AP Comparative Government
Part One: Vocabulary to Know
States and Nations
State-political institutions with a monopoly of force over territory
Nation-a psychological sense of identity based
on shared ethnicity, language, history or culture
Institutions
Formal policymakers within the
government, including the executive,
legislature, judiciary and bureaucracy
Regimes and Hybrid Regimes
Regime-a long-lasting government in which the system has not changed even though there have been different leaders.
Hybrid regime-a government with both authoritarian and democratic elements.
Also known as illiberal regime, structure of
democracy but does not protect civil liberties.
i.e. Apartheid regime in S. Africa (1948-’94)
Legitimacy
Legitimacy is the people’s belief that the government has the right to rule
Rational/legal-based on a fair and
understandable system of laws that are followed and apply to everyone
Traditional-because it has always been that way
Charismatic-based on a ruler’s engaging
personality
Globalization and Sovereignty
Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of the world.
Sovereignty is the ability of a
government to rule without internal or
external influence.
Measurements
HDI-Human Development Index
measures life expectancy, birth and death rates, education, quality of life.
GDP-the total value of goods and services produced in a country
GDP per capita-GDP divided by the population
Gini Index-measures income inequality
HDI
United States .937
United Kingdom .875
Mexico .775
Iran .742
China .690
Russia .550
Nigeria .153
GDP Per Capita Total
Goods/Population
United States $49,965 United Kingdom $36,600
Russia $17,500
Mexico $15,400
Iran $13,000
China $9,000
Nigeria $2,600
Gini Index 0 = perfect equality
100 = perfect inequality
United Kingdom 36
Russia 39.9
United States 40.8
Iran 43
Nigeria 43.7
Mexico 46.1
China 46.9
Development
Developed countries have high GDP per capita and HDI rankings; service-based economies.
Developing countries are emerging economies; based on production.
Underdeveloped countries have low GDP per capita and HDI rankings; agricultural.
Least Developed-the poorest of the poor
First World Problems
Economics
Political Economy is the relationship between government policies and the economy.
Economic liberalization is the move to a free market by reducing tariffs, trade
barriers, and government control over the
economy.
Economic Systems
Market economies set wages, production, and prices based on supply and demand with less government interference.
In command economies, the government makes decisions regarding wages, prices, and
production, and private property is limited.
Communism and Welfare States
Communism is a system of government based on the writings of Karl Marx in
which the stated goal is economic equality.
In a welfare state, the government provides support to citizens, such as
unemployment benefits and health care.
Rentier States
States that derive a significant portion of their revenues from rent (such as renting land to oil companies).
Iran, Nigeria & Russia
Dependency Theory
The idea that colonial rule left a legacy of political and economic dependence
making it difficult for former colonies to
improve their economies and democratize.
Structural Adjustment
Structural adjustment programs require countries to increase taxes and cut
spending (austerity measures) to improve
budgets.
Post-Materialism
Societies in which basic needs are met
and citizens can concentrate on higher
goals, like the environment
Democratization
The transition from an authoritarian state to an illiberal democracy to a liberal
democracy
Authoritarian State
A government where elections are not
free and fair and civil rights and liberties
are lacking
Illiberal/Procedural Democracy
A government with elections that are not
completely free and fair or lacking some
civil rights and liberties
Liberal/Substantive Democracy
A government with free and fair elections
and civil rights and liberties
Transparency
The ability of citizens to see what the
government is doing
Civil Rights and Liberties
Civil rights are protections granted by the government to prevent discrimination
against groups, like ethnic or religious minorities and women.
Civil liberties protect individuals from government infringement, like free
speech.
Systems of Government
In a Unitary System, all power is held by the central government and state power is not protected.
In a Federal System, power is shared between the national and state
government and some state power is protected.
Devolution occurs when the national
government grants more power to states.
Legislatures
A bicameral legislature has two
chambers or houses, and a unicameral legislature has one.
FPTP/SMD awards one seat to the
candidate with the most votes in a district.
Proportional Representation awards sets to political parties based on the
percentage of votes received; there may
be a threshold for getting seats.
Referendum
A measure sent by the legislature to the
citizens for approval
The Judiciary
In common law systems, court decisions are written down and serve as precedent for future cases.
Code law systems are based on rules written by the legislature.
Judicial review is the ability of a
Supreme Court to overturn a law or
executive action as unconstitutional.
Theocracy
A state led by religious rulers, like Iran
Revolutions and Coups
A revolution is an overthrow of the government based on broad popular support.
A coup is a change in the leader brought
about by a small group, often a military
leader.
Nationalism
The belief that a group of people has its
own unique destiny, often including a
desire for a separate state
Ideology and Socialization
Political ideology is an individual’s belief system about the role of government.
Political socialization is the process
through which an individual acquires his or her political beliefs and behaviors.
Political culture is the shared beliefs of a
group of people.
Political Ideologies
Political Right favors the status quo/conservative view.
Political Left favors change. They usually favor social programs.
Reactionaries are extreme and want to go back to the past.
Liberalism-favor freedom in the
economy and in civil rights and liberties
Corporatism
Cooptation is when the government buys off its critics, as seen in communist states
Corporatism is when large businesses and labor unions are brought into the
policymaking process, as seen in illiberal democracies. This limits pluralism because small actors are left out.
Pluralism is when many groups compete in policymaking, as seen in consolidated
democracies.
Political Recruitment
The process for selecting current and
potential leaders, including formal and
informal power structures
Citizen Involvement
Civil Society consists of voluntary associations outside of government control which strengthen society.
Grassroots movements occur when
ordinary citizens push for reform.
Cleavages
A political cleavage is a division over a policy issue.
Cross cutting cleavages bring different kinds of groups together, strengthening society.
Coinciding cleavages exacerbate feeling
of difference, weakening society.
Causation and Correlation
Causation is when a change in one
variable precipitates a change in another variable.
Correlation is an apparent connection between variables.
Causation and correlation may be positive (in the same direction) or negative (in
opposite directions).
Normative and Empirical Statement
An empirical statement is a verifiable fact.
A normative statement is a judgment
about what should be.
Part Two:
Big Picture Country
Comparisons
Unitary or Federal governments?
Unitary
• supreme central government
• no guarantee of shared powers with subnational governments
• Examples
• China
• Iran
• Great Britain moving
toward federalism but still unitary
Federal (uses federalism)
• Shared power between national and subnational governments
• The term does NOT mean strong national government
• Examples
• Russia
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• United States
Comparing Executives: Heads of State and Heads of Government
Country Title(s) How Chosen Term Powers
United
Kingdom of Great Britain (UK)
Monarch
Prime Minister
Hereditary Elected by majority party of Parliament
Life
None; but must be approved every 5 years by maj party
Minimal To form “her Majesty’s government”
Russia President
Prime Minister
Direct national election simple majority
Appointed by President &
confirmed by Duma
4 years with a 2 consecutive term limit
None, but can be removed by President or Duma no confidence vote
Commander- in-Chief;
signs/vetos bills; may dissolve Duma
& fire Governors Manages legislation in Duma;
oversees Cabinet/depts
Comparing Executives: Heads of State and Heads of Government
Country Title(s) How Chosen Term Powers
China President
Prime Minister a.k.a.
Premier
By top leaders in CCP & elected by Natl People’s Congress (NPC) By top leaders in CCP; appointed by President &
confirmed by NPC
5 years; 2 term limit
none
Any foreign and domestic policymaking
Oversees running of the huge govt bureaucracy Nigeria Similar to the
United States and Mexico, the President is both Head of State and Head of Government
Direct popular national elections with a minimum threshold of 25% of votes in at least 2/3 of Nigerian states
4 years; 2 term
limit Directs all
foreign and domestic policymaking
Comparing Executives: Heads of State and Heads of Government
Country Title(s) How Chosen Term Powers
Mexico Similar to the United States and Nigeria, the President is both Head of State and Head of Government
Direct national election; no majority required
Six years (sexenio); one term only
Directs all foreign and domestic policymaking
Iran Supreme
Leader
President
Chosen by the Assembly of
Religious Experts;
must be Shi’ite cleric
Direct national election; must be Shi’ite
None; may be replaced by Assembly (never used)
4 years; 2 term limit
More extensive powers, including
commander-in- chief and may dismiss the President.
Appoints governors &
cabinet; econ policymaking
Comparing Legislatures
IRAN: Majles
SMD
National direct elections
4 year terms
Must be Muslim except for 5 seats reserved for minorities
Chooses 6 members of Guardian Council
All laws must be
approved by Guardian Council
CHINA: National People’s Congress
Rubber stamp body
meets 2 weeks annually
Candidates approved by CCP
5 year terms
Formal powers include approval of laws
submitted by CCP,
appointment of President VP, and Premier
UNICAMERAL
Comparing Legislatures
NIGERIA:
National Assembly
Senate
◦ 4 year term
◦ 3 Senators per state
◦ FPTP
House of
Representatives
◦ SMD
◦ 4 year terms
MEXICO: Congress Mixed SMD & PR
Senate—6 year term; 2 term limit (12 yrs)
◦ Senate candidates run in pairs
◦ Party with highest % popular vote receives state’s 2 seats;
second place party awarded the 3
rdseat
Chamber of Deputies—3 year term; 4 term limit (12 yrs)
◦ 300 SMD seats
◦ 200 PR seats chosen by party
BICAMERAL
Comparing Legislatures
RUSSIA:
Federal Assembly
Federation Council
◦ 4 year term
◦ Appointed by leaders of 83 subnational govts
◦ Can veto or delay bills
Duma
◦ PR national elections
◦ 7% threshold required
◦ Can override veto w/ 2/3
◦ 4 year term
United Kingdom:
Parliament
House of Lords
◦ Appointed and unpaid
◦ Can delay bills
House of Commons
◦ SMD
◦ Irregular elections—5 year term max before reelection must take place
◦ Vote of no confidence is rare
BICAMERAL
Comparing Political Parties
UK
◦Two party system until recently
◦Now considered multiparty system
◦Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National, Labour and others
Iran
◦Multiparty
◦Democratic theocracy: candidates must be approved by Guardian Council
◦2016 Majiles elections resulted in many reform candidates winning
◦Parties are categorized as conservative or reformist
Mexico
◦One party-dominant (PRI) until 2000
◦Now a multiparty system
◦PRI (Pena Nieto), PAN, and PRD
Nigeria
◦Multiparty system
◦All Progressives Congress (Buhari), People’s Democratic Party (Jonathan),, Labour and others
◦Party names change frequently &
are candidate-centered
Comparing Political Parties
China
◦ One party system
◦ Chinese Communist Party (CCP) approves all candidates except at the village level elections
Russia
◦ Multiparty system
◦ United Russia (Putin), Liberal Democrats (a misnomer), A Just Russia, and others
◦ Party names change
frequently & are
candidate-centered
Part Three:
AP Comparative
Exam Tips
The Exam: Thursday, May 12, 2016
Multiple-Choice Questions
◦ 55 questions
◦ 45 minutes
Free Response Questions
◦ 5 short-answer concepts
Define or describe a term
Provide an example
◦ One conceptual analysis
Explain a concept
Apply how it is used in one or two countries
◦ Two country context
Often comparing two
countries
Multiple-choice tips
There is no penalty for guessing—answer all the questions
Don’t change your mind (usually)
Circle & pay attention to words “except,”
“best,” “many,” and “least” in the question
Cross out obviously incorrect choices
If the question is taking a long time to answer, bubble in your best guess, circle it in the
booklet and go back later
Watch the clock
Free Response Tips
Restate the question or paraphrase when answering the 5 short answer questions
Do the easier questions first
Look for the verbs and do what they ask you to do
Realize that every verb answered is an additional point on the exam. Most used verbs are
◦ Identify
◦ Define
◦ Describe*
◦ Explain*
Always “close the loop” in your sentences by
answering “how?” or “why?” something occurs*
