Comparative Unit 1 Vocab

A statement that expresses a judgement, or reflects the opinion of the speaker

The transfer of state-owned property to private ownership

An electoral district represented by a single officeholder

A collection of agencies that implement government policy

A form of legislature made up of two houses

A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision

Countries with democratic procedures in place but have significant restrictions on them

A concept in which the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions

The organization of political activity independent of the state/government

Investment made by a firm or individual of one country into business interests located in another country

Voters cast their vote for a candidate of their choice and the candidate with the most votes wins

Process that determines the procedure for replacing leaders when they resign, die, or are no longer effective

The array of political parties operating in a particular country and the nature of the relationship among them

An economic system when the government is more active in than in a market economy, but less than in a command economy

When one event directly causes/influences another event

An attitude towards change that sees change as disruptive for the state

Repressive regime that seeks to control and transform all aspects of society

Judicial rules based off of a comprehensive system of written rules of law

A form of legislature with one house

The chief public representative of a country which may also be the head of the government

Economic systems in which there is free competition and prices are determined by the interaction of supply and demand

Highest judicial court that protects the democratic principles of a country from infringement

(modern version) of increased power of the centralised state and main interest organizations

A necessary element for democracy in which elections are free and fair and multiple parties can participate

Review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative or executive act

The loosening of government controls

Forced takeover of the government by the military

Groups that connect the government to its citizens

Set of ethical principals that explain how society should work and offer a blueprint for a certain social order

The rules that a state sets and follows in exerting its power; a country’s institution and practices carry over time

States with a well-established democracy and high level of economic development

When interest groups compete with each other and the government for influence over state policies

Act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies

An approach to political and economic change that supports reform and gradual change rather than revolution

The right to rule, determined by citizens

A step in democratization in which political elites accept to sharing power with the people

Form of government in which head of government leads an executive branch separate from the legislature

A political ideology that emphasizes individual political/economic freedom and allows disagreement with the government

Policy-making power is in one central geographic place and the central government is responsible for many policy areas

Democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly

An electoral district represented by multiple officeholders

A form of government in which elites hold all political power and act without input from citizens

A political system when multiple political parties run for elections and all have the ability win government offices

Set of principles, or ideal, for ensuring an orderly and just society

Citizens vote for legislative representatives, who then select the leaders of the executive branch

Social and economic doctrine that calls for public ownership or control of property and natural resources

The right to participate in the civil and political life without fear of discrimination or repression

The governing body of a nation, state, or community

An estimate of total value of the final products and services produced a country’s residents

System of government where president exists, alongside with prime minister and a cabinet

Select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of the group or society

Set of rules that determine how elections and referendums are conducted and how their results are determined

Highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state

Particular procedures that produce an electorally legitimate government

The transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private

Voting is arranged in combination of multi and single member districts

A system of government in which power is divided between all the sub-units

A group of people with a common political identity

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence

The process where people develop their political values, belief, attitudes, and ideology

Government that divides power between national, state, and local governments

Judicial rules based upon legal precedent established by the courts

Electoral system that creates a representative distribution of public support for each political party

Monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced

The lessening of government regulations in an economy in exchange for greater participation by private entities

Policies enacted by its content that’s representative of the people

A form of government in which representative democracy operates under the principles of liberalism

Information collected via research or sampling

The belief or actions of people who advocate complete political or social reorganization

Political freedoms such as freedom of speech and religion

A nation or territory considered as an organized political community

A form of economic organization in which the state controls all industrial enterprises and retail

Those who hold political power without much input from citizens

When government officials interact with people outside of the government before setting policy

Selection of political elites for political activities and government positions

When states determine which interest groups are recognized but interest groups still have some autonomy

Authority of a state to govern itself or another state

Represents the income inequality or wealth inequality within a nation or any other group of people

A system where the branches of government can keep each other in check using negative powers

Interest groups convey to their members the views of the party elite

An event coincides with the change in another without a direct relationship

Revival of ethnic or cultural politics

Government that keeps citizens informed and is open to citizens’ opinions