AP Gov Unit 01-02

Comparative Politics

the studies of the similarities and differences between states

comparative method

examining the same phenomenon in several cases and reaching conclusions

causation

when a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable

normative statement

a statement that places emphasis on value using “should” or “could”

quantitative statement

observation made using statistic techniques which are often conquered in charts, graphs, tables, maps

qualitative data

text based descriptions

source analysis

reading/analyzing text

Human Development Index

An aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goods+services produced in a year

GDP Per Capita

Gross Domestic Product divided by population

Gini index

A measure of income inequality

freedom house

a nongovernmental organization that advocates for democracy and human rights + measures freedom worldwide

democratic consolidation

the process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism

corruption

abuse of official power for gain

empirical statement

assertion of fact that can be proven

corruption perception index

a measure of how corrupt a system is believed to be

strong state

a state that is capable of providing necessary government service to it’s citizens

failed states

state that lost control over all/part of his territory

fragile state index

a measure of state strength, highlighting concerns about failed/fragile states

correlation

an apparent connection between variables

gdp growth rate

percentage of GDP growth rate over a period of time

state

political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory

government

institutions and individuals such as the executive legislature, judiciary, and bureaucracy, that make legally binding decisions for the state and that have the lawful right to use power to enforce those decisions

bureaucracy

a set of appointed officials and government workers who carry out policies

sovereignty

a state’s ability to act without internal or external interference

international recognition

a formal step taken by a state to grant official status to another state and begin treating it as a member of the global community

regime

a type of government, such as a liberal democracy or authoritarian

regime change

a change in the fundamental rule and system of government

coup d’etat

an overthrow of government by a small number of people, often military leaders.

revolution

an overthrow of a regime based on widespread popular support

change in government

a change in leaders, without fundamental changes in the system of government

nation

a group of people who share a sense of belonging and who often have a common language, culture, religion, race, ethnicity, political identity, set of traditions or asportations

nationalism

when a group has a strong sense of identity and believes it has its own destiny

liberal democracy

a system with free and fair elections in which a wide array of civil rights and liberties is protected

authoritarian state

a system without free and fair elections in which civil rights and liberties are restricted

totalitarian state

a type of authoritarian government where the state controls nearly all aspects of citizen's lives

Illiberal/flawed/hybrid democracy

a system in which elections may be married by fraud and the state protects some civil rights and liberties but restricts others

rule of law

a clear set of rules where government is subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens

rule by law

where the law is applied arbitrarily and government officials are not subject to the same rules and penalties as citizens

transperancy

the ability of citizens to know what the government is doing

democratization

the process of transitioning from an authoritarian to a democratic regime

democratic consolidation

the process by which a regime has developed stable democratic stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism 

democratic backsliding

decline in the quality of democracy, including a decrease in citizen participation, rule of law, transparency, and accountability

theocracy

a system based on religious rule

coercion

the use of force, or the threat of force, to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do

legitimacy

the citizen’s belief that the government has the right to rule

political efficacy

a citizen’s belief that his or her actions can impact the government

traditional legitimacy

the right to rule based on a society’s long-standing patterns and practices

charismatic legitimacy

the right to rule based on personal virtue, heroism, or other extraordinary characteristics

rational-legal legitimacy

the right to rule based on an accepted set of laws

unitary system

a political system in which the central government has sole constitutional sovereignty and power

federal system

a political system in which a state’s power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government

devolution

granting of powers by the central government to regional governments

PRI

institutional revolutionary party

patron-clientism

when those in power offer certain incentives or benefits to individuals in exchange for political support or loyalty.

sexino

6 year term for mexican presidant

NGO

nonprofit group outside a government

bicameral

legislature with two chambers

chamber of deputies

elected lower house of mexico congress, which has the power to pass legislation, levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify election

lower house

legislature body in bicameral system thst typically has less prestige then the upper house, but it may be the more powerful body in the legislature

senate

elected upper house of the mexican congress which has the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in the states

upper house

the legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has fewer members and may have more prestige but less power then lower house

members of the mexican senate

128 members

chamber of deputies number

500 members

pragmatic

make policy on what they think will be popular with electorate, not strong ideological base

PAN

Partido accion nacional

• center right party

• neoliberalist

MORENA

• socialist

• leftist

• close income gap

• better social services

• in 2018 took control of presidency, chamber senate

why does mexico use plurality

for electing presidant and mixed system for electing legislature

what are mexico’s parties

PAN, PRI, MORENA

civil society

groups that form outside government control, includes voluntary organized groups, online activists, social movements, independent media, union, etc

mandate

broad support of people who carry out proposed policies

mixed electoral system

a system for electing members of legislature that includes both single member districts and awarded through proportional representation

single member plurality system

system in which the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins seat in legislature

proportional representation

system in which seats in legislature are awarded according to percentage of votes a party recieves

corporatism

a system in which states control interest groups and chooses the ones it wants to recognize

peak association

organization authorized by government to represent a group such as labor, business, agriculture

pluralism

system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for interests out of government control

what keeps mexico from a liberal democracy

human rights abuses and lack of prosecution

what are the two social cleavages

north/south, mestizos/indigenous

political culture

set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government politics, and the norms of behavior in the political system

civil liberties

fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government

civil rights

protections granted by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions like votin

social cleavage

a diversion in society among social factors like ethnicity, class, religion, or language

political cleavage

a division among citizens according to political beliefs

economic liberation

economic policies that support free market and reduce trade barriers

globalization

increased interconnectedness of people, states, economies

protestionist economic policies

policies designed to protect domestic industry and reduce foreign control

national industry

state owned company controlled by government

import substitutions industrialization

enacting high tariffs and providing incentives to encourage the growth of domestic manufactoring

privatization

when a government transfers ownerships and control of a nationalized industry to the private sector