Comparative Government

State

A political organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory.

Nation

A group of people bound by common identity.

Regime

Rules and norms of political authority.

Government

Leadership in power at a given time.

Legitimacy

Right to rule as accepted by people.

Rule of Law

Law applies equally to all.

Sovereignty

Authority to govern within borders.

Political Efficacy

Citizens’ belief in ability to influence politics.

Democratization

Movement toward democracy.

Authoritarianism

Concentration of power in a single authority.

Civil Society

Voluntary organizations independent of state.

Transparency

Government openness.

Magna Carta

Charter limiting monarch's power; foundation for UK constitutional development.

Glorious Revolution

1688 overthrow of James II establishing parliamentary supremacy.

Bill of Rights

1689 document ensuring parliamentary sovereignty and civil liberties.

Industrial Revolution

Transformation of economy & society; rise of working class & unions.

Reform Acts

Expanded suffrage and modernized electoral system.

Labour & Conservative Party Formation

Major parties representing working class (Labour) and elites (Conservative).

Beveridge Report

1942 report forming basis for Welfare State.

NHS Creation

National Health Service (1948), universal healthcare.

Thatcherism

Neoliberal reforms: privatization, deregulation, reduced union power.

New Labour / Third Way

Modernized Labour Party under Tony Blair combining market-friendly policies with social programs.

Coalition Government 2010

Conservatives & Liberal Democrats coalition after hung parliament.

Brexit Referendum & Withdrawal

2016 referendum removing UK from EU, restoring parliamentary sovereignty.

Unwritten Constitution

UK has no single codified constitution; relies on statutes, conventions, common law.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Parliament is supreme and can make or unmake any law without judicial review.

Constitutional Monarchy

Monarch is ceremonial; power rests with elected Parliament.

Prime Minister

Head of government; leader of majority party in House of Commons.

Vote of No Confidence

Commons can remove the PM by majority vote.

House of Commons

Lower chamber, main legislative body elected via FPTP.

House of Lords

Upper chamber, revising and delaying powers only.

Cabinet Government

Collective responsibility of ministers for government decisions.

Devolution

Transfer of power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland; partial autonomy.

Two-Party System

Conservative & Labour dominance; minor parties include Liberal Democrats, SNP, UKIP, Green Party.

First Past the Post (FPTP)

Electoral system awarding seats to candidate with most votes; leads to two-party dominance.

Safe & Marginal Seats

Constituencies where outcome is predictable (safe) or competitive (marginal).

Coalition Governments

Occur when no party has majority; e.g., 2010 Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Interest Groups

TUC, CBI; influence policy & legislation.

Party Whips

Party officials ensuring member votes align with party line.

Mixed Economy

Combines private and public ownership; UK has free market + Welfare State.

Privatization

Selling state-owned enterprises to private ownership.

Deregulation

Reducing government control over economy.

Austerity Measures

Government policies reducing public spending.

Regional Inequality

Economic differences between North/South or urban/rural areas.

Brexit Economic Impact

Trade & regulatory changes due to EU departure.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Investment from other countries into UK economy.

Trade Agreements

Deals negotiated by UK post-Brexit (e.g., CPTPP).

Class System

Upper, middle, working class structure.

Regional Cleavages

Differences in identity, economy, & politics (North/South, Scotland/Wales).

Immigration & Multiculturalism

Inflow of diverse populations influencing society & politics.

National Identity

Multiple nations under one UK state; debates over British vs Scottish/Welsh identity.

Civil Liberties

Freedoms such as speech, press, assembly.

Media Freedom

Independent media and press watchdogs.

Political Participation

Voting, protest, activism; variable by region & class.

Special Relationship

Close UK-US alliance in diplomacy & defense.

NATO

UK member, collective defense organization.

Commonwealth

Organization of former British colonies; UK influence & soft power.

EU (pre-Brexit)

Membership influenced laws, economy, foreign policy.

Brexit Negotiations

Managing exit from EU; Northern Ireland Protocol included.

UN Role

Active in UN Security Council & international diplomacy.

Soft Power

Cultural exports like BBC, monarchy, education, arts.

Qing Dynasty Collapse

End of imperial rule, 1911 revolution.

Republic of China

Predecessor government (1912–1949).

CCP Formation

1921, founding of Chinese Communist Party.

People's Republic of China (PRC)

Founded 1949 by CCP under Mao.

Mao Zedong

Communist revolutionary leader; Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution.

Great Leap Forward

1958–1962; economic campaign causing famine.

Cultural Revolution

1966–1976; social and political upheaval.

Deng Xiaoping Reforms

Market-oriented economic reforms post-Mao.

Four Modernizations

Agriculture, industry, science & technology, defense.

Tiananmen Square 1989

Pro-democracy protests suppressed by CCP.

Hong Kong Handover

1997 transfer from UK to China; 'one country, two systems'.

WTO Accession

2001; increased trade and integration with global economy.

Xi Jinping Era

Authoritarian consolidation, removal of presidential term limits.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Single ruling party controlling state and military.

Politburo Standing Committee

Top leadership body; Xi Jinping ultimate authority.

General Secretary

Head of CCP; most powerful political position.

Central Committee

Party body directing major policies.

National People's Congress (NPC)

Rubber-stamp legislature; approves CCP decisions.

State Council

Executive branch led by Premier.

Central Military Commission

Controls PLA; party control over military.

PLA

People’s Liberation Army; military under CCP.

Nomenklatura System

Party personnel appointments & promotions.

Hukou System

Household registration controlling migration & welfare.

No Competitive National Elections

All elections controlled; CCP dominance.

Village Elections

Limited local elections in some rural areas.

Democratic Centralism

Decision-making structure: debate internally, unity publicly.

Factionalism

CCP internal power groups.

Xi Jinping Thought

Ideology centralizing Xi's authority.

Propaganda

State messaging to control public perception.

Censorship

Media and internet restrictions.

Civil Society (State-Controlled)

NGOs allowed only under state supervision.

Social Credit System

Monitors citizen behavior to encourage compliance.

Socialist Market Economy

Mix of state & market influences; CCP guides economy.

SOEs

State-Owned Enterprises dominate strategic industries.

SEZs

Special Economic Zones (e.g., Shenzhen) to attract investment.

Five-Year Plans

Central planning documents for economic growth.

Household Responsibility System

Rural land reforms giving farmers control over output.

TVEs

Township and Village Enterprises in rural reform era.

Belt and Road Initiative

Global infrastructure & influence program.