AP Comparative Politics - Key Terms and Definitions

This collection of flashcards includes key terms and definitions relevant to AP Comparative Politics, covering concepts such as political systems, governance, electoral structures, and economic ideologies.

What is Freedom House?

An independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world.

What does normative mean in comparative politics?

Making comparisons/classifications based on philosophies, norms or 'should' rather than facts.

What type of statement is empirical?

A statement that relies on observation or data to draw conclusions.

What does correlation refer to?

An association between two or more variables.

Define developed countries.

Countries with high per capita GDP, well-developed infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems.

What are developing countries?

Countries experiencing rapid economic growth but with low per capita GDP, and weaknesses in infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

What does HDI stand for?

Human Development Index, a measure of a country's standard of living including health and education.

What is the Gini Index?

A formula that measures economic inequality within a country.

Define state in political science.

A political system with sovereignty over a defined territory and population.

What is a nation?

A group of people with a psychological sense of identity based on cultural, geographic, or linguistic ties.

How is government different from regime?

Government is more fluid, often changing with elections, while regime refers to more permanent norms of power distribution.

What is political legitimacy?

The degree to which people accept and endorse their regime.

What characterizes a democratic regime?

Adherence to the rule of law, free and fair elections, and an open civil society.

Define authoritarian regime.

A regime that restricts civil liberties and uses law and institutions to maintain power.

What is a theocracy?

A system of government in which religious leaders control political power based on religious texts.

What does democratization refer to?

The process of transitioning from a non-democratic state to one that allows free and fair elections.

What is a coup?

An attempt to remove government officials by a small group, typically military forces.

Define federal system.

A system where political power is divided between national and regional/state governments.

What is a unitary system?

A system where all political power is geographically held by the central government.

What is a revolution?

The overthrow of a regime based on broad popular support.

What does devolution mean in a political context?

The transfer of power from a central government to regional or local governments.

What is a parliamentary system?

An executive branch system where the legislative branch elects the chief executive.

Define presidential system.

An executive branch system where the chief executive is elected independently of the legislature.

What is the head of state?

The symbolic leader of a state who conducts ceremonial duties.

How is a head of government defined?

The executive responsible for running the government and making daily decisions.

What is a cabinet in government systems?

The body that forms policy proposals in parliamentary systems; advisory in presidential systems.

What characterizes a bicameral legislature?

A two-house legislature.

Define unicameral legislature.

A one-house legislature.

What is a vote of confidence?

A parliamentary method to remove the prime minister or cabinet.

What does impeachment mean in a presidential system?

The process to remove an executive from office, typically through legislative action.

What is judicial independence?

The principle that courts should not be subject to influence from other branches of government.

Define rule of law.

A system operating under predictable, known procedural rules applied equally to all.

What is rule by law?

An authoritarian application of law to punish opposition rather than uphold justice.

What is judicial review?

The power of the judiciary to determine the consistency of laws with the constitution.

What is common law?

A legal system in the UK based on judicial precedents.

Define single member district voting (FPTP).

An electoral system where one member is elected per constituency.

What is a two-party system?

A political system dominated by two major parties, such as in the UK.

What characterizes proportional representation?

An electoral system where parties are represented in proportion to the votes they receive.

Define multiparty system.

A party system with several significant political parties.

What is a majority runoff?

A process where the top two candidates compete again if no majority winner is found in the first round.

What is a one-party dominant system?

A system where one party, such as the Communist Party of China, controls governance.

What is a referendum?

A national ballot called by the government on a specific policy issue.

Define civil society.

Independent organizations that operate outside of government control.

What are cleavages in society?

Factors that separate groups, such as ethnicity or urban vs. rural divides.

What is an NGO?

A non-governmental organization that operates within civil society.

What encompasses political culture?

The history, culture, values, beliefs, and traditions that influence political behavior.

Define pluralism.

A system where power is divided among multiple groups that compete for influence.

What is corporatism?

A system where the government controls the representation of social groups in policy discussions.

What is post-materialism?

A focus on higher-order societal concerns like education and environment over self-interest.

What does populism refer to?

A political ideology appealing to regular people's control of their government.

Define socialism.

An ideology advocating for reducing income disparities and nationalizing major industries.

What is neoliberalism?

An ideology that favors limited government intervention in economy and society.

What is individualism in political philosophy?

The belief that individual freedoms and civil liberties should prevail over governmental restrictions.

Define fascism.

An extreme nationalist ideology that favors authoritarian rule and majority rights.

What is a supranational organization?

An entity like the EU where member states yield some sovereignty for collective governance.

Define globalization.

The process of increasing economic interconnectedness and reduced state control over economies.

What is a rentier state?

A state that relies on resource exports for a significant portion of its revenue.

Define command economy.

An economy where resource allocation is centrally planned.

What is a market economy?

An economy that allocates resources through supply and demand interactions.

What is economic liberalization?

The process of reducing government intervention in the economy.

Define communism.

An ideology advocating for the abolition of private property and classless society.

What does austerity mean in economic terms?

Measures taken by governments to reduce budget deficits.