AP Comp Gov Midterm

Autocrat

Leader with unrestricted authority over a state.

Assembly of Religious Experts

Iranian council selecting the Supreme Leader.

Authoritarian rule

Governance with limited political freedoms and centralized power.

Authority

Legitimate power to enforce laws or decisions.

Bazaaris

Iranian merchants influential in political and economic spheres.

Bicameral

Two-chamber legislative structure in government.

British laws

Laws primarily proposed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Cabinet

Executive advisors responsible for policy decisions.

Cabinet members

Senior officials in the executive branch of government.

Capitalism

Economic system with private ownership of production.

Catholic Church

Religious institution with significant sociopolitical influence historically.

Chief Executive

Highest-ranking officer in executive branch of government.

Class struggle

Conflict between different socioeconomic classes.

Clientelism

Exchange of resources for political support.

Civil liberties

Fundamental rights protecting individuals from government interference.

Civil rights

Rights ensuring equality and freedom from discrimination.

Co-optation

Inclusion of opposition to neutralize dissent.

Comparative politics

Study of political systems and behaviors cross-nationally.

Confidence of Parliament

Majority support enabling government to function.

Congressional-presidential system

Government with separate executive and legislative branches.

Consociation

Power-sharing governance in deeply divided societies.

Constitution

Fundamental principles governing a state.

Corporatist political structure

Power shared among interest groups and state.

Council of Guardians

Iranian body overseeing legislation compatibility with Islam.

Duma

Lower house of Russian Federal Assembly.

Electoral system

Mechanism for conducting and deciding elections.

Evolutionary theory

Gradual societal changes shaping governance.

Expediency Council

Iranian advisory body resolving legislative conflicts.

Federal Executive Committee

Nigerian council coordinating national policy implementation.

Federal system

Government dividing power between central and regional authorities.

Force theory

Idea of government emerging through conquest or dominance.

Fusion of powers

Legislative and executive branches interconnected in parliamentary systems.

Guardian Council

Iranian council vetting political candidates and laws.

Head of government

Leader managing executive branch of government.

Head of state

Symbolic national representative in government.

Ideology

System of ideas shaping political beliefs and actions.

Illiberal democracy

Democratic structure lacking substantial civil liberties.

Inputs, outputs, political articulation

Framework for understanding governmental decision-making processes.

Judiciary

Legal system interpreting and enforcing laws.

Judicial review

Court authority to evaluate law constitutionality.

Legitimacy

Public acceptance of government’s right to rule.

Liberal democracy

Government ensuring civil rights and electoral competition.

Managed democracy

Democracy controlled by dominant political forces.

Majority rule

Decisions determined by over half of participants.

Magna Carta

Foundational British document limiting monarchical authority.

Marxist theory

Analysis of class relations and societal conflict.

Minority rights

Protections for groups outside majority populations.

National People’s Congress

Chinese legislative body with limited power.

Neoliberalism

Economic policy favoring free markets and minimal state intervention.

Nigerian constitution

Legal framework guiding Nigeria’s governance.

Patron-client relationship

Exchange of resources for loyalty in governance.

Peak association

Centralized group representing specific interests.

People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Military branch of China’s Communist Party.

Politburo

Top decision-making body in Communist Party.

Policy implementation

Execution of government laws and decisions.

Policy-making authority

Power to create and enforce laws.

Political articulation

Communication of political goals and demands.

Political clique

Group influencing decisions in political leadership.

Political executive

Leaders responsible for implementing policies.

Political ideologies

Frameworks guiding political beliefs and policies.

Political socialization

Process of acquiring political values and beliefs.

Presidential regime

System with an elected head of state.

Prime Minister

Leader of government in parliamentary systems.

Proletariat

Working-class individuals in Marxist theory.

Revolution

Rapid, fundamental change in political or social order.

Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)

Iranian force protecting Islamic Republic’s principles.

Shadow cabinet

Opposition leaders preparing for governance.

Shari’a

Islamic law governing personal and societal conduct.

Shi’ite

Major Islamic sect predominant in Iran.

Social cleavages

Divisions influencing political preferences and behaviors.

Social contract theory

Idea of governance based on collective agreement.

Socialistic values

Principles favoring collective welfare and state intervention.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority over a territory and its people.

Structural separation of powers

Distinct branches dividing governmental authority.

Supreme Leader

Highest authority in Iran with extensive power.

Supreme People’s Procuratorate

Chinese body overseeing law enforcement.

Supreme Soviet

Former legislative body of the Soviet Union.

Traditional peonage

Historical system of servitude and debt repayment.

Unit of government

Fundamental organizational structure of governance.

Unitary form of government

Centralized government with unified authority.

Vote of no-confidence

Parliamentary motion removing government from power.