AP Comparative Government - Unit 1.2 Vocabulary Quiz - Mexico

Patron-Clientelism

When those in power offer benefits to citizens in. exchange for political support

PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party)

Political party that dominated Mexican politics from 1929 through the 1990s and maintained power through corruption, bribary, and intimidation.

INE (National Electoral Institute)

An independent agency that regulates elections in Mexico; created in 1990s to end decades of electoral fraud

Head of State

The symbolic representative of a country, such as the King in the United Kingdom

Head of Government

The key executive in the policymaking process - deals with the day-to-day functioning of the government

Cabinet Head

An official appointed to run a government department with a specific policy area.

Sexenio

The single six-year term in office of Mexican presidents.

Nongovernmental Organization

A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.

Chamber of Deputies

The elected lower house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to pass legislation, levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify elections.

Lower house

the legislative body in a bicameral system that typically has more members, shorter terms, and less prestige than the upper house, but it may be the more powerful body in the legislature

Senate

The elected upper house of the Mexican Congress, which has the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in the states

Upper House

The legistlative body in a bicameral system that typically has fewer members and may have more presitge than the lower houses. It may or may not have more power.

civil society

Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests - ex. community clubs

mandate

the broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

mixed electoral system

a system for electing members of the legislature that includes both single-member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation

single member plurality system (SMD)

A system in which the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins a seat in the legislature (same as US House of Rep.)

Proportional representation system (PR)

A system in which seats in the legislature are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives.

Corporatism

A system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

Peak association

An organization authorized by the government to represent a group, such as labor, business, or agriculture

pluralism

A system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control

Zapatistas

Armed guerrilla movement in the Chiapas region of Mexico in the 1990s focused on indigenous rights and class-based inequality

Political culture

a set of collectively held attitudes, values, and beliefs about government and politics, and the norms of behavior in the political system

Civil liberties

fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government

civil rights

protections granted by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions, such as voting

social cleavage

a division in society among social factors such as ethnicity, class, religion, or language

political cleavage

a division among citizens according to political beliefs

Mestizo

People of mixed Spanish and indigenous heritage

economic liberalism

economic policies that support the free market and reduce trade barriers

protectionist economic policy

policy designed to protect domestic industry and reduce foreign influence

Nationalized industry

A state-owned company controlled by the government.

Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

Enacting high tariffs and providing incentives to encourage the growth of domestic manufacturing.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement; allows open trade with US, Mexico, and Canada.

maquiladora district

Factories built by US companies in Mexico near the US border to take advantage of much lower labor costs in Mexico.

Privatization

when the government transfers ownership of its industries to individuals or private companies

PEMEX

Mexican Petroleum; a government agency that runs the oil industry in Mexico