AP GOVERNMENT TEST PREP ch 7-10

Government Institutions: CHAPTER 7

*Constitution: the document that states how the government should be organized and what power it holds. the document that states how the government should be organized and what power it holds.

*Constitutional countries have a rule of law, where formal rules constantly apply.

There are two types of legislative-executive relationships.

Presidential - the chief executive is chosen by the people. ( different entity)

parliamentary - fusion of executive and legislative authority. The chief executive is selected by the majority of the legislative.

cabient- a group of advisors who help the president develop policy .

vote of no confidence- the power of the parliament over the government. impeachment- removing the president.

Semi-presidential - both prime minister and president.

Head of State- runs the government

Head of Nation- representative of the whole country

president- person elected separately from the legislature

prime minister- person selected by the majority of the parliament

unicameral and bicameral legislature:one house and two houses legislature.

Judicial Review: the power of the court system to overturn a law or executive action.

Law systems-

1) common law system- Legal system based on judicial precedents and case laws.

2) code (civil) law system- Legal system based on applying written laws.

3) sharia Law- Legal system based on the Islamic Law.

UK,NIGERIA 1 and sharia in northern part of nigeria.

CHINA,RUSSIA,MEXICO 2

ISLAM 3

*bureaocrats: unelected officials that carry out laws, by writing regulations, enforcing rules, and assigning fines.

 Bureaucracy – Administrative system governed by non-elected officials following fixed rules and hierarchical authority.

 Meritocracy – Social system where individuals advance based on abilities and achievements rather than social status or wealth.

 Merit – Quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially to deserve praise or reward.

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CHAPTER 8 Political Culture and Participation

*Cleavage- social division within society

*cross-cutting cleavages- not so-bad divisions, because they are easier to govern and compromising, is possible

*civil society: a collection of groups, communities, and organizations that operate independently from the gov.

*social capital: networks, relationships, and trust among people so society can function well.

social movement - groups of people with the agenda of forcing a change.

Political Culture- The shared attitudes of groups of people towards the government.

political socialization: the process by which people learn to develop their political beliefs and views often influenced by agents of socialization like family media friends etc


Political Ideology: the set of beliefs , ideas and values of a person about how society and government should be like.

communism- a political and economic system where all property is shared by a classless society.

socialism- a political and economic system where the government holds all resources to ensure everyone is getting treated fairy and has equal access to essentials.

populism- doctrine committed to the rights of the common people rather than those of the elites.

liberalism- political doctrine committed to individual freedom and free markets.

neoliberalism- committed to government policy of privatization, free trade.

individulaism- committed to government protection of individual civil liberaties.

conservatism- political doctrine committed to traditional values and practices.

facism- political doctrine committed to glorification of the state with extreme nationalism.

-media is a powerful linkage institution

limited in authoritarian

free in democratic

  • Authority: The right or power to give orders, make decisions, and enforce rules.

  • Legitimacy: When authority or power is widely accepted as valid and justified by the people.

  • Power: The ability to influence or control the actions and decisions of others.

  • Rule of Law: The principle that everyone, including leaders, must follow the law, and no one is above it.

  • Free Fair Elections: Elections where all eligible citizens can vote freely, without interference, and the results reflect the true will of the people.

  • Democratization: The process of transitioning to a more democratic system of government.

  • Democracy: A system of government where power is held by the people, often through elected representatives.

  • Authoritarian: A system of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or small group, with limited political freedoms.

  • Hybrid Regime: A government that combines elements of democracy (like elections) with authoritarian practices (like limited freedoms or weak rule of law).

Bureaucracy is a system where government tasks are carried out by officials and departments following fixed rules.

CHAPTER 9 PARTY AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS

linkage institutions - the process of linking people to the government (elections, media etcc.)

  • Plurality means the most votes, but majority means one more than half or more than 50%

  • authority - right to use power

  • sovereignty- ultimate authority over the territory

  • legitimacy- when the ppl accept the governments authority to make policy .

types of elections-

*primary election - within the own party, the parties allow the voters to select the candidate for the general elections.

*general election - type of election where the voters select the office holder.

*two ballot election- the type of election when no one of the candidates get more than 50% and they do a second round for the 2 with the most votes.

*referendums- a yes or no question. directly from the government to the public.

types of parties-

  • one party system- only one party can exist by the government.

  • dominant party system- multiple parties exist but one dominates elections and government.

  • two party system- two parties dominate elections while other have minimal influence

  • multiparty system- multiple parties co-existing, competing and often share power.

Policy Agenda - A set of issues or problems that government officials and policymakers prioritize for action.

types of interest group systems -

two approaches to establish a linkage between government and interest groups

Pluralism Corporatism

Decentralized, with many competing groups.

Centralized, with limited recognized groups.

Open competition among groups.

The government actively integrates specific groups.

Often associated with liberal democracies.

Associated with more structured or hierarchical systems.

two types of election systems- SMD- SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT & PR- PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

IN SMD CANDIDATE MUST WIN PLURALITY TO WIN A SEAT

IN PR ITS A PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT OF & OF VOTES = % OF THE SEAT.

CHAPTER 10 POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENT

Democratization- the process of a state transitioning from an authoritarian to a democratic regime. (political liberalization)

globalization- the interconnectedness of cultures and markets.

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS- MNCs-

Supranational organizations are entities created by multiple countries that work together on shared goals or challenges. Member nations transfer some decision-making power to the organization.

two types of economic systems

  1. Command - the government decides how the resources should be allocated usually letting a bureaucracy do it.

  2. Market - allocates resources according to demand and supply

  • A mixed economy blends government control and private business to manage the economy.

economic liberalization- when an economy is free from government control to promote economic growth.

the most visible change a government can make is to undergo the process of privatization

  • PRIVATIZATION- sell off state-owned enterprises to private investors. SOEs

  • FDI- foreign direct investment & SEZs- special economic zones - boost economy

WTO- WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

ECOWAS- ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES.

Gridlock happens when decision-making is stalled because different groups or branches of government can't agree. This can stop laws or policies from being passed or implemented.

  • NGOs- non-government institutions

  • and MNCs pressure the government to adopt policies that PROMOTE protect civil liberties, private property, and free trade.

  • ex of supranational organizations- WTO- EU- ECOWAS ONLY ACCEPT MEMBERS FOR OPEN GLOBAL TRADE.

Recession - economic slowdown

deficit - when spending exceeds revenue.

KEYNESIAN APPROACH- increase government spending and lower taxes to increase consumer income. increases deficit but is also believed to increase output levels and restore the economy.

AUSTERITY- tightening of the belt, reducing the deficit, increasing taxes, and reducing spending. harder in the short run but leads to a stronger economy.

dependency theory- states that developing countries are being exploited by developed countries. solution for that- ISI (import substitution industrialization )

better solution for the dependency theory might be SAP- structural adjustment program

GINI INDEX- a measurement for economic inequality

  • rentier state- a state that gains more than HALF of its revenue . from the practice of renting out its natural resources.

  • welfare state- one that seeks to provide a universal safety net for many of its citizens ny providing pensions, unemployment insurance and health care

  • sustainability - meeting out needs today without harming the ability of future generation to meet theirs.

recognition and representation are the two types of reforms

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