AP Comp Gov.

Unit 1 Terms

Abstract review

Court checks if a law is constitutional without a specific case.

Area studies

Study focused on a specific region.

Asymmetric federalism

Some regions in a federation have more powers than others.

Austerity

Government cuts spending, often during a crisis.

Autonomy

Ability of a region or group to govern itself.

Bicameral

A legislature with two chambers.

Bicameral system

A legislature with two chambers.

Cabinet

Group of ministers who run government departments.

Capacity

How well the state can make and carry out policies.

Catch-all parties

Broad parties that try to appeal to many groups.

Causal relationship

When a change in one factor directly produces a change in another.

Causation

One thing directly causes another.

Charismatic legitimacy

Right to rule based on a leader’s personal appeal or hero status.

Civil liberties

Freedoms that protect people from government abuse (like speech, religion).

Civil rights

Legal protections guaranteeing equal treatment.

Civil society

Groups and organizations outside government that organize and act.

Cleavages (social and political)

Deep divisions in society (ethnic, religious, class) that shape politics.

Common law

Law based on court decisions and precedent.

Comparative method

Comparing cases or countries to find patterns and differences.

Comparative politics

Study of domestic politics across countries.

Concrete review

Court checks constitutionality during a real case.

Constituency

The voters in a district who elect a representative.

Constitutional court

Court focused on constitutional questions and review.

Constructivism (not requested) — omitted.

Coercion

Use of force or threats to control people.

Communism

Common ownership, no private property, aim for class equality.

Corporatism

State formally works with a few big groups to make policy.

Correlation

Two things are related, but not necessarily cause-and-effect.

Country

Another word for a state; a political unit with borders and a government.

Coups d’état

Sudden seizure of power by the military or elites.

Deductive reasoning

Start with a theory, then test it with evidence.

Democracy

Government chosen in free, fair elections with protected rights and rule of law.

Democratic consolidation

Democracy becomes stable and widely accepted.

Democratization

Moving from authoritarian rule to democracy.

Dependent variable

The outcome being explained.

Devolution

Central government gives some powers to regions.

Economic globalization

Growing connections between world economies.

Economic liberalization

Opening markets and reducing government control.

Electoral system

Rules for how votes are turned into seats.

Endogeneity

When cause and effect are hard to separate between variables.

Equality

Fairness in status, rights, or opportunities.

Executive

The branch that carries out and enforces laws (president/PM and cabinet).

Failed state

State cannot maintain order or provide basic services.

Failed State Index

Measure of how fragile or unstable a country is.

Fascism

Authoritarian, nationalist rule that crushes opposition and dissent.

Federal system

Power shared between national and regional governments.

Federalism

A system dividing power between national and regional governments.

First past the post

Candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.

Formal institutions

Official rules like laws and constitutions.

Freedom

Ability to act without undue restriction.

Freedom House

Organization that rates countries on political rights and civil liberties.

Game theory

Study of strategic decision-making.

Gini index (coefficient)

Measure of inequality (0 = equal, 1 = highly unequal).

Globalization

Increasing worldwide connections in economics, politics, and culture.

Government

The current leaders running the state.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goods and services produced in a country in one year.

HDI (see Human Development Index) — alias.

Head of government

Top official running day-to-day government (often the prime minister).

Head of state

Symbolic national leader (may be separate from head of government).

Human Development Index (HDI)

UN measure of well-being (life expectancy, education, income).

Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

Making local goods instead of importing them.

Independent judiciary

Courts operate free from political influence.

Independent variable

The factor that may explain the outcome.

Individualism

Belief in personal freedom and responsibility.

Informal institutions

Unwritten rules, norms, or traditions.

Initiative

Process letting citizens propose laws or amendments by petition and vote.

Institution

Rules and organizations that structure political behavior.

Interest Groups

Organizations that try to influence public policy.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Lends to countries and supports financial stability.

International relations

Study of relations between countries.

Judicial review

Courts can strike down laws that violate the constitution.

Legislature

The law-making body (parliament or congress).

Legitimacy

Public belief that a government has the right to rule.

Liberal democracy

Democracy with strong rights, rule of law, and checks and balances.

Mixed electoral system

Combines proportional representation with plurality/majoritarian districts.

Modernization theory

Economic development brings social change that supports democracy.

Multi-member districts

Districts that elect several representatives.

Multicausality

When many factors together cause an outcome.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Companies operating in multiple countries.

Multiparty system

Several parties compete for power and win seats.

Nation

People with a shared identity, culture, or history.

Nationalization

Government takes ownership of private industries.

Neoliberalism

Support for free markets, privatization, and limited state role.

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

Private groups working on issues like aid or rights.

Normative statements

Opinions about what should be.

One-party system

Only one political party is allowed to hold power.

Parliamentary System

Legislature chooses the executive; prime minister leads.

Party system

How many parties compete and how they interact.

Pluralsim (typo) — see Pluralism.

Pluralism

Many groups compete freely to influence policy.

Political culture

Shared beliefs and attitudes about politics.

Political ideology

A set of political beliefs and goals (e.g., socialism, liberalism).

Political liberalization

More rights and openness, but not full democracy.

Political participation

Ways people engage in politics (voting, protesting, contacting officials).

Political socialization

How people learn political values (family, school, media).

Political stability

Government remains steady without major unrest.

Political System

The way political power and rules are organized in a country.

Politics

The struggle for power and decision-making.

Populism

Claims to represent “the people” against “the elite.”

Post-materialism

Focus on quality of life and rights over pure economic growth.