Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Noah Scott
6 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers political regimes, focusing on the differences between democracy and authoritarianism. It explores characteristics and types of each regime, including parliamentary, presidential, federal, and direct democracies, as well as illiberal, one-party, theocratic, totalitarian, and military regimes. It also applies these concepts to specific countries and offers exam tips, common question types, and practice questions.
#AP Comparative Government Study Guide: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Welcome! Let's dive into the core of comparative government: understanding different types of political regimes. This guide is designed to help you quickly grasp the key concepts and feel confident for your exam. Let's get started! 🚀
#Defining Political Regimes
Political regimes are the rules and norms that define a political system. They determine who holds power and how that power is exercised. Think of it as the operating system of a country. 💻
- Democracy 🙋🏾♀️
- Authoritarianism 👑
Regimes exist on a spectrum, ranging from highly democratic to highly authoritarian. Many countries fall somewhere in between. Understanding this spectrum is crucial! 💡
# 🙋🏾♀️ Democracy
Democracy is a system where government officials are chosen through free and fair elections. It balances majority rule with the protection of minority rights and limits government power through a constitution. 📜
#Key Characteristics of Democracies:
- Free and fair elections. ☑️
- Competitive elections. 🗳️
- Government accountability and transparency. ✅
- Protection of political and civil rights for all citizens. ⚖️
- An independent judiciary. 🏛️
- Elected officials with real authority. 🧑💼
- Rule of Law. 📜
#Types of Democratic Regimes:
- Parliamentary Democracy: Head of state is chosen by the legislature. Head of state and head of government are different people. 🏛️
- Presidential Democracy: President is directly elected by the people and serves as both head of state and head of government. 👩⚖️
- Federal Democracy: Power is shared...
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