Introduction to
Comparative Government
Key Terms & Methods
Before we begin…
Government: the leadership
and institutions that make
policy decisions for the
country
Politics: the ways power is
gained, managed,
challenged, and maintained
Why study other gov’ts?
1.It’s part of a well-rounded
education
2.To better understand US
3.To consider the nature of
power in various forms
4.To learn from positive and
negative experiences
The Comparative Method
AristotelianTheory:
# of
Rulers
Interest of
Everyone
SelfInterest
By Social
Group
One
Monarchy
Tyranny
King
Oligarchy
The
Wealthy
Few
Many
Aristocracy
Polity or
Ochlocracy
Democracy
The Poor
The Comparative Method
Three-World Approach:
1.United States + Allies
2.Soviet Union + Allies
3.Non-Aligned Countries
(Usually economically
underdeveloped & deprived)
The Comparative Method
But… this approach ignores
these recent trends:
1.Impact of informal politics
2.Importance of political
change
3.Integration of political &
economic systems
The Comparative Method
Modern Classifications:
1. “Advanced”
democracies
2.Communist & PostCommunist countries
3.Less developed & newly
industrializing countries
Authority & Power - Terms
Sovereignty: The exclusive
right to exercise political
authority over a territory
State: Has a government,
population, territory &
sovereignty (can use force!)
Nation: Group with a common
ethnic or political identity
Authority & Power
Regime: the form gov’t takes
(often associated with a
person or ideology)
• Constitutional Democracy
direct vs. indirect
• Authoritarian System
• Totalitarian System 
Legitimacy
“The right to rule”
• Traditional – history, ritual,
divine law (often heredity)
• Charismatic – personal
magnetism of leader
• Rational-legal – uses laws
& procedures (bureaucratic)
Culture & Ideology
Political Culture: communityheld beliefs, feelings, &
values that influence gov’t
(ex. individualism, level of
political participation, etc.)
Political Ideology: personally
held beliefs about actions
and goals of government
Ideologies
•
Classical Liberalism
•
•
Political & economic freedom
Communism
•
•
•
Values equality over freedom
No private property, little freedom
Socialism
•
•
•
Regulated economy & generous benefits
Government owns key industries
Fascism
•
•
Strong, nationalistic state with few freedoms
Religion/Theocracy
Political Institutions
Concentration of Power:
• Unitary government
• centralized power
• Federal system
• stratified power
• Confederal system
• diffused power
Political Institutions
Executive(s):
President
Head of State
Symbol of the
people
Directly elected
fixed term
Leads cabinet
Prime Minister
Head of Gov’t
Performs daily
tasks
From Legislature
“no confidence”
Collegial cabinet
Political Institutions
Legislature:
• Unicameral vs. Bicameral
• Most assemblies are weak
• RARE: power to initiate
legislative program, gov’t
spending, or impeachment
Political Institutions
Judiciary:
• Judicial review & activism
• Administrative review 
• Power expanding recently
• Ensure civil liberties/rights 
• Int’l agreements & treaties 
Political Institutions
Globalization or
Fragmentation?
Supranational Organizations
• NATO • European Union
• OPEC • United Nations
• NAFTA
On Your Own
Topic Three:
Political & Economic Change
Topic Four:
Citizens, Society & the State
Topic Six:
Public Policy
For your review:
• Make a Venn Diagram with
socialism, communism &
fascism or presidential &
parliamentary systems
• Use Comparative Method to
describe the United States