxation, regulation, and spending.

Civil Society

Collection of voluntary associations and non-governmental organizations that act on their interests.

Political Institution

A formal established part of the government or political process that lasts beyond the people who occupy it.

Authoritarian Regime

A government that restricts political rights and civil liberties and uses coercion to enforce authority.

Social Movement

A large group of people collectively calling for political or social change.