AP Comp Gov Terms

Comparative Method

Use of the scientific method for analyzing and comparing political systems between and among countries

Three-World Model

A cold war country classification system used to compare countries until the1990s:

First world: U.S. and its allies;

Second world: the Soviet Union and its allies; Third world: all economically underdeveloped countries

Authoritarian

A system of rule in which few personal freedoms exist and nearly all power is given to a strong central government.

Theocracy

A state ruled by the church.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the government uses political, economic and ideological control to exercise power and dominate all aspects of public and private life.

Gross National Product (GNP)

The sum total of the value of all products and services generated within a country in one year, and its net income received from other countries.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total of all goods and services produced within a country; it is used as a broad measure of the size of its economy.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

A method of calculating the value of a country's money based on the cost of actually buying certain goods and services in the country in the local currency, rather than calculating how many U.S dollars they are worth.

Authority

The power to enforce rules or give orders.

Legitimacy

Belief of a significant segment of the citizenry that the state is entitled to command compliance from those who live under its rule and acts lawfully in pursuit of desirable aims.

Political Culture

The attitudes, beliefs and symbols that influence political behavior; often defined in terms of specific national political-cultural orientation.

Communism

A system of government in which goods and products are publicly owned.

Marxism-Leninism

A theory that states that eventually the proletariat will rise up to create a communist state. Marxism focused on class warfare while Leninism focused on the need for organization to instate communism

Socialism

Where the government controls the economy, with more publicly owned businesses

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO's)

A private organization that tries to influence national policies and help with certain social problems. For example, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders

Democratization/Democratic Transition

The movement from an authoritarian state to a democratic state.

Privatization

When state run organizations and companies are purchased and sold to private companies.

Presidential System

A system in which the chief executive is elected independently of the national legislature and each branch has powers independent of the other.

Parliamentary System

A system in which the executive and legislative powers are fused rather than seperated and the president and cabinet are chosen from elected members of the legislature. The chief executive is often chosen from the more dominant party.

Judiciary

One of the primary political institutions in a country; responsible for the administration of justice and in some countries for determining the constitutionality of state decisions.

Human Develpoment Index (HDI)

A composite number used by the UN to measure and compare levels of achievement in a variety of socioeconomic categories. (health, education, standard of living, etc)

Social Welfare

The well being of an entire society. How people, communities, countries, etc, take action to maintain a minimum quality of life and to keep certain opportunities open to everyone.

Gini Coefficient/Index

A measure of relative inequality of a distribution, on a scale from 0 to 1. It is commonly used as a measure of inequality of income or wealth in the context of comparative politics.

Political Efficacy

One's belief that their political participation can actually make a difference in the government.

Political Parties

A group of people with the same views and beliefs; they share a common goal of electing candidates who represent their views into public office.

Political Participation

All the different things that citizens do to select their political leaders or the policies that these leaders pursue, such as voting or lobbying for a certain cause.

Judicial Review

The mechanism that allows courts to review laws and executive actions for constitutionality in democracies

Rule of Law

Set of rules (laws) that are applicable to all and consistently enforced

Consolidated Democracies

Political systems that have been stably democratic for a period of time, and in which there is relatively consistent adherence to the core principles of democracy.

Transitional Democracies

Democracies that usually have moved from authoritarian control, there is usually a lot less adherence to core democratic principles unlike Consolidated Democracies.

Monetary policy

A governments domestic policies on interest rates and money supply availble in their economy

State formation

The process through which the institutional organization of a state evolves through history.

Ideology

A set of ideas bring a group of people together and cause them to seek certain common goals.

Liberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes individual freedoms and civil liberties.

Conservatism

A political ideology that promotes traditional values and limiting the effects of change in society

Fascism

A political ideology with a one party system that advocates for extreme nationalism and very limited boundaries for the role of the state

Transparency

A transparent government is open about everything they do. Wikileaks attempts to increase the transparency of governments by releasing secret documents.

Civil Society

Voluntary associations that are not part of the state, such as unions, professional associations, and other voluntary association groups.

Linkage Institutions

A structure in society that connects the people to the government. (Ex. Media, lobbying groups)

Public Policy

the course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problemf

Legislature

An elected or selected body of people given the power to make laws for the political unit. (Ex.State or Nation)

Unicameral Legislature

A Legislature with only one legislative chamber. (Ex. Nebraska)

Executive

A branch of the government that deals with executing policy and is generally seen as the leading figure. (Ex. President or Prime Minister)

Head of Government

A leader that works with foreign relations, policy, legislation, etc.

Head of State

A leader whose job is more geared towards appeasing the public and representing their interests.

Nationalization

A process in which the government takes over existing private companies and runs them as state-owned entreprises often as monopolies.

Reform

To amend/improve form or condition as it stands, not drastic changes.

Revolution

A fundamental change in the political and social institutions of a society, often accompanied by violence, cultural upheaval, and civil war.

Globalization

The intensification of international trade, investment, communication, migration processes, cultural diffusion, and communication flow.

Modernization Theory

The idea that economic growth follows stages of development, that peak at capitalist democracy.

Political Economy

The study of the relationship between the state and the economy and how they affect each other.

Dependency Theory

A theory describing the relationship of how developed and developing countries interact. Typically the developing nations are seen as supporting the developed nations at their own expense.

Laissez-Faire

An economic system in which the people are allowed to act freely (without interference). Also known as a free market.

Sovereignty

A state's claim to have authority and political control of political decisions within a given boundary, state or nation.

Failed State

When states collapse when powerful rivals for power challenge rulers when they are surrounded by a restive citizenry.

Regime

The commitment to one ideology when government changes time after time. Institutions and practices that endure from government to government.

Political Socialization

The learning process by which young people acquire their own political beliefs.

Social Movement

A group action with the intent of moving a new policy through the established political system.

Cleavage

A split that occurs when the countries political borders aren't the same as the physical border

Independent/dependent variables

If x happens y results

x influences the outcome of y

Correlation

Connection

Causation

act of causing something

State

All political institutions that make policy and exercise power in a country

Nation

A group of people bound together by a common national identity

Nation-State

When a common national identity coincides with state boundaries

Government

The leadership that runs the state

Democracy

When ultimate authority is derived from the governed and their will is done directly or through representatives

Procedural/illiberal democracy

A state that claims to use democratic values but regularly deviates from them

Substantive/liberal democracy

A democracy in which democratic values are rarely violated, civil liberties are guaranteed, and the will of the people is represented in the governments actions

Unitary System

Policymaking powers are concentrated in one central geographic place

federal system

divides power between a central authority and sub units

bicameral legislature

A legislature with two chambers

cabinet

A council that advices the government (usually the executive branch)

bureaucracy

system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

supranational organizations

Organizations that are made up of and usurp the sovereignty of nations to carry out their will

interest groups

A group of people that share interests in a common goal or idea, organization of people who share political, social or other goals; and agree to try to influence public policy to achieve those goals.

pluralism

many autonomous interest groups compete to attempt to influence government policy

corporatism

government incorporates interest groups by providing them incentives in return for their support

social capital

the amount of reciprocity and trust between the state and individuals

coup d' etat

A sudden overthrow of the government by a small group

free market/capitalism

an economic and political system characterized by a free market for goods and services and private control of production and consumption

economic liberalism

An ideal that suggests that people are happiest and economy thrive most when governments minimize their regulation, monitoring, and control over the work we do and the kinds of goods we buy & sell

Mixed Economy/socialist market economy

An economy in which there is still private property and means of production but many industries are controlled by the government

Command Economy/centrally planned

An economy in which the government decides which goods are produced and how they are distributed

fiscal policy

the governments use of taxes and spending to influence the economy

civil liberties

the guarantees of the safety of persons, opinions, and property from the arbitrary acts of government, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion

Civil rights

rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.