COGO Final exam 1 - vocab

CH 1:

Comparative Politics

The study and comparison of domestic politics across countries; sub-field of political science.

Causation

Anything that produces an effect.

Correlation

Apparent connection between two variables.

Empirical Statement

An assertion of fact that can be proven A

Normative Statement

A value of judgement, usually in the form of a ‘should’ or ‘ought’ statement.

Quantitative Statement

Observations made using statistical techniques.

Qualitative data

Text-based decriptions. A

Human Development Index (HDI)

An aggregate measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year.

GDP Per capita

GDP divided by population

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality within a country.

Freedom House

An NGO that advocates for democracy and human rights and measures freedom around the world.

Corruption Perceptions Index

A measure of how corrupt a system is believed to be.

Failed State

A state that has lost control of all or part of its territory.

Fragile States Index

A measure of state strength.

CH 2:

State

Poli. Inst. with international recognition that govern a population in a territory.

International Recognition

A formal step taken by state to grant official status to another state

Regime Change

A change in the fundamental rules and system of government.

Coup d’etat

Overthrow by small # of people

Nationalism

A group with a strong sense of identity.

Liberal Democracy

System where wide array of rights and liberties are protected

Authoritarian State

NO free and fair elections, rights, are restricted

Illiberal, Flawed, or hybrid democracy

Elections may be marred by fraud and state protects some and restricts

Democratization

Process of transitioning from authoritarian to a democratic regime

Democratic Consolidation

the process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions and significant protections of civil liberties and is unlikely to revert to authoritarianism

Democratic Backsliding

Decline in the quality of democracy

Power

The ability to make someone do something they otherwise would not do

Authority

The legit power a state has over people in its territory

Theocracy

A system based on religious rule

Traditional Legitimacy

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 extraordinary characteristics

Unitary System

A political system in which the central govt. has sole constitutional sovereignty and power

Federal System

State's power is legally and constitutionally divided among more than one level of government

CH 3:

Bureaucracy

A large set of unelected officials who implement the laws.

Parliamentary System

A system in which the executive and legislature are fused.

Prime Minister

The head of government in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In a parliamentary system, the PM is a member of the legislature and is selected by the majority party.

Vote of no Confidence

A vote by parliament to remove a government from power

Presidential System

A system in which the executive and legislature are elected
independently and have separate and independent powers

Divided Government

When one or both houses of the legislature are controlled by a political party other than the party of the president

Semi-Presidential System

A system that divides executive power between a directly elected president and a prime minister.

Cabinet

The heads of major departments, or ministries in the bureaucracy.

Legislative Oversight

he power of legislature to hold cabinet officials and members of bureaucracy accountable for their actions and policies.

Common Law

A legal system in which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases.

Code Law

a legal system in which judges follow the law written by the legislature, and previous court decisions do not serve as precedent.

Judicial Independence

The ability of judges to decide cases according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions.

CH 6:

Civil Society

Groups that form outside the government’s control.

Political Socialization

The process through which an individual learns about politics and is taught about society’s common political values and beliefs.

Post-Materialism

A set of values in a society in which most citizens are economically secure enough to move beyond immediate economic (materialist) concerns to “quality of life” issues like human rights, civil rights, women’s rights, environmentalism, and moral values.

Neo-Liberalism

A philosophy favoring economic polices that support the free market and reduce trade barriers.

Communism

An ideology that advocates state ownership of all property, with the government exercising complete control over the economy.

Socialism

A political ideology in which economic equality is a core value, with the belief that government ownership of the major means of production is a way to reduce income inequality within the state.

Fascism

A nationalist political ideology where nationalism and primacy of the state are the core beliefs.

Totalitarianism

A poli. Ideology that that emphasizes domination of the state over citizens.

Populism

A political ideology based on the idea that the government should put the rights and interests of the common people above the elites.

Formal Political Participation

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

Informal Political Participation

Protest, civil disobedience, and political violence, including terrorism.

Social Movement

A large group organized to advocate for political change.

Social Cleavage

Division based on ethnicity, race, religion, class, or territory.

Political Cleavage

Division based on different ideas about the role of government and policymaking goals.

CH 8:

Electoral System

The formal rules and procedures for selecting the executive or members of the legislature

Multimember district system (MMD)

A method for electing members of a legislature in which two or more representative are elected from a district

Single-member district (SMD) system

A system for electing members of the legislature in which the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins a seat in the legislature

Plurality

The most votes, but not necessarily a majority

“First Past The Post” (FPTP)

An election rule in an SMD system in which the candidate with a plurality of votes wins a seat in the legislature

Proportional Representation (PR) system

A system for electing members of the legislature in which seats are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives

Mixed electoral system

A system for electing members of the legislature that includes both single-member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation

Dominant party system

A party system in which multiple parties exist, but one party dominates the executive branch and wins most of the seats in the legislature

Catch all party

A party that takes ideologically diverse, usually middle-of-the-road, positions to capture as many voters as possible

Interest Group

An association of individuals or businesses that attempts to influence government

Pluralism

A system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control

Corporatism

A system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

Single peak association

Grassroots Movement

Citizens at the local level banding together to advocate for a cause

CH 10:

Globalization

The increased interconnectedness of people, states, and economies.

Multinational Corporation (MNC)

A company with facilities or assets in more than one country.

Rentier State

A state that relies on the export of oil or from the leasing of resources to foreign entities as a significant source of government revenue.

International Organization

A body established by a treaty or other agreement among countries.

Economic Liberalization policy

A policy that reduces the role of government in the economy, supports the free market and reduces trade barriers.

Supranational Organization

A body in which member countries have some say in governing and give up some sovereignty over issues affecting the organization as a whole.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

A nonprofit group outside government control that usually focuses on social and political issues.