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State
Political institutions with international recognition that govern a population in a territory
Government
Institutions and individuals 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
Regime
A type of government, either democratic or authoritarian
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
Nation
A group of people who share a sense of belonging and who often have a common language, culture, religion, race, ethnicity, political identity, or traditions
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 and in which a wide array of civil liberties and civil rights are protected
Authoritarian state
A system without free and fair elections and in which civil liberties and civil rights are restricted
Totalitarian state
A type of authoritarian government where the state controls nearly all aspects of citizens’ lives
Illiberal, flawed, or hybrid democracy
A system in which elections may be marred by fraud and the state protects some civil liberties and civil rights but restricts others
Rule of law
A clear set of rules where government officials are 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 as citizens
Democratic backsliding
A decline in the quality of democracy, including a decrease in civic participation, rule of law, transparency, and accountability
Power
The ability to make someone do something they would otherwise not do
Authority
The legitimate power a state has over people within its territory
Theocracy
A system based on religious rule
Coersion
The use or threat of force to get someone to do something they would otherwise not do
Legitimacy
The citizens’ belief that the government has the right to rule
Political efficacy
A citizens’ belief that their 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, and other 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 power and sovereignty
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
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