APCG Things

Question 1

Civil Liberties

Answer 1

Freedoms of the people that exist inherently that the government should protect like speech, press, and religion

Question 2

civil service

Answer 2

Non-partisan employees of government departments that are part of a hierarchy that ultimately reports to a cabinet official and the head of government.

Question 3

civil society

Answer 3

The way that citizens organize themselves and express their interests. This is most often reflected in interest groups but also through protests, petitions, and contacting of representatives

Question 4

Corporatist System

Answer 4

Where a few interest groups have exclusive access and work collaboratively with the government to create government policy

Question 5

democratic consolidation

Answer 5

The process in which democratic principles, institutions, and practices matured and are implemented in way that reversion to authoritarianism is less likely

Question 6

economic liberalization

Answer 6

Freeing up the economy from government influence. Involves reduced taxation, regulation, and spending; privatization of industries; removing international trade barriers

Question 7

Federalism

Answer 7

The constitutional division of power between central and regional government.

Question 8

first-past-the-post system

Answer 8

A voting system where voters vote for a representative for a geographic district. The winner is the person who gets a plurality of the vote. This is also known as a single-member district or winner-take-all system.

Question 9

Globalization

Answer 9

The increasing economic interdependence between countries that result in cultural, political, and technological diffusion.

Question 10

Government Transparency

Answer 10

The ability of citizens to observe the government’s policy making process and hold government officials accountable. Connected to a free media.

Question 11

Illiberal Democracy

Answer 11

A country that follows the form of democracy with constitutional structure and elections but without protected civil liberties and political rights

Question 12

Nation

Answer 12

A group of people with common historical, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and religious identity.

Question 13

Nationalized industry

Answer 13

An industry in which the government has taken public ownership.

Question 14

Neoliberalism

Answer 14

An ideology that emphasizes private ownership of the economy and discourages any government intrusion into the market.

Question 15

Pluralist System

Answer 15

Where many interest groups compete with each other and have open access to the government to influence policy making decisions

Question 16

political efficacy

Answer 16

The ability of the people to understand how the government functions and believe that they can influence government action or policy

Question 17

political culture

Answer 17

The collective attitudes, values, and beliefs of the citizenry and the norms of behavior in the political system. It sets expectations about the exercise of power to establish a balance between social order and individual liberty.

Question 18

political ideology

Answer 18

A system of beliefs about humanity, society, and government. This goes beyond just policy; it includes the very nature and purpose of government

Question 19

political institution

Answer 19

A formal established part of the government or political process that lasts beyond the people who occupy it. This includes the presidency, supreme court, bureaucracy, and specific political parties

Question 20

political legitimacy

Answer 20

The perceived authority to rule a country. This can be derived from elections, effective rule, ancestry, religion, cult of personality, or political ideology.

Question 21

political liberalization

Answer 21

The process of freeing the political process from government control and become more democratic through fairer elections, increased rights and liberties, effective government, transparency, rule of law, etc.

Question 22

political rights

Answer 22

The rights given by the government to participate in the political process including voting, running for office, and joining political organizations.

Question 23

political socialization

Answer 23

The process of gaining your political beliefs and values. This can be through family, education, media, or government direction.

Question 24

proportional representation electoral system

Answer 24

An electoral system in which voters choose a party that will receive seats in the legislature in proportion to the votes they receive.

Question 25

Referendum

Answer 25

When citizens get to vote directly on a specific policy or issue

Question 26

Rule of Law

Answer 26

The restriction of government and private powers to the authority of legal principles and that the law is fairly and evenly enforced

Question 27

regime

Answer 27

A system of government with lasting institutions that endures from government to government. For example a parliamentary system, a presidential system, a communist system, military rule etc. A government is simply the people occupy government institutions for a limited time

Question 28

social cleavages

Answer 28

Divisions within a country based on elements of their collective identity like ethnicity, language, culture, religion, region, age, social class, urban vs rural.

Question 29

social welfare

Answer 29

Programs that seek to increase the wellbeing of the poor or needy of a country. These policies include food, housing, healthcare, pensions, and higher education.

Question 30

Sovereignty

Answer 30

The recognized authority to rule a territory or people without outside interference and a monopoly of coercion.

Question 31

State

Answer 31

A country with recognized borders and a ruling sovereign government.

Question 32

supranational organization

Answer 32

An international organization in which members must give up a degree of sovereignty for the common benefit through the integration of all member-states

Question 33

unitary system

Answer 33

A political arrangement in which all sovereignty lies with the central government to rule of the regions. Power can be devolved to the regions but only by choice of the central government.