Vocab 1 Column 1

Question 1

Comparative Politics

Answer 1

The systematic way to find answers to questions and political problems in different countries

ex) United Nations

Question 2

Comparative Method

Answer 2

A method to compare and contrast cases and problems that are similar but have different outcomes or vise vera (problems that have a variety of attributes but have the same outcome

ex) El Salvador’s and Nicaragua’s civil wars: same characteristics but different outcome

Question 3

Collective Action Problem

Answer 3

A situation wherein each individual has reasons not to participate in an action that benefits all members of the group

ex) when two neighbors may agree to drain a common meadow out, the collective action problem comes when you have a thousand neighbors to agree on the project

Question 4

State

Answer 4

Political organization that has power over a certain land area and the population that lives there

ex) The state of Wisconsin

Question 5

Sovereignty

Answer 5

Supreme legal authority over people within a certain territory

ex) The government of a country is an example, because it has supreme authority over a country

Question 6

Government

Answer 6

Organization that has control over a state(s) and make decisions on behalf of everyone in the state and that effects everyone

ex) Every country has a government

Question 7

Society

Answer 7

The many people living in a more or less ordered community

ex) The people of El Salvador

Question 8

Nation

Answer 8

A group of people that have their own culture and are held together by a political identity

ex) The Scottish have their own culture, and the Welsh have their own culture, but they are still a part of the UK

Question 9

Early-Forming State

Answer 9

A state that gained the power to govern themselves a long time ago without the interference of others

ex) The Shang Dynasty in China: 1800 BC

Question 10

Late-Forming State

Answer 10

A state that gained the power to govern themselves recently ago without the interference of others

ex) The US is a late-forming state because it became independent in 1776

Question 11

Failed State

Answer 11

A government of a state that lost all power and control over its people because the government wasn’t established properly

ex) Somalia

Question 12

Globalization

Answer 12

When different nations interact among them and adapt other cultures to their own

ex) Food: You can see Mexicans eating sushi and Germans eating burritos

Question 13

Foreign Direct Investment

Answer 13

When a company invests in another company that is operating in another country

ex) China investing in America’s Deere & Company because it wants to improve it’s agricultural sector

Question 14

Multinational Corporation (MNC’s)

Answer 14

Firms that are headquartered in one country, but have operations and employees in many other countries.

ex) Apple, McDonalds

Question 15

Electorate

Answer 15

Citizens eligible to participate in electing government leaders

ex) Everyone in the US has to be 18 in order to vote

Question 16

Selectorate

Answer 16

A small group within the national population that has the power to choose and remove leaders

ex) In ancient Rome, only wealthy landowners had a say in government

Question 17

Totalitarian Regime

Answer 17

A non-democratic regime that attempts to shape the interests and identities of its citizens through mobilization, coercion, and violence (citizen focused)

ex) North Korea. One party exists and everyone is stripped of freedom

Question 18

Authoritarian Regime

Answer 18

A non-democratic regime that focuses on controlling the government and politics through coercion

Ex) Francisco Franco and his dictatorship

Question 19

Fascism

Answer 19

A totalitarian ideology based on racist principles that glorify militarism, violence, and nationalism and the state over individuals; and that emphasized individual leaders

ex) Nazi Germany

Question 20

Communism

Answer 20

The government is in control of the economy so everything belongs to the state. There is one party in control. Usually under this government, the rich are super wealthy and the poor have nothing.

ex) Venezuela

Question 21

Monarchy

Answer 21

Rulers assume power via birthright and are not removed from office until they die. (Kings and Queens)

ex) England’s history

Question 22

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 22

A monarch that operates under a written constitution

ex) William and Mary were King and Queen of England, but had to operate under a constitution and legislature

Question 23

Majority Rule

Answer 23

A voting procedure for resolving disagreements within a deliberate assembly, a binary decision rule that has fairness.

ex) The House of Representatives in the US use this

Question 24

Proportional Representation

Answer 24

System in which the number of seats held by members of a political party in legislature is determined but the number of votes its candidate receive in an election

ex) Israel

Question 25

Mixed Electoral System

Answer 25

described as a mixture if two principle of electoral system design: Majority and proportional

ex) Japan

Question 26

Presidential System

Answer 26

People elect the legislature and the president

ex) Mexico

Question 27

Parliamentary System

Answer 27

People elect the legislature and the legislature elects the president

ex) The UK British Parliament

Question 28

Prime Minister

Answer 28

The head of the government of the parliamentary system

ex) David Cameron, UK

Question 29

Semi - Presidential System

Answer 29

Both Prime Minister and President have to work together and share power equally, but the power concentrates on the president

ex) France

Question 30

Democracy

Answer 30

A government in which the power comes from the decisions of the people. This includes free speech, press, and assembly

ex) The US

Question 31

Non - Democracy

Answer 31

A system that uses violence and other coercive tactics to restrict participation in government from the people

ex) North Korea

Question 32

Unitary System

Answer 32

Constitution gives the central government power and final authority over subnational governments

ex) France

Question 33

Federal System

Answer 33

A state in which the constitution grants two or more governments overlapping political authority over the same group of people and the same piece of territory

ex) Germany