AP Comparative Government and Politics (Frequent general terms)

AP Comparative Government and Politics (Frequent general terms) All Progressives Congress (APC) - Correct Answer a party formed as an alliance of opposition parties leading into the 2015 presidential election; now the party in power in Nigeria Assembly of Religious Experts - Correct Answer an elected body of senior clerics who are empowered to review the performance of the Supreme Leader and to remove or choose a replacement for him authoritarian regime - Correct Answer a regime that concentrates power in an authority that is not responsible or accountable to the public Azeri - Correct Answer the largest minority ethnic group in Iran charismatic legitimacy - Correct Answer a situation wherein people believe the state has the right to rule because of the trust in or popularity of a particular political leader Chinese Communist Party (CCP) - Correct Answer the ruling party of China since 1949; it established the People's Republic of China and a one-party system civil society - Correct Answer non-governmental groups, such as clubs, religious organizations, charitable groups, and interest groups, formed by citizens to express a particular interest Cleavages - Correct Answer divisions among people in a society causing conflicts over control of government and policymaking Coalition Government - Correct Answer in parliamentary systems, a situation where multiple parties partner to construct a majority and form a government coercion - Correct Answer the use of force or the threat of force to compel others to take actions they would not otherwise choose Conservative (Iran) - Correct Answer a member of a political faction that opposes modernization and secularization and seeks to preserve the theocracy of the Islamic Republic Conservative (Tory) Party - Correct Answer Britain's center-right party; one of the main competitors for power in Britain's two-party system constituency - Correct Answer a geographic area represented by a member in the legislature Constitution - Correct Answer A body of fundamental laws, principles, and established preferences that a state acknowledges it is governed under Constitutionalism - Correct Answer commitment to the rule of law and the principles expressed in a constitution Constitution of 1917 - Correct Answer Mexico's governing document, establishes a federal system with a supreme national executive, legislature, and judiciary corruption - Correct Answer the abuse of entrusted power for private gain coup d'etat (coup) - Correct Answer the seizure of control of the state apparatus by the military Democracy - Correct Answer a system of government by the whole population Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) - Correct Answer founded as a left-wing opposition party against the Institution Revolutionary Party (PRI); currently one of a few major parties competing for power in Mexico Democratization - Correct Answer the process of consolidating and institutionalizing processes that make a regime more subject to be accountable to the public Devolution - Correct Answer the transfer of political power down from a central or national level of government to a local or regional level divided government - Correct Answer a condition in a presidential system wherein the executive branch is controlled by one party and the legislative branch is controlled by an opposing party Dominate Party System - Correct Answer A party system in which one party consistently controls the government, though other parties may also exist and run Duma - Correct Answer the lower and more powerful house of Russia's legislature, representing the people of Russia based on population Economy Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - Correct Answer A supranational organization of fifteen West African countries, included Nigeria, that have agreed to free trade and economic integration Empirical Statement - Correct Answer factual claims that are based on demonstrable evidence alone Ethnicity - Correct Answer A sense of belonging to a social group with a common cultural tradition European Union - Correct Answer the political and economic union of more than a dozen European member states, all of which surrender some sovereign control over their own country in order to promote trade and cooperation among the member states Expediency Council - Correct Answer a collection of leading Iranian officials gathered for the purpose of settling disputes between the Majlis and the Guardian Council Federal Election Institute (IFE) - Correct Answer an independent regulatory agency created in 1994 to increase the fairness and competitiveness of Mexico's elections; later reformed to the National Electoral Institute (INE) federal system - Correct Answer An arrangement that divides or shares power on a permanent or constitutional basis between a central or national government and regional governments Federal Council - Correct Answer The upper house of Russia's legislature, wherein each regional government has equal representation First Past the Post (FPTP) - Correct Answer an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins representation of a geographic district in the legislature; losing candidates or parties do not receive any representation GPD per capita - Correct Answer gross domestic product expressed on a per-person basis; used a typical measure of the standard of living Gini Index - Correct Answer A measure of economic inequality Globalizaiton - Correct Answer The process of expanding interaction between individuals, business, and governments across borders worldwide, stemming from changes in technology, economics, transportation, and the exchange of ideas Government - Correct Answer The people currently holding office and wielding political power; can be changed through normal regular political processes, such as elections Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Correct Answer The total dollar value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders Guardian Council - Correct Answer In Iran, a body of twelve officials, chosen by the Supreme Leader and the Chief Judge, empowered to reject candidates for office and veto legislation passed by the Majlis if it conflicts with Shari'ah law Han Chinese - Correct Answer the dominant majority ethnic group of China, comprising more than 90 percent of the Chinese population Hausa-Fulani - Correct Answer Nigeria's largest ethnic group, predominantly Islamic; its members live in the northern region of the country and comprise approximately 30 percent of the population head of government - Correct Answer the individual in the executive branch responsible for the day-to-day operation of the government head of state - Correct Answer The individual in the executive branch who acts as the ceremonial symbol of the country at public events House of Commons - Correct Answer the lower house of Britain's Parliament, where political power is concentrated Igbo (Ebo or Ibo) - Correct Answer Nigeria's third largest single ethnic group, predominantly Christian; its members live in the southeast region of the country and comprise approximately 18 percent of the population Illiberal Democracy - Correct Answer a regime in which, despite the fact that elections determine who holds political office and wields power, protection of civil rights and liberties is missing and the fairness and competitiveness of elections are questionable Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI) - Correct Answer an economic policy program intended to replace goods that are imported with domestically manufactured goods, usually through trade limitations and tariffs combined with subsidies or preferential regulations for domestic companies Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) - Correct Answer the party that ruled Mexico continuously from 1929 through 2000, now one of a few major parties competing for power in Mexico; it espouses centrist to center-right ideological positions Interest groups - Correct Answer Organizations of people who support a common interest and work together to protect and promote that interest by influencing the government Iranian (Islamic) Revolution of 1979 - Correct Answer a series of mass demonstrations against the Shah that resulted in his deposal, followed by the creation of a new Islamic Republic, led by Ayatollah Khomeini Jurist guardianship - Correct Answer the concept, justifying clerical rule, espoused by Ayatollah Khomeini that Shi'a clerics hold responsibility over all aspects of society Labour Party - Correct Answer Britain's center-left party; one of the main competitors for power in Britain's two-party system