Country Comparison Chart for AP Comparative Government

AP Exams

Comparative Politics Scientists

scholars who study and analyze political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries to identify similarities, differences, and patterns.

Quantitative data

expressed in numerical form and can be analyzed statistically.

Qualitative data

contains non-numeric representations such as words, images and text.

Political Systems

systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.

Regimes

are the rules, norms, and institutions that govern political behavior within a political system.

Governments

are the specific individuals or groups that hold power within a political system and make decisions on behalf of the society.

Authoritarianism

is a type of political system where power is concentrated in one leader or group without meaningful competition or accountability.

Institutions

refer to the established structures and organizations that shape and govern political systems.

Legislatures

these are specific institutions within a political system responsible for making laws.

Political Parties

are organized groups that represent different ideologies or interests within a society.

Judiciary

is an institution responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring their fair application.

Comparative Methodology

the approach used by comparative political scientists to systematically compare and analyze different political systems.

Elections

are formal processes where citizens choose their representatives or leaders through voting.

Suffrage

the right to vote in political elections.

Electoral Systems

the rules and procedures used to translate votes into seats or positions of power within a government.

Voter Turnout

the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their ballots during an election.

Legitimacy

refers to the acceptance and recognition of a government or political system by its citizens as having the right to rule and exercise authority.

Democracy

a system of government where power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives, providing legitimacy through popular consent.

Authoritarianism

a form of government characterized by strong central control and limited political freedoms, often lacking widespread legitimacy due to lack of citizen participation.

Rule of Law

the principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable to laws that are fairly applied and enforced, contributing to the legitimacy of a government.

Political Socialization

the process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and attitudes from their social environment.

Civic Engagement

the active involvement of citizens in their communities or in public affairs, such as voting, volunteering, or participating in protests.

Political Efficacy

the belief that one's actions can make a difference in the political process or influence government policies.

Citizen organizations

are non-governmental groups formed by individuals who come together around shared interests or causes.

Interest Groups

organizations that seek to influence government policies on behalf of their members or supporters.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

private organizations that operate independently from the government and work towards social, political, or environmental goals.

Civil Society

the space in society where citizens can freely form associations, express their opinions, and participate in public life outside of the government.

China - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Authoritarian (CCP)

• Unitary government 

• Sudden Change

• Legitimacy: revolution and economic stability

China - Political Institution

• Head of government : premier

• Head of state : president

• 10 year term limit; president - no term limit

• Unicameral chamber 

• People’s court CCP- ruled 

• No true judicial independence

China - Political Culture and Participation

• Underdeveloped civil society

• Vast resources > can sustain itself from within

• Patron - clientelism 

• Communism

• Rule by law 

• No opposition to the party

• No direct elections of president; ban on protests

• Media limited by firewall

• Separatist movements

China - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 5 years for local people’s offices 

• Elected choose NPC 

• One party (CCP)

China - Political & Economics Change

• Least privatization of natural resources

• SEZs=more liberal econ

• Low class mobility and vast inequality

• Rapid industrialization

Iran - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Theocracy/Authoritarian 

• Unitary government 

• Source of Power : religion

• Authority changes : dictators to religious leaders

• Sudden change

• Legitimacy: revolution and religion

Iran - Political Institution

• Head of state : supreme leader (10 year term limit)

• Head of government : president (2*4 years conseq.)

• Unicameral chamber 

• Sharia law : Qanun

• No true judicial independence

Iran - Political Culture and Participation

• Extremely limited civil socalization society

• Politics = religion

• Some overlap w/ fascism 

• Rule by law

• Elect president/parliament (not much choice)

• Restricted protests

• Revoking media licenses

• Separatist movements

Iran - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 4 years for president and parliament 

• One party (IRP)

Iran - Political & Economics Change

• State ownership

• Limited international market

• Gender inequality and unequal access to edu

• Brain drain

Mexico - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Constitutional Democracy

• Emerging Democracy 

• Federal government 

• Source of power : popular support

• Authority : authoritarian to democratic parties

• Sudden change

• Legitimacy : revolution and constitution

Mexico - Political Institution

• Presidential system

• Head of state = Head of government : president

• One 6 year term limit

• Bicameral chamber

• Federal state, supreme courts

• Transitioning to judicial independence

Mexico - Political Culture and Participation

• Developed civil society

• Geographical barriers > regionalism 

• Patron - clientelism 

• Populism 

• Rule by law (flawed democracy)

• Elect president/legislative

• Used to condemned protests

• Some separatist movements 

Mexico - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 6 years for president and national legislature

• Plurality + proportional rep.

• Single/three-member

• Multi-party

• Neo-corporatist state

Mexico - Political & Economics Change

• Privatization 

• Unequal access to abortion/ gender quotas for education and politics 

• Migration south > north > rural > urban

• NAFTA + maquiladoras

• PEMEX (state-owned oil company) > government controls all stages of oil distribution

Nigeria - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Constitutional Democracy

• Emerging Democracy 

• Federal government

• Source of power :  military forces 

• Authority : authoritarian to democratic parties 

• Sudden change 

• Legitimacy : independence and constitution 

Nigeria - Political Institution

• Presidential system

• Head of state = Head of government : president

• One 4 year term limit

• Bicameral chamber

• Constitutional and sharia laws

• Transitioning to judicial independence

Nigeria - Political Culture and Participation

• Underdeveloped civil society 

• Religious conflicts have impacted political culture

• Neoliberalism 

• Mostly rule by law

• Direct elections 

• Protests are lawful 

• Many separatist movements

Nigeria - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 4 years for president and national assembly

• First-past-the-post/Majority

• Single/three-member

• Two strong parties

Nigeria - Political & Economics Change

• NNPC is state-owned 

• Import substitution industrialization model 

• Strive to end unequal access to education

• Brain drain

• Oil industry is controlled mostly by foreign MNCs.

Russia - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Constitution/Authoritarian

• Federal/asymmetric government 

• Source of power : legislature

• Authority : political elite’s back of a strong president 

• Sudden change 

• Legitimacy : tradition and nationalism

Russia - Political Institution

• Semi-presidential system

• Head of state : president

• Head of government : Prime minister

• Two 6 year conseq. term limit

• Presidential hybrid leg.

• District, regional, supreme courts + constitutional

• No true judicial independence

Russia - Political Culture and Participation

• Underdeveloped civil society

• State protected people’s safety > less individualism 

• Socialism

• Rule by law

• Elect president/legislative 

• Large gatherings-crime

• Nationalized media

• Few separatist movement

Russia - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 6 years for president and national assembly

• Majority+proportional rep.

• Single-member+proportional

• One dominant party (UR)

Russia - Political & Economics Change

• Limited foreign investment

• Labor protection laws

• Nationalization of oil > great wealth accumulation among oligarchs.

UK - Political System, Regimes & Government

• Democracy

• Unitary/turning federal government

• Source of power : constitution 

• Authority changes : monarch to parliament

• Evolutionary change 

• Legitimacy : tradition and stability

UK - Political Institution

• Parliamentary, monarchy

• Head of state : monarch 

• Head of government : prime minister

• No formal term limit

• Bicameral chamber 

• Common law

• No true judicial independence

UK - Political Culture and Participation

• Well established civil society

• Geographically secluded > separated from Europe

• Some individualism 

• Rule of law

• Direct election of MPs 

• Protests are legitimate 

• Few separatist movement
  

UK - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

• Every 5 years for MPs

• First-past-the-post

• Single-member districts 

• Two parties+minor parties

UK - Political & Economics Change

• Mixed economy; privatizes its national resources most

• Access to healthcare 

• Inflow of immigrant > Brexit

• Rapidly aging population