FRQ Unit 1
1. Types of Political Systems: Democracies vs. Authoritarian Regimes
(a) Define a democratic political system and an authoritarian political system.
(b) Explain one key difference in how policy decisions are made in democratic and authoritarian systems.
(c) Identify one country that exemplifies each system and describe a characteristic of its political system that aligns with democracy or authoritarianism.
(d) Discuss one challenge that authoritarian regimes face in maintaining long-term political stability.
2. Characteristics of Political Legitimacy and Sovereignty
(a) Define political legitimacy and sovereignty in the context of comparative politics.
(b) Identify and explain two sources of legitimacy that governments may rely on to maintain authority.
(c) Compare how legitimacy is established and maintained in one democratic system and one authoritarian system.
(d) Explain one way globalization has affected the sovereignty of national governments.
3. Comparing Regimes: Unitary vs. Federal Systems(a) Define a unitary system and a federal system of government.
(b) Identify one country with a unitary system and one country with a federal system.
(c) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of a unitary system compared to a federal system.
(d) Describe one way federalism can contribute to political stability in a diverse society.
4. Political Change and Stability
(a) Define political stability and political change in comparative politics.
(b) Identify and explain one factor that contributes to political stability in a democratic regime.
(c) Identify and explain one factor that contributes to political instability in an authoritarian regime.
(d) Discuss one example of a political transition from an authoritarian system to a democratic system, explaining one key factor that influenced the transition.
5. Political Institutions
(a) Identify the three branches of government and describe their functions in a democracy.
(b) Explain one difference in how the executive branch functions in a parliamentary system compared to a presidential system.
(c) Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of a parliamentary system.
(d) Identify one authoritarian regime and explain how its political institutions differ from those in a democracy.
6. Political Parties and Electoral Systems (Political Institutions Focus)
(a) Define majoritarian and proportional electoral systems.
(b) Explain one way electoral systems affect the number of political parties in a democracy.
(c) Describe one advantage of a proportional electoral system in representing diverse political views.
(d) Identify one country with a dominant-party system and explain one way this affects political competition.
1. Types of Political Systems: Democracies vs. Authoritarian Regimes
(a) Define a democratic political system and an authoritarian political system.
(b) Explain one key difference in how policy decisions are made in democratic and authoritarian systems.
(c) Identify one country that exemplifies each system and describe a characteristic of its political system that aligns with democracy or authoritarianism.
(d) Discuss one challenge that authoritarian regimes face in maintaining long-term political stability.
2. Characteristics of Political Legitimacy and Sovereignty
(a) Define political legitimacy and sovereignty in the context of comparative politics.
(b) Identify and explain two sources of legitimacy that governments may rely on to maintain authority.
(c) Compare how legitimacy is established and maintained in one democratic system and one authoritarian system.
(d) Explain one way globalization has affected the sovereignty of national governments.
3. Comparing Regimes: Unitary vs. Federal Systems(a) Define a unitary system and a federal system of government.
(b) Identify one country with a unitary system and one country with a federal system.
(c) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of a unitary system compared to a federal system.
(d) Describe one way federalism can contribute to political stability in a diverse society.
4. Political Change and Stability
(a) Define political stability and political change in comparative politics.
(b) Identify and explain one factor that contributes to political stability in a democratic regime.
(c) Identify and explain one factor that contributes to political instability in an authoritarian regime.
(d) Discuss one example of a political transition from an authoritarian system to a democratic system, explaining one key factor that influenced the transition.
5. Political Institutions
(a) Identify the three branches of government and describe their functions in a democracy.
(b) Explain one difference in how the executive branch functions in a parliamentary system compared to a presidential system.
(c) Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of a parliamentary system.
(d) Identify one authoritarian regime and explain how its political institutions differ from those in a democracy.
6. Political Parties and Electoral Systems (Political Institutions Focus)
(a) Define majoritarian and proportional electoral systems.
(b) Explain one way electoral systems affect the number of political parties in a democracy.
(c) Describe one advantage of a proportional electoral system in representing diverse political views.
(d) Identify one country with a dominant-party system and explain one way this affects political competition.