AP Comparative Government and Politics Vocabulary

A collection of groups or organizations working in the interest of the citizens but operating outside of the governmental and for-profit sectors such as labor unions, non-profit organizations, churches, and other service agencies.

Answer explanation

Civil Society refers to the space outside the governmental or business sectors in which people come together voluntarily to pursue common interests, advocate for their rights, and engage in social activities.

Examples of this would be Non-Profit Organizations, grass-roots movements, and community based organizations.

An internal division within a country that can be based on a number of different factors or combinations of factors. Examples of factors include race, ethnicity, religion, or territory.

Answer explanation

A social or political cleavage is a strong and often long term division between different groups within society due to ethnicity, political privilege or other demographic factors.

Examples of this can be seen in Mexico where each state represents a different region with slightly different history and culture and political ideals.

A theoretical worldwide trend towards the sacrificing of national sovereignty to global political and economic initiatives and authorities.

Answer explanation

Globalization can be broken down into three categories Political, Economic, and Cultural.

Political Globalization: covers the national policies that bring countries together politically, economically and culturally. Examples of this would the United Nations, NATO

Economic Globalization: focuses on the integration of international financial markets and the coordination of financial exchange. Examples of the would be NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and the Trans Pacific Partnership

Cultural Globalization: focuses in large part on the technological and societal factors that are causing cultures to converge. This can be seen in social media, increased transportation, and easier and faster global communication.

A political system where all political power is concentrated in a single national leader or group of political elites and there are few or no concessions to democracy.

Answer explanation

An authoritarian Regime is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers. It uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.

An authoritarian regime possesses four qualities:

1. 1. Limited political pluralism, realized with constraints on the legislature, political parties, and interest groups

2. 2. Political legitimacy based upon appeals to emotion, and identification of the regime as a necessary evil to combat "easily recognizable societal problems such as underdevelopment or insurgency."

3. 3. Minimal political mobilization and suppression of anti-regime activities

4. 4. Formally ill-defined executive powers, often vague and shifting, which extends the power of the executive.

The right of a state to have independence and autonomy in the governance of it’s own affairs.

Answer explanation

Sovereignty can be defined as internationally recognized and effectively pursued power/right to govern a certain territory. A country has full sovereignty if it is recognized by other countries and has an effective government over a certain population and defined territory.

Sovereignty is a feature of countries. An example of a country gaining sovereignty would be the United States. It proclaimed itself independent in July 1776, but it took it until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 to take over the territory it claimed and reach domestic sovereignty. International legal sovereignty followed with recognition of the US by other independent countries (France in 1778, most other countries in the period 1783-1797).

A legal system whereby all citizens are treated by the same standard with liberties and civil rights being clearly articulated.

Answer explanation

Rule of Law is the creation of the idea that neither the Government nor those that are governed are above the law. Examples of this can be seen in the British Magna Carta which limited the powers of Parliament and the King and made them answerable to laws. Other examples can include the checks and balances system put in place by the United States Constitution. It was also extensively written about by Alexander Hamilton in his writings for the Federalist Papers.

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

Answer explanation

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are typically mission-driven advocacy or service organizations in the nonprofit sector. There are large and small NGOs operating around the world and organized for just about every imaginable purpose. And while the term is relatively new international NGOs like the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Anti-Slavery International have been in existence for more than one hundred years.

The degree to which there is openness and freedom of information between a government and the citizens of a nation.

Answer explanation

Government transparency is a government’s obligation to be open, accountable and honest with citizens on how it is conducting business and spending taxes. This can be done by proactive communication, soliciting citizens feedback, providing easy access to public consultation, and effortless self-service of information through digital channels. Increased transparency can increase a populations support for the government.

The ability to make someone else do something.

Answer explanation

Power in the terms of Political Studies is the government or some form of authorities ability to control is population and make them do something though it can also mean the citizens ability to make the government do something through protest or activism.

The degree to which the existing national government is respected by it’s people in terms of both tradition, history and popular support.

Answer explanation

Legitimacy is the citizens’ belief that the government has the right to use power in the way that it does. Legitimacy exists when citizens accept that the government has the right or authority to rule.