killer vocab quiz 2025 REAL VERSION

Empirical statement

A verifiable fact.

Normative statement

A judgment about what should be.

Causation

When a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable.

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Measures standard of living, life expectancy, birth and death rates, education, quality of life.

Gross Domestic Product/GDP

The total value of goods and services produced in a country which often predicts the economic health of a country.

GDP per capita

GDP divided by the population.

Gini Index

Measures income inequality within a country. A score of 0.40 means income inequality is a problem in the country.

Developed countries

Have high GDP per capita and HDI rankings; service-based economies.

Developing countries

Countries who have low to middle GDP per capita and HDI rankings. They are emerging economies that are based on production and are industrializing.

Underdeveloped countries

Have low GDP per capita and HDI rankings; primarily agricultural economies.

Least Developed countries

The poorest of the poor with low GDP per capita and HDI rankings.

Deviant case-study

Study of cases that contradict the pattern.

Most-Similar case-study

Comparing similar cases that differ in the dependent variable.

Most-Different case-study

Comparing different cases that vary in the independent variable (comparing different countries that have similar outcomes).

Nationalism

The belief that a group of people has its own unique destiny, often including a desire for a separate state.

Nation

A psychological sense of identity based on shared ethnicity, language, history or culture.

State

All individuals or institutions who can make public policy through direct action or political participation. Political institutions with a monopoly of force over territory.

Revolution

An overthrow of the government based on broad popular support.

Coup

A change in the leader brought about by a small group, often a military leader.

Institutions

Stable long lasting organizations that make formal political policies within the government.

Sovereignty

The ability of a government to rule without internal or external influence.

Legitimacy

The people's belief that the government has the right to rule.

Rational/legal legitimacy

Based on a fair and understandable system of laws that are followed and apply to everyone.

Traditional legitimacy

The state is obeyed because there is a long tradition of it being obeyed.

Charismatic legitimacy

The people's belief that a ruler has the right to rule because of their magnetic personality.

Transparency

The ability of citizens to see what the government is doing.

Political cleavage

A division over a policy issue.

Cross cutting cleavage

Brings different kinds of groups together, strengthening society.

Coinciding cleavage

Exacerbates feelings of difference, weakening society.

Regime

A government in which the system has not changed even though there have been different leaders.

Hybrid regime

A government with both authoritarian and democratic elements.

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian state to an illiberal democracy to a liberal democracy

Illiberal/Procedural Democracy

A government with elections that are not completely free and fair or lacking some civil rights and liberties. These characteristics exist but are flawed.

Liberal/Substantive Democracy

A government with free and fair elections and civil rights and liberties

Authoritarian State

A government where elections are not free and fair and civil rights and liberties are lacking

Theocracy

A state led by religious rulers

Unitary System

All power is held by the central government and state power is not constitutionally protected.

Federal System

Power is shared between the national/central and state government and some state power is constitutionally protected.

Devolution

Occurs when the national/central government grants more power to states/regions.

Bicameral legislature

Two houses

Unicameral legislature

One house

First Past The Post/Single Member District

Awards one seat to the candidate with the most votes in a district.

Proportional Representation

Awards seats to political parties based on the percentage of votes received; there may be a threshold for getting seats.

Common law systems

Judges interpret laws and their rulings are used by courts to make future decisions. These court decisions are written down and serve as precedent for future cases.

Judicial review

The ability of a Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action if it is unconstitutional.

Code law/Civil Law systems

Based on rules written (constitution/bill of rights) by the legislature that are enforceable by law.

Civil rights

Protections granted by the government to prevent discrimination against groups, like ethnic or religious minorities and women.

Civil liberties

Protect individuals from government infringement, like free speech.

Civil Society

Consists of voluntary associations outside of government control which strengthen society.

Grassroots movements

Occur when ordinary citizens push for reform.

Civil Service

Government employees who are hired for their careers, rather than being elected. They work in a variety of roles, including in the federal government, state and local governments, and international settings.

Social movements

A large group organized to advocate for political change.

Referendum

A measure sent by the legislature to the citizens for approval.

Political Recruitment

The process for selecting current and potential leaders, including formal and informal power structures.

Political ideology

An individual's belief system about the role of government, politics and policies.

Political socialization

The process through which an individual acquires his or her political beliefs and behaviors.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that define the relationship between citizens and government, and citizens to one another. These beliefs can influence how citizens participate in politics or assess policies.

Political Right

Favors the status quo/conservatives.

Political Left

favors change, usually favor social programs.

Reactionaries

extreme and want to go back to the past.

Liberalism

favor freedom in the economy and in civil rights and liberties.

Globalization

the increasing interconnectedness of the world.

Political Economy

the relationship between government policies and the economy.

Economic liberalization

The move to a free market by reducing tariffs, trade barriers, and government control over the economy. The philosophy of adopting these practices is called Neoliberalism.

Market economies

Wages, production, and prices are based on supply and demand with less government interference.

Command economies

Wages, production, and prices are decided by the government and private property is limited.

Cooptation

when the government buys off its critics.

Corporatism

when large businesses and labor unions are brought into the policymaking process, limiting pluralism because small actors are left out.

Pluralism

when many groups compete in policymaking.

Post-Materialism

Economically secure societies in which citizens can focus on values and concerns beyond material things, such as 'quality of life' issues.

Structural Adjustment Programs/Austerity Measures

Programs that require countries to increase taxes and cut spending to improve budgets.

Welfare state

the government provides support to citizens, such as unemployment benefits and health care.

Communism

a system of government based on Karl Marx's philosophy where the government/Communist party owns all/most of the property to create economic equality.

Dependency Theory

The idea that colonial rule left a legacy of political and economic dependence making it difficult for former colonies to improve their economies and democratize.

Rentier States

a country that obtains lucrative income by exporting a raw material or leasing out a natural resource to foreign countries/companies.

Coercive diplomacy

Diplomacy or forceful persuasion of a state, group, or non-state actor to change their objectionable behavior through the threat to use force.

Rational-choice theory

focuses on how individuals act strategically in an attempt to achieve goals that maximize their interests.

Middle-level theory

focuses on specific features of the political world such as institutions, policies, classes of similar events.

Fascism

a nationalist political ideology in which nationalism and the primacy of the state are core beliefs, favoring authoritarian rule.

Rule by law

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

Formal political participation

Voting in elections and referendums, contacting government officials, joining political groups, working on a campaign, donating money to a cause or candidate.

Informal political participation

protests, civil disobedience and political violence including terrorism.

Protest

a public demonstration against a policy or in response to an event, often targeting the government.

Head of Government

manage the day to day operations of running the country

Head of State

represents the country domestically and internationally (can be symbolic or more powerful) In other cases they represent the country in their capacity as the executive internationally