Comparative Politics Examination 3

Per Capita GDP

A country’s total economic output divided by its population, used to estimate average living standards

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

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

Real vs. Nominal GDP

Nominal GDP is measured in current prices, while real GDP is adjusted for inflation

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality)

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

A method of comparing living standards by adjusting for cost of living differences

Human Development Index

A measure of quality of life based on income, education, and life expectancy

Washington Consensus

A set of free-market economic policies promoting privatization, deregulation, and free trade

Declining Liberalism in 21st Century

The global weakening of democratic norms, civil liberties, and rule of law

Suffrage

The right to vote

Single Member District System

An electoral system where one representative is elected per district

First-Past-the-Post

A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority

Two-Ballot System (France)

A system where a second round is held if no candidate wins a majority

Pros and Cons of SMD

Pros include strong local representation; cons include underrepresentation of minorities

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to benefit a political party

Duverger’s Law

Single-member districts tend to create two-party systems

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where parties gain seats based on vote share

PR Thresholds

Minimum vote percentage required to win representation

Closed vs. Open List

Closed lists are chosen by parties; open lists allow voters to pick candidates

Pros and Cons of PR Systems

Pros include fairer representation; cons include coalition instability

MMP Systems (Pros & Cons)

Mixed systems combining district and proportional voting, balancing fairness and stability

Alternative Vote / RCV

Voters rank candidates; lowest candidates are eliminated until someone wins a majority

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

A ranked-choice system used in multi-member districts

Roles of Political Parties

Recruit candidates, organize government, and represent voters

Ideological Parties

Parties based on strong political beliefs

Catch-All Parties

Parties that try to appeal to a wide range of voters

Regional Parties

Parties that represent specific geographic areas

Dominant Party Systems

One party dominates elections over long periods

Two Party Systems

Systems where two major parties compete for power

Hung Parliament

No party wins a majority of seats

Coalition Government

Multiple parties share power

Minority Government

A ruling party that does not hold a majority

Multi-Party Systems

Systems with many political parties

Grand Coalition

A government formed by major rival parties

Codetermination

Workers participate in corporate management

Checks and Balances

A system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful

Federalist 47

Madison’s argument that separated powers prevent tyranny

Montesquieu

Political theorist who developed separation of powers

Head of State

Symbolic leader of a country

Head of Government

Person who runs the government

Presidential Systems

Systems where executive and legislature are separately elected

Commander-in-Chief

Leader of the armed forces

Decree Powers

Authority to rule without legislative approval

Veto Power

Ability to reject legislation

Strongman Theory

Leadership based on personal authority rather than institutions

Imperial Presidency

A president with excessive power

Divided Government

When different parties control different branches

Prime Minister

Head of government in parliamentary systems

Westminster Model

Parliamentary system used in the UK

Vote of No Confidence

A vote that can remove a government

Semi-Presidential Systems

Systems with both a president and prime minister

Cohabitation

When president and prime minister are from different parties

Roles of Legislatures

Make laws, represent citizens, oversee government

Unicameralism

A legislature with one chamber

Bicameralism

A legislature with two chambers

Rule of Law

Everyone is subject to the law

Judicial Review

Courts’ power to declare laws unconstitutional

Constitutional Courts

Specialized courts that interpret the constitution

Abstract vs. Concrete Review

Abstract review checks laws generally; concrete review comes from real cases

Authority

The legitimate right to rule

Confederal Systems

Weak central government with powerful states

Articles of Confederation

The first US constitution with weak central authority

Federalism

Power shared between national and regional governments

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments

Federalism in Germany / Länder

German states share power with the national government

Unitary Systems

Power concentrated in the central government

Japan / Prefectures

Japan’s local administrative divisions

France / Unitary System

France’s centralized government structure

Devolution in Spain & UK

Transfer of powers to regional governments

Meiji Restoration

Japan’s 19th-century modernization

Taishō Democracy

Period of Japanese political liberalization

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Japan’s dominant political party

Aging Problem in Japan

Japan’s shrinking and aging population

Japan’s Economy since 1990s

Long period of low growth and deflation

Factions in the LDP

Internal party groups competing for power

Shinzo Abe

Former Japanese prime minister

Japanese Security Threats

North Korea, China, and regional instability

Prussia

The state that led German unification

Weimar Republic

Germany’s democratic government after WWI

German Reunification (1990)

East and West Germany becoming one

The Basic Law

Germany’s constitution

Bundestag

Germany’s lower house of parliament

Länder / Federalism

German state governments

Chancellor

Germany’s head of government

Democracy

A system where citizens choose their government