AP Comparative Government and Politics study guide
AP Comparative Government and Politics · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
AP Comparative Government and Politics is an introductory college-level course and exam offered by the College Board that uses a comparative approach to examine the political structures, policies, and political, economic, and social challenges of six countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. It suits students curious about how governments outside the United States work, how different systems solve similar problems, and how political scientists analyze power, authority, legitimacy, stability, and democratization. The AP Comparative Government and Politics study guide has 5 sections and about 1,493 words.
01Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
This domain tests whether you can sort countries by regime type and describe how power is won, legitimized, and limited. Core vocabulary: state (institutions with a monopoly on legitimate force over a territory), regime (the rules and norms governing who holds power and how), government (the specific officeholders), sovereignty , legitimacy , and authority .
321 words, about 2 min02Political Institutions
Institutions questions test how executives, legislatures, judiciaries, and bureaucracies are structured and how those structures shape outcomes. Key contrasts: parliamentary vs.
324 words, about 2 min03Political Culture and Participation
This domain covers political culture (beliefs, values, norms) and participation (how citizens engage). Know the classic typology: parochial , subject , and participant cultures, plus civic culture as a mix associated with stable democracy.
272 words, about 1 min04Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
This domain links electoral rules to party systems and to interest aggregation by parties, unions, and NGOs. Know the families: single-member district/plurality (SMD) , proportional representation (PR) , and mixed systems.
290 words, about 1 min05Political and Economic Changes and Development
This domain connects economic development to political change . Know the concepts: modernization theory (growth fosters democratic pressures), dependency and import substitution , neoliberalism and structural adjustment , state-led development , and rentier states (revenue from resources rather than taxation, weakening accountability).
286 words, about 1 min