Ap Comp Gov 1

State

A government with independent legal authority over a population in a particular territory

Regime

A system, such as authoritarian or democratic, that is the framework of government

Government

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

Regime Change

A change in the fundamental rules and system of government

Change in Government

A change in leaders, without a fundamental change in the system

Liberal Democracy

A system with free and fair elections and civil rights and liberties

Illiberal/Procedural Democracy or Hybrid Regime

A system that holds contested elections, but with limited competitiveness and minimal civil liberties and transparency

Authoritarian State

A regime that lacks free and fair elections and restricts civil rights and liberties

Democratization

The transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic system

Democratic Consolidation

The process by which a democratic regime matures, making it unlikely to become authoritarian

Totalitarian Government

A state with complete political, social, and cultural control over citizens

Military Regime

A form of government where political power resides with the armed forces, often led by a general

One Party State

A state that allows only one party to control government

Theocracy

A state based on religious rule

Nation

A group of people with commonalities, including race, language, religion, ethnicity, political identity, and aspirations

Sovereignty

A state's right and power to govern itself without internal or external interference

Legitimacy

The state's legitimate right to use power to enforce policies and decisions

Traditional Legitimacy

The right to rule based on long standing customs and beliefs

Charismatic Legitimacy

The right to rule based on the leader's personality

Rational/Legal Legitimacy

The right to rule based on an institutionalized system of laws

Political Efficacy

A citizen's belief that his or her political participation can make a difference

Rule of Law

The principle that a state should not be ruled by arbitrary decisions made by officials, and that no one is above the law

Rule by Law

When the judicial system makes decisions according to the wishes of government officials, instead of using legal principles

Transparency

The ability of citizens to see what the government is doing, including openness and accountability

Corruption

The use of an official position for personal gain

Revolution

An overthrow of the political system with wide popular support

Coup

The seizure of power from a government, usually by a small group

Unitary System

A system where power is concentrated at the national level, where the power of subgovernments is not protected

Federal System

A system where power is divided among different levels of government, with some subgovernment power protected

Devolution

When the national government delegates power to regional government

Institutions of Government

Organizations in a government that create, enforce, and apply laws, such as the executive, legislature, and judiciary

Head of State

The executive who officially represents the country

Head of Government

The executive who oversees policy making and administration

Bicameral

A two-house legislature

Coalition Government

When no party wins a majority of seats in the legislature in a parliamentary system and parties band together and cooperate to run government

Judicial Review

The ability of a court to overturn laws or executive actions that violate the constitution

Common Law

A system of law in which court decisions serve as precedent for future cases

Civil Service

A bureaucracy staffed based upon qualifications

Patronage

Rewarding political support with government jobs and contracts

Private Capital

Money invested in a business by an individual or a group of individuals

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Money invested in a business which is located in another country

Causation

When a change in one variable precipitates a change in another variable

Correlation

An association between two or more variables

Human Development Index (HDI)

A statistic composite index of indicators, including life expectancy, education, and per capita income

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

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

GDP per Capita

The total value of goods and services produced in a country during one year divided by population

GDP Growth Rate

The rate at which the total value of goods and services produced in a country changes from one year to another

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality within a country; the closer to 0 a country is, the less income inequality there is

Freedom House Index

A measure of political rights and civil liberties within a country

Corruption Perceptions Index

A measure of the degree which citizens believe officials use their positions for private gain

Fragile States Index

A measure of the degree to which a state is weak and fragile

Empirical Statement

a statement based on fact

Normative Statement

what should happen