AP Comparative Government · Class Hub
AP CompGov ✦ semester project

Welcome to my AP Comparative Government & Politics website

This site organizes notes, vocabulary, country case studies, news connections, and study tools ✧

Project Objectives

  • Organize course content in a clear, accessible format.
  • Track current events and connect them to AP concepts.
  • Develop comparative analysis skills across the six countries.
  • Create a study tool for review and exam prep.

Vocabulary

20+ terms per unit

Organized by unit/topic.

Unit 1 · Political Systems, Regimes, & Governments
StatePolitical organization with a monopoly on the legitimate use of force in a territory.
NationA group of people with a shared identity (culture, history, language).
RegimeRules and norms that determine how power is acquired and used.
GovernmentLeaders/administration in power at a given time.
Unit 2 · Political Institutions
ExecutiveBranch that implements and enforces laws/policy.
LegislatureBranch that makes laws; can be bicameral or unicameral.
Unit 3 · Political Culture & Participation
Civil SocietyVoluntary associations outside the state.

Country Pages

UK · Russia · China · Mexico · Nigeria · Iran

Each page includes political structure, key institutions, social cleavages, recent news with AP connections, and a comparison box.

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Democratic
  • System: Parliamentary
  • Electoral System: FPTP (Commons); others vary
  • Constitution: Uncodified (statutes, conventions)

Key Institutions

  • Executive: PM & Cabinet
  • Legislature: House of Commons & Lords
  • Judiciary: UK Supreme Court; independent
  • Parties: Conservatives, Labour, etc.

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Regional (England/Scotland/Wales/NI)
  • Class & income inequality
  • Immigration & identity

Recent News → AP Concept

Add at least one recent example & connect it.

Legitimacy Political Participation Rule of Law
  • Headline: [Add recent UK news headline]
  • Summary: Who/What/Where/Why it matters
  • AP Connection: e.g., party discipline in parliamentary systems
  • Reflection: So what for society/government?
  • Source: Link

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Authoritarian (hybrid history)
  • System: Semi-presidential
  • Electoral System: Mixed-member (Duma)
  • Constitution: 1993 (amended)
  • How it became a modern state: Collapse of the soviet union, Economic reforms in the 1990s, Vladmir Putin, Imperial Reforms, Industrialization, Global integration, Technological and social modernization, Vladimir Putin taking power, Industrial Revolution and World War 2

Key Institutions

  • Executive: President & PM
  • Legislature: Federal Assembly (Duma + Federation Council)
  • Judiciary: Constitutional & Supreme Courts
  • Parties: United Russia (dominant)

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Regional & ethnic republics
  • Resource dependence
  • Media freedom

Recent News → AP Concept

  • Headline: [Add]
  • Summary: [Add]
  • AP Connection: e.g., authoritarian resilience
  • Reflection: [Add]
  • Source: Link

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Authoritarian (single-party)
  • System: Unitary; party-state
  • Electoral System: Indirect/local elections
  • Constitution: 1982 (amended)
  • How it became a modern state: 1982 (amended)

Key Institutions

  • Executive: President/State Council; CCP leadership
  • Legislature: National People’s Congress
  • Judiciary: People’s courts
  • Parties: CCP + 8 minor parties

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Rural–urban; coastal–interior
  • Ethnic minorities (e.g., Uyghurs, Tibetans)
  • Environmental policy

Recent News → AP Concept

  • Headline: [Add]
  • Summary: [Add]
  • AP Connection: [Add]
  • Reflection: [Add]
  • Source: Link

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Democratic
  • System: Federal presidential
  • Electoral System: Mixed; PR + SMD
  • Constitution: 1917 (amended)

Key Institutions

  • Executive: President & Cabinet
  • Legislature: Chamber of Deputies & Senate
  • Judiciary: Supreme Court
  • Parties: Morena, PAN, PRI, etc.

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Regional disparities
  • Security & rule of law
  • Indigenous rights

Recent News → AP Concept

  • Headline: [Add]
  • Summary: [Add]
  • AP Connection: [Add]
  • Reflection: [Add]
  • Source: Link

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Democratic
  • System: Federal presidential
  • Electoral System: Two-round pres.; legislative FPTP
  • Constitution: 1999
  • How it became a modern state: Economic development, Urbanization, improvement in Education & Health, development in Technology.

Key Institutions

  • Executive: President
  • Legislature: National Assembly
  • Judiciary: Supreme Court
  • Parties: APC, PDP, others

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Ethnic & religious divisions
  • Regional oil politics
  • Youth unemployment

Recent News → AP Concept

  • Headline: [Add]
  • Summary: [Add]
  • AP Connection: [Add]
  • Reflection: [Add]
  • Source: Link

Basic Political Structure

  • Regime Type: Theocratic republic
  • System: Unitary; dual executive
  • Electoral System: Candidate vetting by Guardian Council
  • Constitution: 1979/1989

Key Institutions

  • Executive: Supreme Leader & President
  • Legislature: Majles
  • Judiciary: Supreme Court; clerical oversight
  • Parties: Factions over formal parties

Social Cleavages & Issues

  • Religious & generational divides
  • Urban vs rural
  • Sanctions & economy

Recent News → AP Concept

  • Headline: [Add]
  • Summary: [Add]
  • AP Connection: [Add]
  • Reflection: [Add]
  • Source: Link

News & Current Events

≥ 1 update per partial

Russia accused of using a church in Sweden as a spying hub.

Russia Political Participation Date: Source ↗

Summary: Local politicians in the Swedish city of Vasteras shut down a Russian Orthodox church they believe is being used by the Kremlin as a spying hub. Supporters of the church say this is an act of Xenophobia towards Russians. This case highlights how religious or cultural institutions may be leveraged for espionage by foreign states. It raises important questions for Sweden’s national security, legal limits on religious freedoms, and broader questions about foreign influence in democratic countries.

AP Concept Connection: This connects to the concept of sovereignty and security in liberal democracies because Liberal democracies must balance the protection of civil liberties, like religious freedom and property rights, with safeguarding national security. When a non-state institution (here, a church) potentially becomes a tool for foreign intelligence, it tests the state’s ability to uphold sovereignty and security without undermining democratic values.

Short Reflection: Questions for the class: Does this government response strengthen or weaken legitimacy? Could this incident affect political participation—by inspiring civic action, or by fostering distrust? Might a similar case occur in another AP country we study? Why or why not?

Study Tools

Timelines · Visuals · Practice

Timelines (per country)

Add key events in order. Duplicate for each country when needed.

1917 (Mexico) – Constitution established federal presidential system.
1999 (Nigeria) – Current constitution; return to civilian rule.

Infographics / Visuals

Here you'll find resources, graphs and infographics i've made.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 1

Practice Questions

Use MCQs or short FRQs. Example MCQ template:

1) In a parliamentary system, the executive is…

Short FRQ prompt example: Explain how a mixed-member electoral system can affect party representation. Use evidence from two course countries.