AP Comparative Government and Politics Vocabulary Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, systems, and country-specific concepts for AP Comparative Government and Politics.

Empirical statements

Factual claims that are based on demonstrable, measurable evidence alone, such as GDP data.

Normative statements

Claims that assert a particular value judgment, focusing on what "should" happen rather than just the facts.

System theory

A model that explains how political systems process demands (inputs) from the environment into policy decisions (outputs) and generate feedback.

Linkage institutions

Organizations like political parties and the media that connect citizens to the policymaking process.

Sovereignty

The legal right and ability of a state to carry out actions and policies within its territory independently from external actors.

Legitimacy

The belief by a population that the state has the right to rule and exercise political power.

Traditional legitimacy

Legitimacy built on the idea that things should be done the way they have always been done, often exemplified by monarchies.

Charismatic legitimacy

Legitimacy based on the dynamic personality and appeal of an individual leader, often leading to a personality cult.

Rational-legal legitimacy

Legitimacy based on a system of well-established laws and procedures, usually enshrined in a constitution.

State

A political institution that possesses a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force over a defined territory.

Regime

The fundamental rules and norms of politics, embodying long-term goals regarding individual freedom and collective equality.

Government

The leadership or elite in charge of running the state, often changing through elections or coups.

Unitary state

A system where all significant political power is concentrated at the central, national level.

Federalism

A system where power is divided by a constitution between a central government and regional governments.

Devolution

The process of transferring political power from a central/national level of government to a local or regional level.

Cleavages

Social or economic divisions that separate people into supporters and opponents of political issues.

Cross-cutting cleavages

Social divisions that run in multiple directions and reduce political conflict by dividing people into many smaller interests.

Coinciding cleavages

Social divisions that run in the same direction, repeatedly dividing groups and creating intense, destabilizing conflict.

Political culture

The collection of history, values, beliefs, and traditions that define the relationship between citizens and government.

Libertarianism/Liberalism (Ideology)

An ideology prioritizing economic and personal freedom as central goals, seeking minimal state interference.

Social democracy

An ideology that seeks to balance economic equality and economic liberty, emphasizing redistributive tax and benefit policies.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced within a country for a specific period.

Gini Index

A coefficient measuring the degree of income inequality in a society (0.0 represents perfect equality, 1.0 perfect inequality).

Marketization

The state's recreation of a market in which property, labor, goods, and services can all function in a competitive environment.

Civil society

The aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest the will of the people, independent of the state.

Pluralism

A system where autonomous, independently formed groups freely attempt to influence policymaking in competition.

State corporatism

A system where the state dictates which groups are allowed to provide input and represent various interests in policymaking.

Single-member-district (SMD)

An electoral system where one representative is chosen from each geographic district by receiving a plurality of votes.

Proportional representation (PR)

An electoral system where parties gain legislative seats approximately equal to the percentage of the nationwide vote they receive.

Head of state

The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people, both nationally and internationally, often ceremonial.

Head of government

The executive role responsible for the day-to-day administration of the state and formulation of public policy.

Statism

A belief, prominent in Russia, that the state should take a central role in protecting and providing for society.

Democratic centralism

The Leninist organizational structure that allows for intra-party debate but requires strict obedience to central elite decisions.

Nomenklatura

The process of elite recruitment in communist systems where leaders select promising lower-level party members for promotion.

Shock therapy

The rapid conversion of a command economy to a market economy, as attempted in Russia in the 1990s.

Oligarchs

A small number of wealthy individuals who gained control of state assets during privatization and wield political influence.

Mass line

Mao Zedong's principle that political leaders must stay close and connected to the concerns of the peasant masses.

Guanxi

The Chinese system of social networks and influential relationships that facilitate business and political dealings.

Camarillas

In Mexico, informal personal networks of political figures that provide the basis for career advancement and patronage.

Import substitution industrialization (ISI)

An economic policy that encourages domestic production over foreign imports through tariffs and subsidies.

Structural adjustment

Neoliberal economic reforms required by the IMF as a condition for loans, typically involving budget cuts and privatization.

Rentier state

A country that obtains a large portion of its national revenue from the export of raw materials or leasing of resource rights to foreign entities.

Theocracy

A form of government in which religious authorities rule and the legal system is based on religious law (Shari’ah).

Jurist guardianship

Khomeini's concept that senior Islamic clerics have ultimate authority over all aspects of society to ensure the state follows Shari’ah.

Prebendalism

A form of patron-client politics in Nigeria where government officials treat their positions as personal fiefdoms for private gain.

Resource curse

The paradox that countries with an abundance of natural resources (like oil) tend to have less economic growth and worse democratization.