Ap Comp. Killer Vocab-My Terms

Austerity

An attempt to reduce government deficits through spending cuts or taxation increases

Authoritarianism

A system of government based on coercion, rule from the top-down.

Causation

When a change in one variable causes a change in another variable.

Charismatic Legitimacy

The right to rule based on the personality of an individual

Cleavages

Factors that separate groups, create divisions in society.

Code Law

Based on comprehensive system of written rules

Coinciding Cleavages

A division that strengthens feelings of different and discrepancy, weakening society

Common Law

Based on tradition, past practices, and legal precedents

Conservatism

A political attitude that questions whether change is necessary

Cooptation

Granting special favors in exchange for a benefit. “Buying off” critics

Corporatism

When groups, such as business and/or labor work closely with the government in policy-making

Correlation

An apparent connection between variables

Country

The state, government, regime, and people who live in a political system the whole “triangle”

Cross-Cutting Cleavages

A division that include people with differences, strengthening society

Democracy

A system of government that allows citizens to choose policy makers in free, competitive elections

Developed Countries

Countries with a high standard of living and strong economies

Developing Countries

Countries attempting to improve their economic status. Currently with low average income and less sophisticated infrastructure. Might be described as the “third world”

Empirical Question

A question that has a factual, scientific, or mathematical, verifiable answer.

Fascist

Authoritarian regimes, such as Hitler’s and Mussolini’s. Totalitarian attempts to impose state control on all aspects of life.

Federal system

A division of federal government between central and local units of government

First-past-the-post (SMD)

Winner-take-all. Whoever wins the most votes gets the one seat available in an election

GDP

The total value of goods and services produced in a country

Gini Index

A formula that measures economic inequality within a country

Globalization

The process of expanding and intensifying the interconnectedness among states, societies, and economies.

Government

The people or party who are currently running the institutions with legitimate authority

Head of Government

Deals with everyday tasks of running the state and usually directs activities of other members of executive branch

Head of State

Role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally. May or May not have real policy-making power

HDI

A measure of a country’s standard of living, including health and education

Illiberal Democracy

A procedural democracy, with elections, but without real competition, and lacking some civil rights and liberties

Institutions

The executive, legislature, judiciary, and bureaucracy

Legitimacy

Generally accepted view that a government has the right to rule

Liberal Democracy

A system with political competition, economic freedom, civil rights and liberties, and open access to information

Liberalism (attitude)

A political attitude favoring evolutionary transformation of the system

Liberalism (ideology)

A political ideology that places high value on political and economic freedom

Libertarian

An ideology favoring little government interference in the economy and personal freedoms

Marxism

The theory that in a struggle over resources, the elite will dominate. eventually the proletariat will create a classless state

Nation

A group of people with a psychological sense of identity based upon cultural geographic, or linguistic ties

Nation-State

A state with a single predominant national identity

Nationalism

Pride in one’s people, and the belief that they have their own unique political destiny

Neoliberal economics

Reforms that focus on the free market with few restrictions on business and property rights

Normative question

A question that asks, “what should be the case?”

Parliamentary System

Citizens vote for legislative representatives, which in turn select leaders of the executive branch

Patron-Clientalism

A system of corruption where people in power build and maintain loyalty from those below them through favors and support to individuals

Political Attitude

Views about the policy-making, the government’s role, the pace of change, and freedom and equality

Political culture

The history, values, beliefs, and traditions that influence political behavior

Political economy

The relationship between political and economic systems

Political ideology

A set of political beliefs and values about the goals of government

Political recruitment

The process by which citizens are selected for involvement in politics

Political socialization

How citizens learn about politics in their country

Politics

Who gets what. The process by which people are governed

PPP

The buying power of income in a country

Prebendalism

A form of corruption where the government believes they are entitled to a share of revenue

Presidential System

Citizens vote for legislative representatives as well as executive branch leaders

Proportional Representation

Votes for parties, rather than candidates. Parties are represented in the legislature according to the percentage of votes received

Radical

Political attitude that has extremes to the right or left that desire rapid change

Rational-Legal Legitimacy

The right to rule based on a widely accepted system of laws and procedures

Reactionaries

Those who want to restore political, social, and economic institutions that existed in the past

Regime

The fundamental norms and rules established by administrations over time

Rentier State

An economy heavily supported by state expenditure while the state receives money for a good from other countries

Revolution

The overthrow and replacement of a regime based upon broad popular support

Social Democracy

A system with competitive elections and civil rights, coupled with an emphasis on economic equality

Society

A complex human organization with shared institutions

Sovereignty

The ability to carry out actions independent of internal or external forces

State

Institutions, people, and groups that have the power to effect change, including a monopoly of force

Statism

Belief that government should take an active role in controlling the economy

Technocrats

Political leaders that achieve power after the era of those leaders that were members of the initial institution

Theocracy

A form of government where religion and politics are intertwined

Traditional Legitimacy

The right to rule because “it has always been that way”

Transparency

Openly keeping citizens informed about government operations and political issues and responding to citizens questions and advice

Under-Developed Countries

The poorest countries. The bottom 12. Might be described as the “fourth world”

Unitary System

Concentration of policy making power in one central geographic place with the central government responsible for most policy areas