Transcript AP Comparative Government

AP Comparative Government
Exam Review 2016
Mrs. Michelle Sammartino, Nova High School
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
Gini Index
0 = perfect
HDI
equality
Total
GDP Per Capita
 HDI-Human
Index
United StatesDevelopment
Goods/Population
100.937
= perfect
measures
life
expectancy,
birth
and
death
United
Kingdom
.875
inequality
United States
$49,965
rates,
education,
quality of.775
life.
Mexico
United
Kingdom
36
United Kingdom
$36,600
 GDP-the
total
value
of
goods
and
services
Iran
.742
Russia
39.9
Russia
$17,500
produced
inStates
a country .690
China
United
40.8
Mexico
$15,400
 GDP Russia
perIran
capita-GDP $13,000
divided
.550
43 by the
Iran
population
Nigeria
.153
Nigeria
43.7
China
$9,000
 GiniNigeria
Index-measures
income
Mexico
46.1inequality
$2,600
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
Hereditary
Life
Minimal
Prime Minister
Elected by
majority party
of Parliament
None; but must
be approved
every 5 years
by maj party
To form “her
Majesty’s
government”
Russia
President
Direct national
election simple
majority
Prime Minister
Appointed by
President &
confirmed by
Duma
4 years with a 2 Commanderconsecutive
in-Chief;
term limit
signs/vetos
bills; may
dissolve Duma
& fire
Governors
None, but can
be removed by Manages
President or
legislation in
Duma no
Duma;
confidence
oversees
vote
Cabinet/depts
Comparing Executives: Heads of
State and Heads of Government
Country
Title(s)
How Chosen
Term
Powers
China
President
By top leaders in
CCP & elected by
Natl People’s
Congress (NPC)
5 years; 2 term
limit
Any foreign
and domestic
policymaking
Prime
Minister a.k.a.
Premier
By top leaders in
CCP; appointed by
President &
confirmed by NPC
none
Oversees
running of the
huge govt
bureaucracy
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
Nigeria
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
Chosen by the
Assembly of
Religious Experts;
must be Shi’ite
cleric
None; may be
replaced by
Assembly
(never used)
President
Direct national
election; must be
Shi’ite
4 years; 2 term
limit
More
extensive
powers,
including
commander-inchief and may
dismiss the
President.
Appoints
governors &
cabinet; econ
policymaking
Comparing Legislatures
UNICAMERAL
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
Comparing Legislatures
BICAMERAL
NIGERIA:
National Assembly
 Senate
◦ 4 year term
◦ 3 Senators per state
◦ FPTP

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 3rd seat
House of Representatives
◦ SMD
◦ 4 year terms

Chamber of Deputies—3
year term; 4 term limit (12
yrs)
◦ 300 SMD seats
◦ 200 PR seats chosen by party
Comparing Legislatures
BICAMERAL
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
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*
GOOD LUCK on the AP EXAM
Powerpoints for the countries, concepts,
and the exam review are on
my website:
sites.google.com/site/michellesammartino