Year In Review Key Terms--APCoGoPo

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to AP Comparative Government & Politics.

authoritarian

A political system with strong central power, limited political freedoms, and suppressed opposition.

authority

The recognized right to exercise power over others, viewed as legitimate by those subject to it.

legitimacy

The accepted right to rule; citizens believe the government has the right to govern.

nation

A group of people united by shared culture, language, history, or ethnicity, often seeking self-governance.

state

A political institution with sovereignty over a defined territory and population.

regime

The fundamental rules, norms, and institutions governing the exercise of political power in a country.

government

The specific leadership and institutions that administer the state at a given time.

sovereignty

The supreme authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.

democratic regime

A government featuring free and fair elections, protection of civil liberties, rule of law, and accountability of leaders.

authoritarian regime

A system that limits political freedoms, suppresses opposition, and concentrates power; citizens have little input in governance.

hybrid regime

A political system that combines elements of both democratic and authoritarian rule; elections may exist but are not free or fair.

illiberal democracy

A system where competitive elections occur but civil liberties, rule of law, and political freedoms are limited or suppressed.

theocracy

A political system in which religious law and authority govern the state; clerics hold significant political power.

totalitarian government

An extreme form of authoritarianism in which the state controls virtually all aspects of public and private life.

one-party state

A political system in which a single party holds power and opposition parties are banned or severely restricted.

military regime

A government in which the military holds political power, often following a coup; civilian institutions are subordinated.

managed democracy

A system where elections take place but the state manipulates rules and media to ensure desired outcomes; associated with Russia.

constitution

The supreme law that defines the relationship between the state and citizens and among branches of government.

revolution

A rapid, fundamental change in political power and organization, often through mass mobilization or force.

coup d'état

The sudden, illegal seizure of government, typically by a small group within the military or state.

reform

Gradual, incremental improvement within an existing political system rather than wholesale replacement.

democratization

The process of transition from authoritarian rule toward democratic governance, including free elections and civil liberties.

democratic consolidation

The process by which a new democracy becomes stable, institutionalized, and unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.

devolution

The transfer of power from the central government to regional or subnational governments without full federalism.

federalism

A system dividing governmental authority between a central government and subnational units, each with independent powers.

unitary system

A system in which the central government holds ultimate authority; subnational units exercise only delegated powers.

political stability

The durability of a government or regime; its ability to maintain order and continuity without collapse or violent change.

representation

The process by which elected officials act and make decisions on behalf of citizens.

transitional period

The phase during which a country moves from one political system to another, marked by institutional uncertainty.

political socialization

The lifelong process through which individuals acquire political beliefs, values, and identities from family, school, media, and experience.

nationalism

Strong identification with and loyalty to one's nation; can be used by governments to build legitimacy and mobilize support.

transparency

The degree to which government activities and decisions are open, accessible, and accountable to the public.

empirical

Based on observable, measurable facts and data; the opposite of normative.

normative

Based on values or judgments about what ought to be, rather than what is.

qualitative data

Descriptive, non-numerical information gathered through interviews, observations, or text analysis.

quantitative data

Numerical, measurable information that can be analyzed statistically.

causation

A relationship in which one variable directly produces change in another variable.

correlation

A statistical association between two variables that does not necessarily imply causation.

random sample

A subset of a population in which every member has an equal chance of selection, minimizing bias.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

The total market value of all goods and services produced within a country in one year; a key measure of economic size.

GDP per capita

Total GDP divided by population; used to compare average living standards across countries.

HDI (Human Development Index)

A composite measure of development that includes life expectancy, education, and income per capita.

Gini Index (coefficient)

A statistical measure of income inequality; 0 = perfect equality, 1 = total inequality.

Freedom House

An NGO that rates political rights and civil liberties in countries worldwide; used as a comparative measure of democracy.

Transparency International

An NGO that publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index, measuring perceived levels of public-sector corruption globally.

purchasing power parity (PPP)

An adjustment to GDP that accounts for differences in the cost of living across countries, enabling more accurate comparisons.

traditional legitimacy

The right to rule derived from long-standing custom, heritage, or hereditary succession; "this is how it has always been."

charismatic legitimacy

The right to rule derived from a leader's exceptional personal qualities, vision, or mass appeal.

rational-legal legitimacy

The right to rule derived from a system of established laws, rules, and procedures accepted by the population; most common in modern states.

governmental effectiveness

The ability of the government to deliver public goods and services competently, which can sustain legitimacy even in non-democratic systems.

political efficacy

A citizen's belief that they can understand and influence the political system and that government is responsive to them.

charismatic leadership

Leadership based on personal appeal and inspiration rather than formal rules or tradition; can substitute for institutional legitimacy.

cooptation

The process by which a government neutralizes potential opponents by incorporating them into the system or offering them benefits.

patron-client relationship

An informal exchange in which powerful actors provide benefits to less powerful supporters in return for political loyalty.

parliamentary system

A system in which the executive (prime minister/cabinet) is drawn from and accountable to the legislature; the legislature can remove the government through a vote of no confidence.

presidential system

A system with separately elected executive and legislature serving fixed terms; the executive is not accountable to the legislature for survival in office.

semi-presidential system

A dual-executive system with a popularly elected president and a prime minister accountable to the legislature; both share executive authority.

fusion of powers

The merging of executive and legislative authority in parliamentary systems, where the cabinet is drawn from and responsible to the legislature.

separation of powers

The division of governmental authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent concentration of power.

head of state

The formal or ceremonial representative of the country; may or may not hold executive governing power.

head of government

The official who leads the executive branch and is responsible for day-to-day governance.

cabinet

The group of senior executive officials who advise the chief executive and lead key government departments.

executive term limits

Constitutional restrictions on the number of terms a chief executive may serve; intended to prevent entrenchment.

impeachment

The formal process by which a legislature brings charges against an executive, potentially removing them from office.

vote of no confidence

A parliamentary mechanism by which the legislature removes the executive (prime minister/cabinet) from power.

civil service

The non-elected, non-military professional bureaucracy that implements government policy.

bureaucracy

The administrative agencies and departments responsible for implementing laws and policies.

Supreme Leader (Iran)

Iran's highest political and religious authority, appointed by the Assembly of Experts; commands armed forces and sets overall state policy.

Expediency Council (Iran)

An Iranian advisory body that resolves disputes between the Majles and Guardian Council and advises the Supreme Leader on policy.

Guardian Council (Iran)

An Iranian body of six clerics and six jurists that vets legislation for Islamic compliance and screens candidates for all elections.

Assembly of Experts (Iran)

An elected body of Islamic scholars in Iran with authority to appoint and remove the Supreme Leader.

Politburo Standing Committee (China)

The innermost circle of the Chinese Communist Party; the actual apex of political power in China, typically comprising 7 members.

Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (China)

The CCP's internal anti-corruption body; investigates and punishes party members for violations of party rules.

unicameral legislature

A single-chamber legislature; associated with China (NPC) and Iran (Majles).

bicameral legislature

A legislature with two chambers (upper and lower); associated with Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the UK.

National People's Congress – China (NPC)

China's unicameral national legislature; nearly 3,000 delegates meet annually but serve largely as a rubber-stamp for CCP decisions.

Standing Committee of the NPC (China)

The permanent working body of China's NPC that exercises legislative authority between full sessions; more powerful than the full NPC.

Majles (Iran)

Iran's unicameral parliament; can pass legislation but all candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council, limiting independence.

Chamber of Deputies (Mexico)

The lower house of Mexico's bicameral Congress; 500 members elected by a mixed electoral system.

Senate (Mexico/Nigeria)

Upper legislative chamber; Mexico's Senate has 128 seats; Nigeria's Senate has 109 seats; both serve as checks on the lower house.

House of Representatives (Nigeria)

The lower house of Nigeria's bicameral National Assembly; 360 members elected by single-member district plurality.

State Duma (Russia)

The lower, elected house of Russia's Federal Assembly; 450 members; has formal lawmaking authority but is dominated by pro-Kremlin parties.

Federation Council (Russia)

The upper house of Russia's Federal Assembly; members appointed by regional governors and legislatures; approves key presidential appointments.

House of Commons (UK)

The lower, elected chamber of the UK Parliament; the dominant legislative body with power to pass laws and remove the government.

House of Lords (UK)

The upper, unelected chamber of the UK Parliament; mostly appointed life peers; can delay but not block most legislation.

party discipline

The expectation that legislators vote in line with their party's official position; especially strong in parliamentary systems like the UK.

legislative independence

The degree to which a legislature can act, pass laws, and oversee the executive free from external control.

rule of law

The principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government, are equally accountable to the law.

rule by law

The use of law as a tool of state control rather than as a constraint on state power; characteristic of authoritarian regimes.

judicial review

The power of courts to strike down laws or executive actions that violate the constitution.

independent judiciary

A court system that makes decisions free from interference by the executive or legislature; essential to rule of law.

common law (UK)

The UK's legal system based on judicial precedent and case law rather than a codified constitution.

Sharia law (Iran/Nigeria)

Islamic legal code derived from the Quran and hadith; governs all law in Iran; applied in 12 northern Nigerian states.

Supreme Court of Mexico

Mexico's highest court; has the power of judicial review and serves as an independent check on executive and legislative power.

civil society

The sphere of voluntary, non-state, non-market associations—NGOs, religious organizations, unions, media—that operate between the individual and the government.

nongovernmental organization (NGO)

A non-profit, non-governmental organization that addresses social, environmental, or political issues; can be local, national, or international.

Great Firewall (China)

China's system of internet censorship and surveillance that blocks foreign websites and controls online information; limits civil society.

political culture

The set of collective attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms that citizens share about the political system and political behavior.

civic culture

A political culture characterized by trust in institutions, deference to competent authority, and citizens' acceptance of the legitimacy of the system.

consensual political culture

A culture in which citizens broadly agree on both the legitimacy of the regime and solutions to major policy problems.