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Unit 1 Overview: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

3 min readโ€ขdecember 23, 2022

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

kelly-cotton

kelly-cotton

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

kelly-cotton

kelly-cotton

Unit 1 Overview: , Regimes, and Governments

Unit 1 of the AP Comparative Politics course introduces students to the way think to draw analysis and conclusions about global politics. There are big ideas that students have to keep in mind when studying Comparative politics, and the first one is that politics is all about power and authority. ๐Ÿซ…

In analyzing the six core countries of the AP exam keep in mind these questions: Who has the power and who is affected by it? How did they get this power? The political history of each nation will provide you with the answers to those questions. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

This unit will also provide you with the tools to incorporate quantitative and qualitative data so you can generate meaningful conclusions to identify and explains trends and patterns in other nations - basically to do what political scientists do!

(Remember: is expressed in numerical form and can be analyzed statistically. contains non-numerical representations such as words, images and text.)

Before we get into unit 1, let's take a quick second to look at the course as a whole. The course is divided into 5๏ธโƒฃ five units covering:

  • How government gains power ๐Ÿ’ช and

  • (stable, long-lasting organizations that help turn political ideas into actual policy. Think of legislatures and political parties!)

  • ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ (social factors are extremely important in understanding !)

  • and ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

  • Political and economic ๐Ÿ’น change

Core Course Countries

The course will ask you to demonstrate what you have learned about each of these topics through six 6๏ธโƒฃ countries, called the Core Course Countries. These nations were chosen by the College Board because they present distinct features that can explain the different ramifications of politics across the world

  1. UK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง: When you use the term UK or United Kingdom we are referring to the combination of Scotland ๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ, Great Britain ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง, and Northern Ireland ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช. Key Characteristics of the UK: Democratic ๐Ÿ™‹regime, as well as a .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-oigkBOOpOZ0P.png?alt=media&token=47002a0c-6fce-441d-aeac-b6f7d6681c20

  1. Russia ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ: Russia came into existence again after the Soviet Union broke ๐Ÿ’” up in 1991. Russia is used as an example of an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, post-communist nation that exhibits a semi-presidential ๐Ÿ™Œ system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-pyHs3SlLysy7.png?alt=media&token=882bca0a-717b-4266-9f1d-198006decf3e

    Map of Russia. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  2. Iran ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท as a course country is quite interesting because it is an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, but it is also an example of a theocratic ๐Ÿ•Œ government. Unlike the first two course countries, the UK and Russia, Iran cannot be identified as a semi-presidential, presidential, or , but more on that in Unit 2 Political ๐Ÿ›

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-WRFM5ECHKeBO.png?alt=media&token=a67c6bc6-8e45-4316-9725-8154eb532374

    Map of Iran. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  3. Mexico ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ: This country, much like the UK, is an example of a democratic ๐Ÿ™‹ regime, however unlike the UK, Mexico is an example of a presidential ๐Ÿคด system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2FMexico_map_(english)-ENNu9IwCDUVX.png?alt=media&token=edcbb762-2774-47ba-b3d3-43c208083f08

    Map of Mexico. Courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  4. China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ: This country is an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, similar to Russia and Iran. Much like Iran, the course does not categorize China as a presidential, semi-presidential, or , but once again we will talk ๐Ÿ’ฌ about that in Unit 2 Political .

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-YEMrbory96vH.png?alt=media&token=f50e7aad-1a0d-4bb4-9ba6-60b769b3705e

    Map of China. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  5. Nigeria ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ: This country, much like the UK, is an example of a democratic ๐Ÿ™‹ regime, however unlike the UK, Nigeria is similar to Mexico in that it is an example of a presidential ๐Ÿคด system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-9vRn6oqCCNW9.png?alt=media&token=5bbf7b61-a202-4046-88c9-a401b8e23752

    Map of Nigerian Linguistic Groups. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

In addition, you also need to know about . These are organizations like the EU ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ that encourage states to pool their sovereignty together in order to receive economic, political, and social benefit, but more on that later.

Key Terms to Review (18)

Authoritarian Regime

: An authoritarian regime refers to an oppressive form of government where political power rests in one leader or group, who exercise authority without meaningful checks or balances.

Citizen Organizations

: Citizen organizations are non-governmental groups formed by individuals who come together around shared interests or causes. They aim to promote specific issues, advocate for policy changes, or provide services to communities without being part of the government structure.

Comparative Political Scientists

: Comparative political scientists are scholars who study and analyze political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries to identify similarities, differences, and patterns.

Culture and Participation

: Culture and participation refers to the ways in which a society's beliefs, values, norms, and traditions influence political behavior and engagement. It encompasses how individuals interact with their government and participate in political activities.

Democratic Regime

: A democratic regime refers to a political system where power is held by the people, who exercise their authority through free and fair elections.

Economic Change

: Economic change refers to the transformation or shift in an economy's structure, policies, or performance over time. It involves alterations in factors such as production methods, technology, trade patterns, and government regulations.

Elections

: Elections are formal processes where citizens choose their representatives or leaders through voting. They provide an opportunity for people to express their preferences and have a say in shaping the government.

Institutions

: Institutions refer to the established structures and organizations that shape and govern political systems. They provide the framework for how power is exercised, decisions are made, and policies are implemented within a society.

Legitimacy

: Legitimacy refers to the acceptance and recognition of a government or political system by its citizens as having the right to rule and exercise authority.

Parliamentary System

: A parliamentary system is a form of government where executive power is vested in an elected legislature (parliament) which chooses a prime minister or head of government.

Political Change

: Political change refers to the process of altering or transforming the structure, systems, or policies within a government or political system.

Political Systems

: Political systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.

Presidential System

: A presidential system is a form of government where there is a separation between the executive and legislative branches, with an elected president serving as both head of state and head of government.

Qualitative Data

: Qualitative data refers to non-numerical information that focuses on qualities, characteristics, and descriptions. It involves collecting data through interviews, observations, or open-ended survey questions.

Quantitative Data

: Quantitative data refers to numerical information that can be measured and analyzed using mathematical methods. It involves collecting data through structured surveys, experiments, or observations.

Semi-Presidential System

: A semi-presidential system combines elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems. It features an elected president as head of state alongside a prime minister who is responsible for the day-to-day governance.

Supranational Organizations

: Supranational organizations are international institutions that have authority over member states, making decisions that affect all members. They often have the power to create and enforce laws, regulations, and policies.

Theocratic Government

: A theocratic government is a form of government where religious leaders hold power and religious law is used as the basis for governance.

Unit 1 Overview: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

3 min readโ€ขdecember 23, 2022

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

kelly-cotton

kelly-cotton

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

kelly-cotton

kelly-cotton

Unit 1 Overview: , Regimes, and Governments

Unit 1 of the AP Comparative Politics course introduces students to the way think to draw analysis and conclusions about global politics. There are big ideas that students have to keep in mind when studying Comparative politics, and the first one is that politics is all about power and authority. ๐Ÿซ…

In analyzing the six core countries of the AP exam keep in mind these questions: Who has the power and who is affected by it? How did they get this power? The political history of each nation will provide you with the answers to those questions. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

This unit will also provide you with the tools to incorporate quantitative and qualitative data so you can generate meaningful conclusions to identify and explains trends and patterns in other nations - basically to do what political scientists do!

(Remember: is expressed in numerical form and can be analyzed statistically. contains non-numerical representations such as words, images and text.)

Before we get into unit 1, let's take a quick second to look at the course as a whole. The course is divided into 5๏ธโƒฃ five units covering:

  • How government gains power ๐Ÿ’ช and

  • (stable, long-lasting organizations that help turn political ideas into actual policy. Think of legislatures and political parties!)

  • ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ (social factors are extremely important in understanding !)

  • and ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

  • Political and economic ๐Ÿ’น change

Core Course Countries

The course will ask you to demonstrate what you have learned about each of these topics through six 6๏ธโƒฃ countries, called the Core Course Countries. These nations were chosen by the College Board because they present distinct features that can explain the different ramifications of politics across the world

  1. UK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง: When you use the term UK or United Kingdom we are referring to the combination of Scotland ๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ, Great Britain ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง, and Northern Ireland ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช. Key Characteristics of the UK: Democratic ๐Ÿ™‹regime, as well as a .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-oigkBOOpOZ0P.png?alt=media&token=47002a0c-6fce-441d-aeac-b6f7d6681c20

  1. Russia ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ: Russia came into existence again after the Soviet Union broke ๐Ÿ’” up in 1991. Russia is used as an example of an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, post-communist nation that exhibits a semi-presidential ๐Ÿ™Œ system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-pyHs3SlLysy7.png?alt=media&token=882bca0a-717b-4266-9f1d-198006decf3e

    Map of Russia. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  2. Iran ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท as a course country is quite interesting because it is an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, but it is also an example of a theocratic ๐Ÿ•Œ government. Unlike the first two course countries, the UK and Russia, Iran cannot be identified as a semi-presidential, presidential, or , but more on that in Unit 2 Political ๐Ÿ›

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-WRFM5ECHKeBO.png?alt=media&token=a67c6bc6-8e45-4316-9725-8154eb532374

    Map of Iran. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  3. Mexico ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ: This country, much like the UK, is an example of a democratic ๐Ÿ™‹ regime, however unlike the UK, Mexico is an example of a presidential ๐Ÿคด system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2FMexico_map_(english)-ENNu9IwCDUVX.png?alt=media&token=edcbb762-2774-47ba-b3d3-43c208083f08

    Map of Mexico. Courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  4. China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ: This country is an authoritarian ๐Ÿ‘‘ regime, similar to Russia and Iran. Much like Iran, the course does not categorize China as a presidential, semi-presidential, or , but once again we will talk ๐Ÿ’ฌ about that in Unit 2 Political .

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-YEMrbory96vH.png?alt=media&token=f50e7aad-1a0d-4bb4-9ba6-60b769b3705e

    Map of China. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

  5. Nigeria ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ: This country, much like the UK, is an example of a democratic ๐Ÿ™‹ regime, however unlike the UK, Nigeria is similar to Mexico in that it is an example of a presidential ๐Ÿคด system.

    https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-9vRn6oqCCNW9.png?alt=media&token=5bbf7b61-a202-4046-88c9-a401b8e23752

    Map of Nigerian Linguistic Groups. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia

In addition, you also need to know about . These are organizations like the EU ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ that encourage states to pool their sovereignty together in order to receive economic, political, and social benefit, but more on that later.

Key Terms to Review (18)

Authoritarian Regime

: An authoritarian regime refers to an oppressive form of government where political power rests in one leader or group, who exercise authority without meaningful checks or balances.

Citizen Organizations

: Citizen organizations are non-governmental groups formed by individuals who come together around shared interests or causes. They aim to promote specific issues, advocate for policy changes, or provide services to communities without being part of the government structure.

Comparative Political Scientists

: Comparative political scientists are scholars who study and analyze political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries to identify similarities, differences, and patterns.

Culture and Participation

: Culture and participation refers to the ways in which a society's beliefs, values, norms, and traditions influence political behavior and engagement. It encompasses how individuals interact with their government and participate in political activities.

Democratic Regime

: A democratic regime refers to a political system where power is held by the people, who exercise their authority through free and fair elections.

Economic Change

: Economic change refers to the transformation or shift in an economy's structure, policies, or performance over time. It involves alterations in factors such as production methods, technology, trade patterns, and government regulations.

Elections

: Elections are formal processes where citizens choose their representatives or leaders through voting. They provide an opportunity for people to express their preferences and have a say in shaping the government.

Institutions

: Institutions refer to the established structures and organizations that shape and govern political systems. They provide the framework for how power is exercised, decisions are made, and policies are implemented within a society.

Legitimacy

: Legitimacy refers to the acceptance and recognition of a government or political system by its citizens as having the right to rule and exercise authority.

Parliamentary System

: A parliamentary system is a form of government where executive power is vested in an elected legislature (parliament) which chooses a prime minister or head of government.

Political Change

: Political change refers to the process of altering or transforming the structure, systems, or policies within a government or political system.

Political Systems

: Political systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.

Presidential System

: A presidential system is a form of government where there is a separation between the executive and legislative branches, with an elected president serving as both head of state and head of government.

Qualitative Data

: Qualitative data refers to non-numerical information that focuses on qualities, characteristics, and descriptions. It involves collecting data through interviews, observations, or open-ended survey questions.

Quantitative Data

: Quantitative data refers to numerical information that can be measured and analyzed using mathematical methods. It involves collecting data through structured surveys, experiments, or observations.

Semi-Presidential System

: A semi-presidential system combines elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems. It features an elected president as head of state alongside a prime minister who is responsible for the day-to-day governance.

Supranational Organizations

: Supranational organizations are international institutions that have authority over member states, making decisions that affect all members. They often have the power to create and enforce laws, regulations, and policies.

Theocratic Government

: A theocratic government is a form of government where religious leaders hold power and religious law is used as the basis for governance.


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APยฎ and SATยฎ are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


ยฉ 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

APยฎ and SATยฎ are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.