Unit 1 Comp Gov terms (Miller)

Unit 1 vocab for Comp gov 2025

Empirical Statements

describe what is going on without bias or opinion. They just state it exactly how it is.

Normative Statements

A statement that inserts an opinion or value judgment into it.

GDP

All of the businesses (goods and services) produce within a country. 

GDP per capita

GDP divided by the population (could be heavily skewed though).

Gini Coefficient

A statistical value that measures the income or wealth distributions. (used to measure inequality). Example: USA 41.8

Freedom House

An American non-governmental organization that researches and advocates for democracy, human rights, and political freedom globally.

Transparency International

A global, non-profit organization that works to end corruption by promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity.

Fragile States Index

An annual ranking of countries based on their vulnerability to conflict and instability, as well as their capacity to provide basic services and maintain the rule of law.

State

A political entity that has a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the ability to enter into relations with other states.

Regime

Refers to the set of rules, institutions, and practices that govern a country or a political system. It includes the type of government, the distribution of power, and the relationship between the government and its citizens.

Government

Refers to the group of people who are responsible for making and enforcing laws and policies in a country or a political system. It includes the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Authoritarianism

It is a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or a small group of individuals. It often involves the suppression of individual rights and freedoms, censorship of the media, and the use of force to maintain control.

Democracy

It is a system of government in which power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. It emphasizes the importance of individual rights, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.

Illiberal Democracy

a governing system that "hides its nondemocratic practices behind formally democratic institutions and procedures".

One-Party State

a country or system of government where only a single political party is legally permitted to hold power.

Theocracy

These are regimes in which power is held by religious leaders or institutions. Examples include Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Totalitarian government

a form of government that seeks to control all aspects of its citizens' lives, including the political, social, and economic spheres.

Military Regime

a system of rule where military authorities control the government, often arising from a military coup, political instability, or the administration of occupied territory

Democratic Consolidation

the process by which a newly established democracy becomes so stable and established that it is unlikely to regress to authoritarianism, with all major political actors accepting the democratic framework as the only legitimate form of government

Liberalism

a political and moral philosophy centered on individual rights, liberty, and the consent of the governed.

Sovereignty

the supreme and absolute right of a nation or state to govern itself, free from external control, and to have authority over its own people and territory.

Revolution

a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures.

Coup d’etat

the illegal and often violent overthrow of a government, usually by a small group of elites or the military, to seize power

Federal System

divides governmental power between a national (federal) government and state governments

Unitary System

a form of government where a central authority holds supreme power, with sub-national governments (like states or provinces) having only the powers delegated by the central government and lacking constitutional autonomy.

Confederate System

a form of government where independent states or member nations unite under a weak central authority, retaining most of their power and sovereignty

Devolution

the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by the central government to local or regional administration.

Traditional Legitimacy

Based on the belief that the government has the right to rule because it has always done so. This is often associated with monarchies and other hereditary systems.

Rational-Legal Legitimacy

Based on the belief that the government has the right to rule because it was established through a legal process, such as a constitution or election. This is often associated with modern democracies.

Charismatic Legitimacy

a form of leadership and authority that derives from a leader's extraordinary personal qualities, such as their innovative ideas or powerful persona, which inspire devotion and loyalty in followers

Cult-of-personality

the result of an effort which is made to create an idealized and heroic image of an admirable leader, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.