AP Comparative Government Unit 1 Vocabulary

Empirical Data

Fact-based information derived from observation or experimentation, which can be measured and verified through systematic methods.

Normative Data

Information that describes what should be or what is considered ideal according to societal norms or standards, involving the evaluation of political behavior or outcomes against established criteria.

Quantitative Data

Numerical information that can be measured and analyzed using statistical methods.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical information that focuses on qualities, characteristics, and descriptions.

Causation

A cause-and-effect relationship between two or more variables, where changes in one variable directly result in changes in another.

Correlation

A statistical relationship between two variables where changes in one variable are associated with changes in another variable (does not imply causation).

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite statistic used to measure the overall development level of countries based on key dimensions of human well-being, including health, education, and standard of living.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific period, such as a quarter or a year.

GDP Per Capita

A measure of a country's economic output divided by its total population, representing the average economic production value attributed to each individual within the country.

GDP Growth Rate

The percentage change in a country's real gross domestic product (GDP) from one period to another, typically a year or a quarter.

Gini Coefficient

AKA The Gini Index. A measure of income inequality within a population, used to compare the distribution of income or wealth across different societies or over time.

Freedom House

An independent, U.S.-based non-governmental organization that monitors political rights and civil liberties worldwide.

Failed States Index

AKA Fragile States Index. A tool used in comparative government to rank countries (0-120) based on their vulnerability to state failure by measuring indicators such as security threats, economic decline, human rights violations, and social unrest.

Transparency International

Organization that focuses on measuring and combating corruption through tools like the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Transparency

The openness and clarity with which government actions, policies, and decision-making processes are conducted and communicated to the public.

Failed State

A political entity that has lost the ability to provide basic government services, maintain law and order, or uphold the rule of law, resulting in a breakdown of authority and widespread instability.

Corruption

The abuse of entrusted power for private gain, which undermines the integrity and fairness of institutions.

Political Systems

The formal and informal institutions, processes, and structures through which a society governs itself, including the distribution of power, decision-making, and the allocation of resources.

Regimes

The set of rules, institutions, practices, and norms that determine how power is exercised within a country.

Government

The system and group of people responsible for managing the operations of a state, including the creation, enforcement, and application of laws and regulations.

State

A political entity characterized by a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Nation

A group of people who identify with one another based on shared cultural, historical, linguistic, ethnic, or religious characteristics, forming a cohesive and coherent unit.

Sovereignty

The ability of a state to govern itself independently without internal or external interference from other states or international bodies.

Self-determination

The right of a group of people to determine their own political status, form their own government, and make decisions about their economic, social, and cultural development.

Democratism

The practice of attaching the label of democracy to political actions or systems that are not genuinely democratic.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by the concentration of power in a single leader or a small group, often without meaningful democratic processes or citizen input, and marked by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers.

Rule of Law

No person or entity is above the law, and governance is conducted through established legal frameworks rather than arbitrary decisions by individuals in power.

Rule By Law

A system where the government uses laws as a tool for control and governance, often prioritizing state interests over individual rights and justice. The authority is above the law.

Free & Fair Elections

A democratic process where all eligible citizens have the right to vote without coercion or manipulation, and where the electoral system is transparent and impartial.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental responsibilities among distinct branches—typically legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to protect individual rights through a system of checks and balances.

Suffrage

The right to vote in public, political elections.

Political Identity

How a person or group of persons thinks of themselves in relation to the politics and government of a state.

Civic Participation

The involvement of individuals and communities in the public sphere to influence decision-making and pursue common goals, often through direct or indirect interactions with governmental and institutional entities.

Political Independence

The condition of a nation, country, or state exercising self-government and usually sovereignty over its territory without external control or interference from other states or powers.

Illiberal Democracies

Military Regimes

AKA hybrid regimes. A form of government in which elections are held regularly, but key democratic practices are significantly weakened or absent.

Totalitarian Governments

A political system that exercises absolute and total control over all aspects of public and private life, including politics, the economy, education, culture, religion, and personal morality.

Theocracy

A form of government in which religious leaders or a deity are recognized as the supreme authority, and laws are derived from religious texts and doctrines, merging spiritual and political power.

Autocracy

A system of government where supreme political power is held by a single individual.

Civil Rights

A class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from arbitrary interference by the government, typically enshrined in a constitution or bill of rights.

Democratization

The process through which a political system transitions from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one, enabling greater public participation and the establishment of democratic institutions.

Gender/Cultural Quota

A policy or law that mandates a specific minimum percentage or number of positions within a political body, such as a legislature, be filled by individuals of a particular gender/culture.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which seats in a legislative body are allocated based on the proportion of votes each political party receives.

Vote Thresholds

The minimum level of support a political party must achieve to gain representation in a legislative body.

Voting District Boundaries

Geographical divisions established to elect government representatives in representative democracies.

One-Party States

A political system in which a single political party holds a monopoly on political power, either by law or in practice, effectively eliminating political competition from other parties.

Democratic Consolidation

The process by which a newly established democracy matures, stabilizes, and becomes self-sustaining, significantly reducing the likelihood of reverting to authoritarian rule without an external shock.

Economic Development

The process by which nations improve the economic well-being and quality of life for their populations, encompassing broader goals beyond mere economic growth.

Constitution

The fundamental principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people.

Political Party

An organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.

Legislature

A governing body with the power to make laws for a country or region, typically composed of elected representatives who debate and vote on proposed legislation.

Popular Support

The level of approval or backing that government leaders, policies, or institutions receive from the general population.

Political Stability

The endurance and consistency of a political system in maintaining order, governance, and effective functioning without significant disruptions or crises.

Revolution

A rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's political institutions, class structures, state system, and justifications for authority, often involving the overthrow of an existing government and its replacement with a new one through extra-constitutional and typically violent means.

Sharia Law

A religious legal framework derived from the Quran. A divine law and a comprehensive way of life that governs both personal conduct and public affairs, including ritual practices, family law, business ethics, and criminal justice.

Coup d’etat

A sudden, illegal, and often violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group, typically composed of military officers or other political elites within the state apparatus.

Lines of Succession

The established order in which individuals are designated to assume a high office, such as head of state or a hereditary title, when the position becomes vacant.

Devolution

The transfer of power and decision-making authority from a central government to regional or local governments within a country.

Federal State

A political system in which power and authority are divided between a central government and several regional or subnational entities, such as states, provinces, or cantons.

Unitary State

A form of governance in which most or all political power resides in a centralized government, with regional or local authorities deriving their authority from the central government and lacking constitutional independence.

Ethnic Cleavages

A deep division within a society based on shared ancestry, language, culture, or ethnicity, which can lead to political conflict and influence state stability.

Supranational Organizations

An association of sovereign states that have united to create an institution with the authority to make decisions that are binding on its member states.

Legitimacy

The general belief that a government, political system, or authority has the right to rule and exercise power, which is based on popular acceptance of that authority.

Nationalism

An ideology and movement that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, and allegiance to a nation or nation-state, asserting that such obligations take precedence over other individual or group interests.

Tradition

The established beliefs, customs, and practices that are passed down through generations and form the foundation of political institutions and governance.

Government Constituents

Government individuals who reside within a specific electoral district and are represented by an elected official.

Policy Effectiveness

The extent to which a policy achieves its stated goals and addresses the problem it was designed to solve.

Political Efficacy

The citizens' trust in their ability to change the government and belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.

Charismatic Leadership

A leadership style defined by a leader's ability to inspire and motivate others through their personal charm, confidence, and persuasive communication.

Institutionalized Laws

Legal rules or principles that have been formally established, accepted, and integrated into a societal or organizational framework through a process of institutionalization.

Drug Trafficking

The illegal trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of substances subject to drug prohibition laws.

Private Capital

Funds invested in private assets, such as unlisted companies, private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources, as opposed to publicly traded stocks and bonds.

Foreign Direct Investment

An investment made by a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country, with the purpose of establishing a lasting interest and having an effective voice in the management of the enterprise.

Freedom House Index

Ranks countries based on scores for political rights (0 to 40) and civil liberties (0 to 60).