AP Comparative Government & Politics
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
political science - Correct Answer- study of political systems and political behavior
comparative politics - Correct Answer- sub-discipline of political science; compare
governmental systems, legal, and political party systems,, constitutions,, economies,, and
civil societies; in order to understand approaches to problems and see what works best
empirical/positive questions - Correct Answer- "factual" - answer tells how things really are
normative questions - Correct Answer- subjective - answer tells how things "should" be;
subject to debate!
informal politics - Correct Answer- equally important as formal, codified structures; analysis
of informal ways people organize societies and make collective decisions
government - Correct Answer- *the people in charge* of a territory at a given time OR
(usually when capitalized) used also to refer to prime minister+cabinet
regime - Correct Answer- *system and rules and laws* in place in a particular territory at a
particular time
politics - Correct Answer- the process of making collective decisions - refers to formal
gov/political structures, but also to informal interactions
power - Correct Answer- ability to make others do something they might not otherwise have
done
authority - Correct Answer- like power, but with a claim (or more) to legitimacy
,legitimacy - Correct Answer- generally held belief, within a society, that a gov. has right to
rule (exercise power)
nation - Correct Answer- large group of people - united identity - share culture, history, strong
ties to a particular territory
(often have or desire government of their own, in nation-state)
nationalism - Correct Answer- the desire for a nation-state, either from a nation split between
multiple states who want to consolidate into one (think Kurds) or from a nation within a state
that wants to be independent (think Scots)
state - Correct Answer- the territory under the control of a government - control exercised by
some degree of force
nation-state - Correct Answer- nation which has its own government
market - Correct Answer- structure that allows buyers+sellers to exchange goods, services,
information - must have competition, so two people involved in trade != a market
civil society - Correct Answer- voluntary organizations that form basics of a functioning
society (social, religious organizations; charities; civic groups; NOT structures of the state or
economic structures).
social capital - Correct Answer- (of a society) social norms like belief in rule of law, respect
for others, reliable performance of duties. necessary for a civil society to exist successfully.
sovereignty - Correct Answer- independent legal authority over a particular territory,
+legitimate power to rule and make laws there///based on right to self-determination of the
people who live there though///kinda fuzzy though because it's not all-or-nothing///national
pride often at stake///MANY WARS FOUGHT ABOUT THIS
cleavages - Correct Answer- division in a society that causes people in that society to support
different things
,identity politics - Correct Answer- (tied to cleavages) people often act on the fact that they are
part of certain groups (that they IDENTIFY with) rather than their own beliefs
coinciding cleavages - Correct Answer- when two cleavages divide people into the same
groups (that is - the wealthy represent one side of a different cleavage and the poor another,
for example)
implications of coinciding cleavages: - Correct Answer- common for successful political
parties to arise around a single cleavage (religion), so societies like this are generally very
divided, w unstable governments
cross-cutting cleavages - Correct Answer- cleavages divide population in different ways -
seen to provide stability because no party is able to succeed based on a single cleavage
social movements, interest groups - Correct Answer- structures that arise when a segment of a
society hAs oPinIonS about a specific cause
political orientation - Correct Answer- ideas one holds about politics - NOT interchangeable
w ideology! this is how you feel ABOUT politics, not political ideas...
political culture - Correct Answer- way a nation or other group of people approaches issues of
government and politics
political socialization - Correct Answer- process by which people get their ideas about
politics (political orientation) and about government
interesting to compare the agents of this in different societies - reveals insights about nature
of variation in political orientation
political participation - Correct Answer- means used be people to express opinions/influence
political events+government actions
voter turnout - Correct Answer- # of eligible voters who actually vote
careful - although this is a helpful number sometimes, can be coerced!
, economic development - Correct Answer- measure of social and economic progress of
countries - can be indicated by increase in use of new technologies, living standards,
educational levels, health care, etc
GDP - Correct Answer- gross domestic product, indicates economic growth of a state - can be
an indication of economic development but not necessarily
political ideology - Correct Answer- set of ethical principles that helps provide an outline of
proper ordering of society; explains how society should work (NORMATIVE)
often significant to forming a political party, but not only possible basis for a party
ideology: communism - Correct Answer- advocates a political system in which all property is
held in common, usually by the state
ideology: socialism - Correct Answer- advocates a political system in which the means of
production and distribution are held in common, usually by the state
ideology: liberalism - Correct Answer- advocates a political system in which the individual is
autonomous, civil liberties are respected, rapid progress is encouraged
ideology: conservatism - Correct Answer- advocates a political system in which traditional
institutions are respected and maintained, while allowing for slow and minimal change
ideology: fascism - Correct Answer- advocates a political system in which the nation or a race
is seen as most important, not the individual or even the people as a collective
DEMOCRACY - Correct Answer- IS NOT AN IDEOLOGY BUT AN IDEAL
political parties - Correct Answer- organizations created to get and maintain power, usually
within a government; based on political ideology, or cleavages, or political orientation
functions of political parties - Correct Answer- articulating ideology
recruiting leaders
staffing bureaucracy
