1. Introduction, Britain, and EU
Day 1 – AP Review

2. Test Information Test lasts 2 ½ hours: Test is 5/15/12 at 12 pm
Section 1 – 55 multiple choice questions (45 minutes)
Short break
Section 2 – 8 short answer and free response (100 minutes)
5 definition and description questions
1 conceptual analysis question
2 country specific questions (USUALLY ask you to compare 2 – 3 nations)
Test is 5/15/12 at 12 pm

3. Things to Do to Prepare Get Fast Track to a 5 by Peter Caroddo, Jr.
Study each night 20 – 30 minutes each night for the month before the test
KNOW your vocabulary – KEY thing to study

4. On Test Day Remember Eat properly in between your tests
Wear comfortable clothes
Read the question carefully
Avoid absolute responses like “always” and “never” – watch EXCEPT questions
Be sure to list your answers in regards to the parts listed on the test
Short answers should be CLEAR, CONCISE, and PRECISE
Know the difference between DEFINE, IDENTIFY, and EXPLAIN

5. Today’s Agenda
Review some general knowledge for preparation and the testing day
Distribute vocabulary and activity sheets
Review introduction to Comparative Politics info
Complete HDI Activity
Review UK info
Complete “Parliaments Role in Europe” Activity
Review EU info
PRACTICE TESTS: you make take them ANY time between now and next Tuesday … I will grade them and return them to help you study

6. Comparative Politics – Chapter 1
Provides insight into governmental systems used around the world – answers why countries are different
Is a field of political science
Comparative politics is the study of political systems around the world
Comparativists study comparative politics

7. Methods of Comparison
Comparative analysis is key to class – logical approach for identifying the causes of the similarities and differences
Normative analysis
Empirical analysis
Quantitative analysis
Qualitative analysis – useful for case study
Most similar systems
Most different systems

8. Political and Governmental Systems
Political Units
Country – generic term
State – political unit with power to make and enforce laws, has sovereignty
Nation – group of people who share self-identified common identity – CAN have a stateless nation
Nation-State – characteristics of state and nation
Exercise of Power
Government – formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people
Authority – power to rule over people and get things done
Legitimacy – the right to rule is recognized by the people
Regime – rules that guide governments operations and interactions
Types of Government
Democratic
Authoritarian: numerous types

9. HDI Activity
Development refers to the degree to which a country has achieved economic and political stability and well-being
Comparativists often examine levels of development
HDI is the Human Development Index

10. Britain Review Represents the classic “Liberal” democracy
Citizens have high levels of efficacy – belief they can impact public policy
Are a parliamentary sovereignty – no “written” constitution so Parliament has ultimate power
Elections are fair and power passes between two major parties: Labour and Conservatives (Tories) (Liberal Democrats only gets about 30 of 659 seats)

11. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Great Britain refers to main island and consists of England, Scotland, and Wales
United Kingdom includes N. Ireland with other 3
Island status has allowed it to develop independently from mainland Europe
Has developed under idea of gradualism

12. Political Institutions
Is a constitutional monarchy with unwritten constitution
Is example for parliamentary democracy – Westminster Model – with fusion of powers: executive branch is chosen from within House of Commons and PM must stand for election in their own district
PM is leader of party that wins most seats in general election
Cabinet sits in front to the right, opposition sits to the left, back benchers sit in back
PM calls elections at any time but must be within 5 years of last one
Queen plays ceremonial and highly visible role
Elections based on first-past-the-post system and single-member district – similar to USA
Quangos are mix of private and government staffers who form policy-making boards

13. Citizens, Society and the State
Northern Ireland continuing problem for Britain
Protestants and Catholics long civil war that almost ended with 1998 Good Friday Agreement
Also divided along class lines – biggest cleavage

14. Political and Economic Change
Gradualism – from Magna Carta through Great Reform Acts and universal suffrage in 1928
Post-WWII collectivist consensus began with Beveridge Report – social welfare for all
1970s consensus breaking down and Thatcher began neoliberalism and monetarism
1997 Labour began Third Way

15. Public Policy Devolution
Scotland has elected government of its own with taxation powers
London directly elects its mayor
Local assemblies have been created in Wales
Frees Parliament from dealing with local issues and weakens calls for independence minded parties
Unitary system - so found way to give more power to local leaders without Parliament giving up its sovereignty

16. Parliament’s Role in Europe
Look at the relationship between the EU and the UK

17. European Union 27 European nations Supranational organization
Set up to foster economic cooperation, has developed huge single market with Euro as its common currency, spans all areas from development aid to environmental policy
Is based on rule of law – every action taken by EU is based on treaties

18. Bodies
Setting the agenda – European Council - sets EU’s overall political direction but no power to pass laws; led by its president and comprising national heads of state or government and the President of the Commission
Legislation – these three produce through “Ordinary Legislative Procedure” (used to be co-decision) – policies and laws that apply through the EU
European Parliament – directly elected; MEP represent European citizens
Council of European Union – governments defend their own countries interests
European Commission – appointed by national governments; promotes interests of EU as a whole

19. Treaties 1952 – ECSC - interdependence in coal and steel
1958 – Treaty of Rome – set up the EEC and Euratom
1967 – Brussels Treaty – creates single Commission, single Council; repealed by 1999 Treaty of Amsterdam
1986 – Single European Act – began qualified majority voting in the Council (in preparation for Portugal's and Spain’s membership), gave Parliament more influence
1993 – Maastricht Treaty (Treaty of European Union) – creates EU, introduces co-decision giving Parliament more say, creates cooperation between defense and justice and home affairs
1999 – Treaty of Amsterdam – more transparent decision making, consolidation of EU and EEC treaties
2003 – Treaty of Nice – method for changing composition of Commission and redefined voting system in Council
2009 – Treaty of Lisbon – more power for European Parliament, change voting procedures in Council, permanent president of European Council, new EU diplomatic service