AP comparative government

comparative politics

The study of similarity & differences between states, how different governments operate

Comparative Method

Examine the same phenomenon in several cases & reaching conclusions

Causation

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

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables. ex) people wanting to vote because they think it will make a change

Empirical statement

An assertion of fact that can be proven

Normative Statement

A value judgement, uses should/ ought.

Quantitative Data

Observations made using statistical techniques

EX) graphs, charts

Qualitative Data

Text-based descriptions.

EX) a survey

Source Analysis

Reading & Analyzing text.

Human Development Index (HDI)

life-expectancy, education, per capita GDP. higher wealth = higher score

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goals & services provided in a country in a year

GDP Growth Rate

% a GDP has grown over a year

Gini Index

A measure of income inequality

Freedom House

A non-governmental organization that measure the level of democracy in countries year to year

Transparency International

Level of corruption via Corruption Perception index

corruption

the use of official power for a personal gain

Grand Corruption

corruption among the political elite

petty corruption

everyday abuse of power by government workers

The Fragile States Index

attempts to measure the existential danger each state faces

strong state

state that is capable of providing necessary government services to its citizens

The Human Index

an aggregate measures of life expectancy, education, & per capita income

Democratic consolidation

The process by which a regime has developed stable democratic institutions & significant protections of civil rights & it’s unlikely to revert to authoritarian

regime

type of political system

regime change

a change in fundamental system of government

coup d’etat

overthrow of government by people/military leaders

revolution

overthrow of a regime based on popular support

change in government

new leader often happens in democratic

nation

group of people who share ethnicity/cultural backgrounds

nationalism

when a group has a strong sense of identity & believes it has its own destiny

liberal democracy

free & fair elections provides citizens with an array of rights

Illiberal/hybrid democracy

system in which elections are rigged by fraud. protects some rights but restricts others

transparency

the ability of citizens to know what the government is doing

authoritarian regime

a system w/o free & fair elections in which civil rights & liberties are restricted

totalitarian regime

type of authoritarian government where the state controls the citizens life’s

democratization

process of becoming a democracy

democratic consolidation

process by which a regime becomes a stable democracy & protection of civil rights

democratic backsliding

decline in the quality of democracy, decrease in citizens participation, rule of law, transparency, & accountability

power

the ability to make someone do something they otherwise would not do.

Authority

Legitimate power a state has over the people within its territory

Theocracy

System based on religious rule

coercion

the use of force, pr threat of force, to get someone to do something they would otherwise not do

legitimacy

citizens believe that the gov. has the right to rule

traditional legitimacy

the right to based on a society’s long-standing patterns & practices

Charismatic legitimacy

right to rule based on personal virtue

Rational-legal legitimacy

the right to rule based on an accepted set of laws (democratic)

Federal System

a political system in which a states power is legally & constitutional divided among more than one level of you

Unitary system

political system is which the central gov. has sole constitutional sovereignty & power

devolution

granting of power by the central gov. to regional gov.

GDP per capita

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country divided by its total population, providing a measure of the average economic output per person.

failed state

A state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in effective control, often leading to a breakdown of public order and services

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Sovereignty

the authority of a state to govern itself or another state

International recognition

being recognized by outside countries as your own country

rule of law

all citizens (even government officials) have to follow the law

rule by law

when the law isnt for everyone (russia)

Political efficacy

refers to the belief that individuals can understand and influence political processes, playing a crucial role in democratic engagement and civic participation

Executive

Chief political power in s state usually a president or a prime minister

Bureaucracy

large set of unelected officials who implement the law

legislature

group of law makers that passes laws & represents citizens

Judiciary

System of courts that interprets law & applies it to individual cases

Parliamentary System 

System in which the executive & legislative are fused (U.K)

Member of Parliament (MP)

Person elected to serve in the legislative

Prime Minister (PM)

Head of gov. in a parliament system, member of legislature & selected by majority vote.

Coalition gov. 

When 2 or more parties agree to work together to form a majority & select the PM

Vote of no confidence

By parliament to remove a gov. from power

presidential system

the executive & the legislative are elected independently & have separate & independent powers (Mexico & Nigeria)

Separation of powers

division of power among the major branches of gov.

Divided Gov. 

1 or both houses the legislature are controlled by a poliical party other than the party of the president

Semi-Presidental System

System that divides executive power between a directly elected president & a prime minister. (russia)

Term Limit

Restrictions on the # of terms the executive may serve

Term Of Office

Specified # of years that an executive can serve

Impeachment

process of removing president before end of their term.

Cabinet

Consists of heads of major departments/ ministers in bureaucracy

Legislative Oversight

Power of legislature to hold cabinet officials & members of bureaucracy accountable for their actions & policies

unicameral legislature

legislature with one chamber (uni)

bicameral

legislature has 2 chambers (bi)

Common Law

Legal system which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases 

Case Law

System which judges follow law written by legislature & previous court decisions do not serve as precedent

Judicial Independence

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

Institutions

the established structures and organizations that shape and govern political systems. They provide the framework for how power is exercised, decisions are made, and policies are implemented within a society.

code law

is basically a systematic list of laws that have been codified and are enforceable by law.

Civil society