AP COMP UNIT 1

Causation

a direct cause-and-effect link where changing one political variable produces a change in another

Correlation

two political or social variables tend to change together (like higher GDP and better human rights)

Empirical statements

factual, objective claims about politics that can be tested and proven with data

Normative statements

subjective claims expressing value judgments, opinions, or what should be, rather than objective facts (positive statements) about how things are

Quantitative data

numerical information (like GDP, life expectancy, voter turnout percentages, or Human Development Index scores)

Qualitative data

rich, non-numerical information like speeches, foundational documents, political cartoons, and interview transcripts, used to understand the qualities, characteristics, and context of political systems, rather than just counting things

Human Development Index (HDI)

a key metric ranking countries on overall well-being, combining life expectancy, education (schooling years), and per capita income to show development beyond just economic output (like GDP)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

a key economic indicator measuring a nation's total output, used to compare economic health, development, and living standards between countries

GDP per capita

GDP divided by its population

GDP growth rate

rate in which GDP grows

Gini Index (coefficient)

economic indicator measuring a nation's income inequality, shows how income or consumption is distributed among households, with higher scores meaning greater disparity

Freedom House

a crucial tool that assesses and ranks countries on their levels of political rights and civil liberties, classifying them as "Free," "Partly Free," or "Not Free,"

Fragile State Index

a yearly report by The Fund for Peace that ranks countries based on their vulnerability to collapse using 12 indicators (Cohesion, Economic, Political, Social) to assess pressures like security threats, economic decline, human rights issues, and public service failures

Democratic Consolidation

the process where a new democracy becomes stable, institutionalized, and deeply rooted, making it very difficult to revert to authoritarianism

Corruptions Perception Index

ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be by experts and business executives

Failed State

a nation where the government has lost its legitimacy and capacity to provide essential public services, maintain security, enforce laws, and uphold the rule of law, leading to widespread instability, conflict, and a breakdown of authority, often characterized by corruption, civil unrest, and humanitarian crises. Key reasons for failure involve losing citizen support (legitimacy gap) or failing to meet basic needs (capacity gap), creating vacuums often filled by non-state actors or conflict. 

Federal system

a political structure where power is constitutionally divided between a central (national) government and regional (state/provincial) governments, with both levels having distinct, independent powers over citizens

Devolution

the transfer of significant power and decision-making authority from a central government to regional or local governments

State

an independent political entity with sovereignty, defined territory, a permanent population, and a government that creates and enforces policy

Government

the specific institutions (executive, legislative, judicial) and people exercising power in a political system

Sovereignty

the supreme, independent authority a state holds over its territory and people

Regime

the fundamental rules, institutions, and norms that structure how political power is accessed and exercised within a country, defining the relationship between the state and its citizens, distinct from the temporary government

Coup d’etat

the sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government by a small group, often the military or political elite, using force or coercion, rather than mass popular uprising (revolution)

Revolution

a fundamental, often rapid, and significant change in a country's political, social, or economic structures, involving the mass overthrow of an existing government or regime to establish a new system, driven by deep popular discontent, inequality, or oppression

Nation

a large group of people sharing common cultural identity and a sense of belonging, often desiring self-governance

Nationalism

a powerful ideology where people's primary loyalty and devotion are to their nation (a group with shared culture, language, or history) rather than other groups or external powers, often driving movements for self-governance, unity, and distinct national interests, appearing as a force in state-building, decolonization, and conflict

Liberal democracy

a political system combining majority rule with strong protections for individual rights and civil liberties, featuring free/fair elections, rule of law, separation of powers, checks & balances, and an independent judiciary

Authoritarian state

a political system where power is concentrated in a single leader or small group, with limited citizen participation, restricted civil liberties (like free speech, press), weak rule of law (more rule by law), and a lack of independent government branches

Totalitarian state

a system where the government exerts total control over all aspects of public and private life, using a single party, ideology, propaganda, censorship, and terror to subordinate individual freedom to the state

Illiberal, flawed or hybrid democracy

regimes with elections but weak rule of law, restricted civil liberties (like free speech/press), and concentrated executive power, blending democratic facades with authoritarian practices, often by eroding checks and balances, controlling media, and harassing opponents, creating a system where citizens vote but freedoms are curtailed. 

Rule of law

the principle that everyone, including rulers and the government, is accountable to fair, public, and equally enforced laws

Rule by law

the government uses laws as tools to maintain control and power

Transparency

a government's openness in making its actions, decisions, and information accessible and understandable to the public, fostering accountability, trust, and reducing corruption

Democratization

the process where a country transitions from an authoritarian or non-democratic system toward a fully democratic one

Democratic backsliding

the gradual erosion of democratic institutions, norms, and freedoms, leading a country from a democracy towards a more authoritarian system

Power

the fundamental ability of individuals, groups, or institutions to influence or control the behavior, actions, and decisions of others within a political system, often through authority, coercion, persuasion, or resource control, shaping governance and societal outcomes

Authority

the legitimate right to exercise power

Theocracy

a political system where religious leaders hold power, and governance is based on religious law and divine authority

Coercion

using force, threats, or intimidation (like violence, imprisonment, or economic pressure) to compel individuals or groups to act against their will

Legitimacy

the widely held belief that a government has the right to rule and exercise authority

Political efficacy

a citizen's belief in their ability to understand and influence political events and public policy, broken down into internal efficacy (self-confidence in political skills) and external efficacy (belief the government will respond)

Traditional legitimacy

the belief that a government's right to rule comes from long-standing customs, habits, and historical precedents

Charismatic legitimacy

a type of authority where people obey a ruler because of their extraordinary personal qualities, heroism, or exceptional character, inspiring deep emotional loyalty and devotion

Rational-legal legitimacy

the belief that a government's power is valid because it comes from a system of established, impersonal laws and procedures

Unitary system

a form of government where power is concentrated in a single, central national authority, with local or regional governments only holding powers delegated to them by the central government, powers which can be revoked