ap comp gov unit 1 - intro/general terms

democratization

the transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction.

procedural democracy

they hold elections but not aren’t truly democratic

substantive democracy

actually has the traits of a democracy

liberal democracy

a democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected

partial/illiberal/guarded democracy

political system that holds elections but undermines liberal freedoms and institutions

Personalistic Authoritarian Regime

power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual

Single-Party Authoritarian Regime

one political party has a monopoly on power

Totalitarianism

a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

Freedom Score

0-to-100 rating system used by Freedom House to measure political rights and civil liberties in countries and territories. categorizes countries as Free, Partly Free, or Not Free

UN Human Development Index (UN HDI)

measures a country's average achievements: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living

GINI Index

measure of income inequality within a population, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality)

Liberalization

the act or process of making something, such as laws or regulations, less restrictive

Legitimacy

Civil Liberties

freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to privacy. fundamental freedoms

Fragmentation

division of a political system into multiple parts, which can include the splitting of a state into smaller units, the proliferation of political parties, or the diffusion of power among various government levels and actors