Forms of Governance - AP Human Geography
- Define a stratocracy.
- A government headed by military chiefs. Military officers hold civilian power.
- Identify a feature of a technocracy.
- Decision-makers are selected based on their expertise. Technical knowledge guides policy decisions.
- What is a junta?
- A government led by a committee of military leaders. Military officers control civilian government.
- Identify a feature of a republic.
- A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives. No monarch; leaders chosen by citizens.
- Define a communist state.
- A state governed by a single party following Marxist-Leninist principles. Single-party rule with collective ownership.
- Define a semi-presidential system.
- Combines a president and a prime minister in governance. Dual executive with shared powers.
- What is a devolution in governance?
- The transfer of power from a central government to subnational entities. Central authority grants autonomy to regions.
- Define a theocracy.
- A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God. Religious authority guides political decisions.
- What is a satellite state?
- A country that is formally independent but heavily influenced by another country. Cold War term for Soviet sphere.
- Define a monarchy.
- A form of government with a monarch at the head. Leadership can be hereditary or constitutional.
- What is a federal state?
- A state where power is divided between central and local governments. Constitution distributes authority between levels.
- What is a totalitarian regime?
- A system where the state holds total authority over society and controls all aspects of public and private life. Government controls economy, media, and personal freedoms.
- What is a constitutional monarchy?
- A system where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. Monarch's power is limited by law.
- What is a representative democracy?
- A democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Indirect democracy through elected officials.
- Identify a characteristic of a parliamentary system.
- Executive is derived from the legislative branch. Prime minister leads, chosen by legislature.
- Identify a feature of a dictatorship.
- Absolute authority by a single leader. No constitutional limits on power.
- Define decentralization in governance.
- Distribution of administrative powers or functions away from a central authority. Power moves closer to local populations.
- What is a unitary state?
- A state governed as a single entity with central authority. All power flows from the center to lower levels.
- Define a direct democracy.
- A form of democracy where people decide on policy initiatives directly. Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
- What is a plutocracy?
- A government by the wealthy. Wealth determines political influence.
- Identify a feature of a presidential system.
- The president is separate from the legislative branch. Executive and legislative branches are independent.
- Identify a characteristic of a confederation.
- Weak central authority; power held by member states. Central government has limited enforcement power.
- What is a client state?
- A state that is economically, politically, or militarily subordinate to another state. Depends on patron state for support.
- What is the main characteristic of a colony?
- Territory under the immediate political control of another state. Direct administrative control by foreign power.
- Define a puppet state.
- A state that is supposedly independent but is in fact dependent upon an outside power. Leaders installed and controlled by foreign power.
- What is a socialist state?
- A state that manages the economy in the interest of the workers. Public ownership of production means.
- Define a protectorate.
- A state controlled and protected by another. Stronger state provides defense and guidance.
- What is the difference between a federal and unitary state?
- Federal divides power; unitary centralizes power. Federalism creates dual sovereignty systems.
- What is a democracy?
- A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives. Power derives from citizen participation.
- Identify a feature of an anarchist society.
- Absence of a recognized government or authority. No formal state structure exists.
- Define an autocracy.
- A system of government by one person with absolute power. No checks on the ruler's authority.
- Identify a characteristic of a vassal state.
- A state that is subordinate to a more powerful neighbor. Formal independence but practical dependence.
- What is a kleptocracy?
- A government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested. Leaders steal public resources for personal gain.
- Identify a characteristic of an authoritarian regime.
- Concentration of power in a leader or small elite not constitutionally responsible to the public. Limited freedoms but some opposition allowed.
- What is an oligarchy?
- A small group of people having control of a country. Rule by few, often based on wealth or power.
- What is a corporatocracy?
- A society or system controlled by corporations. Business interests control political decisions.
- What is the main feature of a bureaucratic system?
- Government by administrative bureaus or officials. Administrative agencies implement policy decisions.
- What is a meritocracy?
- A system where advancement is based on individual ability or achievement. Talent and effort determine social position.
- What is federalism?
- A system of government where entities such as states share power with a national government. Constitutional division of sovereignty between levels.