AP®︎ Comparative Government: Topic 1.8 Flashcards

Constituents’ belief that a government has the right to rule and use power as it does; it confers authority and can increase practical power

The ability to make others behave in a particular way or to enforce binding decisions, including through coercion

The recognized right to exercise power; legitimacy turns power into authority in the eyes of those who accept it

The state’s independent legal authority over its population and territory, reinforced when legitimacy encourages acceptance of state commands

A source of legitimacy in which citizens authorize leaders through voting and an accepted procedure for choosing and replacing officeholders

Legitimacy based on accepted constitutional rules that establish institutions, distribute powers, and authorize the selection and actions of officials

A source of legitimacy that links acceptance of a regime to the nation’s identity, unity, independence, security, or international strength

Legitimacy based on an institution or ruler being accepted as the continuation of long-established customs, identity, and political practice

Legitimacy earned by competently providing security, order, services, infrastructure, crisis response, or other important public results

A source of legitimacy when constituents credit the government with material improvements such as rising incomes, employment, infrastructure, or reduced poverty

A coherent set of political ideas and values that legitimizes a regime when constituents accept its institutions as the proper expression of those principles

A source of legitimacy that presents political authority as consistent with sacred law, religious teaching, or recognized religious institutions

A source of legitimacy in which acceptance of a leading party’s right to select leaders makes its endorsed officeholders appear entitled to govern