AP®︎ Comparative Government Unit 2: Notes & Study Guide

Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 2 of AP Comparative Government – Political Institutions.

Exam weight: 22–33%
9 Topics

Unit 2: Political Institutions

This unit examines how different countries structure their executive, legislative, and judicial branches, comparing parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential systems and analyzing how institutional design shapes governance.

Begin with Topic 2.1: Parliamentary, Presidenti...

To review Unit 2, go through each of the 9 topics below.

Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 2 test, pulled directly from the AP® Comparative Government & Politics curriculum.

Topic 2.1
~7 min
Review
Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
  • What These Systems Are
  • The Three Systems
  • Course Country Examples
Review
Topic 2.2
~7 min
Review
Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
  • How the Three Systems Allocate Power
  • How Each System Shapes Policy Making and Conflict
  • Parliamentary Checks on the Executive
Review
Topic 2.3
~7 min
Review
Executive Systems
Executive Systems
  • What Executive Systems Are
  • Executive Structures in the Six Course Countries
  • Who Actually Has Power
Review
Topic 2.4
~6 min
Review
Executive Term Limits
Executive Term Limits
  • What Executive Term Limits Are
  • Main Types of Executive Term-Limit Rules
  • Why Countries Use Term Limits and Why They Criticize Them
Review
Topic 2.5
~8 min
Review
Removal of Executives
Removal of Executives
  • What Removal of Executives Is
  • Main Types of Removal Procedures
  • Country Procedures and Examples
Review
Topic 2.6
~6 min
Review
Legislative Systems
Legislative Systems
  • What Legislative Systems Are
  • The Six Legislative Systems
  • What Each Legislature Does
Review
Topic 2.7
~8 min
Review
Independent Legislatures
Independent Legislatures
  • What Legislative Independence Is
  • How China’s NPC Is Constrained
  • How Iran’s Majles Is Constrained
Review
Topic 2.8
~8 min
Review
Judicial Systems
Judicial Systems
  • What Judiciaries Do
  • How Judges Are Selected
  • How courts work in each course country
Review
Topic 2.9
~7 min
Review
Independent Judiciaries
Independent Judiciaries
  • What Judicial Independence Is
  • What Makes a Judiciary More or Less Independent
  • How Independent Judiciaries Strengthen Democracy
Review

Notes

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