Political Science Course Concepts

Empirical statements

Factual and objective claims used by political scientists to apply concepts or make arguments.

Normative statements

Value-based claims reflecting what ought to be rather than objective facts.

Correlation

An association or relationship between two or more variables.

Causation

When one variable produces or directly influences change in another variable.

State

A political organization combining a permanent population, territory, governing institutions, and international recognition.

Regime

The fundamental rules that control access to and the exercise of political power.

Government

The set of institutions or individuals legally empowered to make binding decisions for a state.

Nation

A group of people sharing commonalities like race, language, ethnicity, and political aspirations.

Rule of law

The principle that a state should follow established laws rather than arbitrary decisions.

Rule by law

When governing officials use law as an instrument of power rather than being bound by it.

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian regime toward a more democratic political system.

Democratic consolidation

The maturation of a democratic regime making it unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.

Federal state

A system that divides power between national and regional levels of government.

Unitary state

A system that concentrates power at the national level with uniform policies.

Devolution

The delegation of power from central government to regional governments.

Legitimacy

Whether a government's constituents believe it has the right to use power.

Parliamentary system

A system combining lawmaking and executive functions, with the legislature selecting the government.

Presidential system

A system featuring separate popular elections for a fixed-term executive and legislature.

Semi-presidential system

A system featuring a directly elected president and a prime minister approved by the legislature.

United Kingdom's executive

The prime minister acts as chief executive, and the monarch serves as ceremonial head.

Executive term limits advantage

They check executive power and prevent the emergence of dictators or personality rule.

Executive term limits disadvantage

They force effective leaders to leave office and can impede policy continuity.

Mexico's legislature

A bicameral congress consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

United Kingdom's legislature

A bicameral parliament consisting of the elected House of Commons and appointed House of Lords.

UK judicial system foundation

Uses common law to enforce the rule of law.

UK Supreme Court function: Appeals

Serving as the final court of appeals.

UK Supreme Court function: Rights

Protecting human and civil rights and liberties.

UK Supreme Court function: Devolution

Ruling on devolution disputes.

Judiciary independence factor: Authority

The amount of authority the courts have to overrule executive and legislative actions.

Judiciary independence factor: Selection

The process by which judicial officials acquire their jobs (appointed or elected).

Judiciary independence factor: Terms

The length of judicial terms.

Judiciary independence factor: Backgrounds

The professional and academic backgrounds that judicial officials are expected to have.

Judiciary independence factor: Removal

The processes used to remove judges from their posts.

Independent judiciaries and democracy: Checks and balances

Maintaining checks and balances.

Independent judiciaries and democracy: Rights

Protecting rights and liberties.

Independent judiciaries and democracy: Rule of law

Establishing the rule of law.

Independent judiciaries and democracy: Separation of powers

Maintaining separation of powers.

Patron-clientelism

When those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support (how PRI maintained control in 20th century)

Mexican Democratization

Transitioned from an authoritarian, single-party dominant state under the PRI to a democracy with the election of PAN President Fox in 2000.

Mexican Sources of Legitimacy

Includes a constitution and more free and fair elections, though the government faces challenges to its sovereignty.

Head of state

The symbolic representative of a country.

Head of government

The key executive in the policymaking process.

Cabinet head

An official appointed to run a government department with a specific policy area.

Sexenio

The single six-year term for the Mexican president.

Chamber of Deputies

The elected lower house of the Mexican Congress with the power to pass legislation, levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify elections.

Senate

The elected upper house of the Mexican Congress with the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in the states.

Peak association

An organization authorized by the government to represent a group, such as labor, business, or agriculture.

Zapatista Movement

A successful social movement that called attention to the plight of indigenous people.

North-South cleavage in Mexico

A social cleavage where the north is better educated and more prosperous than the south.

Import-Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

A past protectionist economic policy adopted by Mexico.

NAFTA and USMCA

Economic reforms and trade agreements adopted by Mexico starting in the 1980s.

Civil-service system

A method of staffing the bureaucracy based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than political connections or patronage.

Welfare state

Government programs to benefit the health and well-being of citizens.

Parliamentary sovereignty

The principle that parliament's power is supreme and extends over all aspects of the state.

Regulated market economy

An economy in which wages, prices, and production are mostly set by supply and demand with some regulation and mostly private control of business and natural resources.

Austerity measures

Raising taxes and/or cutting spending in an effort to reduce the deficit and the national debt.

Monarch

A hereditary ruler who serves for life.

FPTP / SMD electoral system

The candidate with the most votes wins the seat in a legislative district.

Referendum

A vote on a policy issue sent by the government to the people.

National Health Service (NHS)

The government-financed and managed health care system in the UK.