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AP Comparative Government > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Political Organizations

A

Political systems comprise the laws, ideas, and procedures that address who should have authority to rule and what the governement’s influence on its people and economy should be.

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2
Q

State

A

Political organizations that combine a (permanent population) with governing institutions to exercise control over a (defined territory) with (international recognition).

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3
Q

Nation

A

A group of people with commonalities including race, language, religion, ethnicity, political identity, and aspirations.
All of the AP 6 are multination states.

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4
Q

Regime

A

Democratic or authoritarian based on how it sets up rules or makes decisions about how to exercise power.

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5
Q

Democratic regime

A

Demos = people.
The people give the government their power.

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6
Q

Authoritarian regime

A

System of government where power is invested in a small group of people who exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

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7
Q

Regime change vs. government change

A

Regime change is a change in the fundamental pattern of rules. Demo to autho.
Government change is a change in political leadership of the executive branch. President or PM.

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8
Q

Government

A

Set of institutions or individuals legally empowered to make binding decisions for the state.

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9
Q

Power

A

ABILITY to control or direct others. NO RIGHT. Can exercise one’s will over others.

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10
Q

Authority

A

RIGHT to control or direct others. Accepted or legitimized power.

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11
Q

Sovereignty

A

State’s indepent legal authority over a population in a particular territory that is recognized by other international actors. Ultimate authority.

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12
Q

Factors that indicate degree of democracy. (4)

A
  • Principle that a state should be governed by law and not arbitrary decisions made by gov officials. (Rule OF law rather than Rule BY law)
  • Degree of state influence on or control of media.
  • Degree of transparency of governmental decision making.
  • Nature of citizen participation in gov.
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13
Q

Different types of authoritarian regimes

A
  • Illiberal democracies / hybrid regimes
  • One-party states
  • Theocracy
  • Totalitarian governments
  • Military regimes
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14
Q

How a democratic regime may become authoritarian (6)

A
  • Policy chanegs that make elections less fair or competitive.
  • Coup or revolution.
  • Cancellation of the media.
  • Censorship of the media.
  • Opposition groups rights are limited.
  • A single group dominates the government.
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15
Q

Why do authoritarian regimes sometimes hold direct elections?

A
  • Legitimacy
  • Escape valve for discontent
  • What policies people want
  • Improve accountability to citizens
  • Identify or intimidate opponents of the regime
  • Response to international pressure
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16
Q

Democratization

A

A transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime.

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17
Q

What does democratization lead to? (8)

A
  • Democratic consolidation
  • More competition, fairness, and transparency in elections.
  • Increase citizen participation in policy making process
  • Universal suffrage for adult citzens
  • Greater gov transparency
  • Protected civil rights and liberties
  • Equal treatment of citizens
  • Establishing rule OF law
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18
Q

Democratic consolidation

A

The process by which a demcoratic regime matures in terms of election rules, separation of powers, and protection of civil liberties, making it unlikely to revert to authoritarian without an external shock.
- Ex. UK, Mexico (maybe)

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19
Q

Factors that help democratization

A
  • Electoral systems that accomondate ethnic diversity
  • Increased multiparty competition through rule changes. PR FPTP
  • Independent judiciaries
  • Policies that protect civil liberties
  • Separation of powers
  • Agreement amongst competing political groups
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20
Q

Factors that hinder democratization

A
  • Political corruption
  • Election rules that restrict voting
  • Policies that limit civil liberties
  • Polarization between competing political groups.
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21
Q

Sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • Religion
  • Military forces
  • Political parties
  • Legislatures
  • Popular support
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22
Q

Causation

A

Is difficult to determine with certainty in comparative politics as one variable needs to be the direct cause of another variable.

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23
Q

Correlation

A

Exists when there is an association between two or more variables.

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24
Q

Quantitative data

A

Numerical

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25
Q

Qualitative data

A

Descriptive.

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26
Q

Empirical statement

A

Factual/objective

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27
Q

Normative statement

A

Opinion/value

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28
Q

Human development index

A

Life expectancy, GDP per capita, literacy rate.

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29
Q

GDP

A

How much money a country makes.

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30
Q

Gini index

A

Economic equality.

31
Q

Freedom house rating

A

Personal rights and liberties.

32
Q

Corruption perception score

A

Corruption rate.

33
Q

Fragile state index

A

Fragile rate of a country.

34
Q

UK regime change example?

A
  • The great reform acts
  • Magna carta
  • Reforms
35
Q

Russia regime change example?

A

Russian rev

36
Q

China regime change example?

A

Chinese rev

37
Q

Mexico regime change example?

A

Mexico rev

38
Q

Iran regime change example?

A

Iranian rev

39
Q

Nigeria regime change example?

A

Military coups.

40
Q

UK sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • Legislature (HOS + PM)
  • Citizens / Popular support
41
Q

Russia sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • Political elite’s backing of Putin
  • Election rules favoring one party
42
Q

China sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • CCP
  • CCP control over military
43
Q

Mexico sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • 2000 transition from single-party rule by PRI
  • Multi-party republic.
44
Q

Nigeria sources of power and authority

A
  • Constitution
  • 1999 transition from miliary rule
45
Q

Iran sources of power and authority

A
  • Religion
  • Military
  • Revolutionary guards
46
Q

Similarities between sources of power and authority in Iran and China

A
  • Constitution
  • Miliary role in policy making and surpressing dissent.
47
Q

Similarities between sources of power and authority in Nigeria and Mexico

A
  • Constitution
  • Transition to multiparty republic.
48
Q

Types of regime changes

A

Coup and revolution

49
Q

Coup

A

Forcible takeover of governing power led by elites using force or threat of force.

50
Q

Revolution

A

Removal and long-erm replacement of a form of government that usually involves the masses (not just elites) and can be violent or peaceful.

51
Q

Federal system

A

System of government where significant powers are given to subnational or regional governments.

52
Q

Unitary system

A

System of government where all political authority is in the central or national government. (Regional governments still exist just not a lot of power given by constitution)

53
Q

Advantages of Federal system

A
  • Citizen can participate at multiple levels.
  • Local gov can respond to local needs.
  • Less likelythat one party will dominate
54
Q

Disadvantages of Federal systems

A
  • Can be slow and result in inefficiency
  • Complicated for citizens to understand.
  • Conflict between different levels of gov
55
Q

Advantages of Unitary systems

A
  • Consistent laws throughout the country
  • Easier to understand
  • Gov can act quick if needed in case of national crisis
56
Q

Disadvantages of Unitary systems

A
  • Regional problems are more likely to be ignored
  • Easier for one party to dominate
  • Regional gov have little power.
57
Q

Factors that can cause change in relationship between regional and central governments

A
  • Ethnic or religious cleavages
  • Supernational organizations
  • Threats from other countries
  • Regional protests or discontent
  • National emergency or crisis
  • Terrorism
58
Q

Devolved Unitary system

A

The central government devolves power to regional governments.
These powers are NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY portected and can be taken away.

59
Q

Aymmetric Federal system

A

The central government consolidates power in the central goverment, the constitutionally granted powers of regional governments are taken away.

60
Q

Political legitimacy

A

The degree of which a government’s right to rule is accepted by the citizens.

61
Q

Sources of political legitimacy

A
  • Popular elections
  • Constitutional provisions
  • Nationalism
  • Tradition
  • Ideology
  • Policy effectiveness
  • Economic growth
  • Religious hertitage and organizations
62
Q

How do governments sustain legitimacy

A
  • Political effectiveness
  • Political efficacy
  • Tradition
  • Charismatic leadership
63
Q

How do government’s reinforce legitimacy?

A
  • Peaceful resolution of conflict
  • Peaceful transfer of power
  • Reduced governmental corruption
  • Economic development
  • Policy effectiveness
64
Q

How does China reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

A

Economic growth and tradition

65
Q

How does Iran reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

66
Q

How does Mexico reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

A

Lack of dominant party allows more power to state governors to adapt policies.

67
Q

How does Nigeria reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

A

Increase representation of ethnic groups

68
Q

How does Russia reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

A

Creation of dominant party

69
Q

How does UK reinforce and sustain legitimacy?

A

Devolution allows local policy innovation

70
Q

How can legitimacy be undermined?

A
  • Increase in corruption
  • Reduced electoral competition
  • Serious problems: poor economy or social conflict
71
Q

How to repair undermined legitimacy?

A

Policy effectiveness
Recognition of policy agenda
Representation, a seat at the political table
Reform a new or revised policy

72
Q

Challenges to political stability

A
  • Loss of territory
  • Loss of population
  • Loss of government authority
  • Loss of sovereignty
73
Q

Political stability

A

Goal of governments to maintain control of state sovereignty

AP Comparative Government (6 decks)

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