Key Terms in Comparative Government

What is Comparative Government?

• The study of different political systems

• A type of political regime

• A method of governance

• A form of democracy

What defines a State?

• A political entity with a defined territory

• A type of government

• A form of political organization

• A system of laws

What is the role of Government?

• To govern a country or state

• To create laws

• To represent the people

• To manage resources

What does Regime refer to?

• The form of government in power

• The constitution of a state

• The political party in charge

• The economic system

What is Sovereignty?

• The authority of a state to govern itself

• The power of a government

• The legitimacy of a regime

• The rights of citizens

What is Legitimacy in a political context?

• Acceptance of an authority as valid

• The power to govern

• The structure of government

• The rights of the state

What is a Constitution?

• A set of fundamental principles

• A type of government

• A political party's manifesto

• A legal document

What characterizes a Democracy?

• Power vested in the people

• Rule by a single leader

• A system of laws

• A monarchy

What is Authoritarianism?

• Power concentrated in a small group

• A democratic system

• A type of federalism

• A form of monarchy

What is Totalitarianism?

• An extreme form of authoritarianism

• A democratic regime

• A constitutional monarchy

• A federal system