Vocabulary Important Themes and Concepts The Key to Understanding

Correlation An apparent association between certain factors or variables For example, there is a positive correlation between medical care and life expectancy

Causation When a change in one variable causes a change in another variable For example, when the temperature drops below 32 degrees, water freezes

Politics A struggle for power That gives the winners the ability to make decisions affecting others Who gets what, when, and how

Nation A group of people Psychological sense of identity Based on cultural, geographic, or linguistic ties

The State Institutions, people, and groups Have the power to effect change Including a monopoly of force Over territory

Regime Fundamental norms and rules Established by administrations over time

Sovereignty A state ’ s ability To carry out actions Independently

Legitimacy Generally accepted view that the government has the right to rule Traditional--the right to rule, because “ it has always been that way. ” Charismatic--rule based on personality Rational-legal--based on a widely accepted system of laws and procedures

Democracy A system of government where people choose policymakers in free, regular, competitive elections Illiberal--procedural (holds elections) but without civil rights and liberties Liberal--political competition, accountability, civil rights and liberties

Institutions Executive Legislative Judicial Bureaucracy

FPTP/SMD Winner-take-all The winner gets the one seat available in an election House of Commons, US Congress

Proportional Representation Votes for parties, rather than candidates Parties are represented in legislature according to percentage of votes received Parties select office holders based on candidate lists

Corporatism When business, labor, and the government work closely in policymaking This limits the influence of smaller groups

Cooptation Granting favors in exchange for a benefit “ Buying off ” critics

Cleavages Factors that separate groups Cross-cutting--a division that includes people with differences, strengthening society Coinciding--a division that strengthens feelings of difference and discrepancy, weakening society

Political Culture History Values Beliefs Traditions Influencing political behavior

Political Socialization The means by which citizens learn about government and the political process How people get their ideas about government and acquire their values about the political process

Neoliberal Economics Focus on the free market Few restrictions on business or property rights