AP®︎ Comparative Government: Topic 1.4 Flashcards
Master key terms and definitions for Topic 1.4 of AP Comparative Government – Democratization to help you prep for quizzes and the AP exam.
Democratization
The process by which an authoritarian regime moves toward a democratic regime by changing the rules governing access to and exercise of political power
The process by which an authoritarian regime moves toward a democratic regime by changing the rules governing access to and exercise of political power
An authoritarian government’s relaxation of restrictions without necessarily allowing genuine competition for power or accountability to citizens
A condition in which multiple candidates or parties can genuinely contest office and incumbents can realistically lose
Impartial application of election rules rather than their design or enforcement to preserve the ruling group
Public, observable election rules and procedures, including credible vote counting and publication of results
The right of adult citizens generally to vote without exclusion based on sex, race, ethnicity, religion, property, or social status
The openness of government decisions, procedures, information, and use of public resources to public scrutiny
The principle that publicly known laws govern officials and citizens alike through established procedures rather than arbitrary personal decisions
Rules requiring a specified level of candidacy or representation for women or cultural groups that have faced persistent exclusion
An electoral system that allocates legislative seats in relation to each party’s share of the vote
The minimum share of votes a party must receive to qualify for legislative seats in a proportional system
The lines determining which voters are grouped together to elect representatives, affecting representation and political competition
The creation of electoral districts with substantially unequal populations, causing some votes to carry more weight than others
Drawing electoral district boundaries to advantage a political party or group
The abuse of public office or public resources for private or political gain
The ability of courts to decide cases according to law without control by the executive, ruling party, military, or other powerful actors
A halt in movement toward democracy before democratic institutions and practices have become secure
The weakening of democratic rules and protections as a regime moves in an authoritarian direction, often through incremental policy changes
The process by which democratic election rules, separation of powers, and civil-liberty protections mature enough that authoritarian reversal is unlikely without an external shock
Agreement among major groups on fundamental democratic rules, protected rights, legal procedures, and pursuing development through accepted institutions
Citizens’ ability to influence public policy through voting, political organizations, petitions, public debate, demonstrations, and contact with officials
The principle that laws and public institutions should not systematically privilege or exclude citizens based on identity, status, or political affiliation
