Political systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.
Think of a political system as the operating system of a computer. Just like an operating system manages all the functions and operations of a computer, a political system manages the functions and operations of a society.
Regimes: Regimes are the rules, norms, and institutions that govern political behavior within a political system.
Governments: Governments are the specific individuals or groups that hold power within a political system and make decisions on behalf of the society.
Authoritarianism: Authoritarianism is a type of political system where power is concentrated in one leader or group without meaningful competition or accountability.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.