Vocabulary

• Quantitative data - information that can be counted or measured in a numerical value.

• Qualitative data - descriptive data that numbers cannot quantify

• Empirical statements - an objective statement based on facts

• Normative statements - contain subjective or value-related judgments

• Causation - one change in variable results in a shift in others

• Correlation - apparent association between two variables

• Human Development Index (HDI) - measures life expectancy, education, quality of life, etc. in a country

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - the total of all goods and services produced in a country

• GDP per capita - GDP divided by the total population

• GDP growth rate - shows the rate of national economic expansion

• Gini Index (coefficient) - shows the income inequality within a country (0= perfect equality, 100= perfect inequality)

• Freedom House - an organization that calculates a “freedom” score for every country

• Transparency International - ranks countries based on corruption in the public sector

• Fragile states index - ranks countries based on indicators such as security threats, economic decline, human rights violations, and social unrest

• Political system - a system that creates laws and rules

• State - a political unit with sovereignty, a body of people, a territory with defined boundaries, and some form of government able to make political decisions.

• Regime - the fundamental rules that control access to and the exercise of political power

• Government - Institute that makes/creates public policy

• Nation - a group of people with similar traits such as religion, race, etc.

• Sovereignty - legal ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory

• Power - ability to direct the behavior of others through coercion and leadership

• Authority - the government has a legitimate right to use power

• Coup d’etat - illegal and often violent seizure of government

• Revolution - a sudden and significant change in the system of government

• Supranational organization - groups or countries that work together for economic and political benefits

• Transparency - citizens’ ability to access information from government

• Authoritarian Regime - a system of government that lacks independent branches, and civil liberties, and has most power concentrated under a small group of people

• Democratic Regime - a form of government in which institutions allow citizens to choose the makers of public policy in free elections

• Democratization - transformation from a nondemocratic regime to a democratic one

• Democratic Consolidation - a process in which a new democracy matures

• Illiberal Democracy - a form of government where elections take place, but there is still a large limitation on civil rights

• Hybrid regime - has elements of both democracy and authoritarianism

• Theocracy - a political system based on religious authority

• Totalitarian regime - a political system where government controls all aspects of society

• Suffrage - the right to vote

• Rule of Law - the principle that all people must abide by the same laws, no matter their position

• Civil liberties - fundamental rights and freedoms given to individuals by law

• Legitimacy - the acceptance of a government system by its citizens having the right to exercise power

• Political efficacy - refers to the theory that citizens feel like they have an impact on the government

• Nationalism - having immense pride in one’s country

• Institutions - organizations, structures, and norms that structure political action

• Unitary System - central government holds the most power, with little to no power being in state and local governments

• Federal system - power is divided between a national government and regional authorities

• Delegation - one level of government grants power to another

• Devolution - the transfer of certain powers from one entity to another

• Traditional legitimacy - when a government bases its rule on ideological policy and tradition

• Charismatic legitimacy - rule is based on one’s personality (ex: Napoleon)

• Rational-legal legitimacy - when rule is based on law and a certain amount of procedures

• Centripetal forces - any action that unites the people as one singular political unit

• Centrifugal forces - forces or attitudes that can divide a state