AP Human Geography Flashcards: Forms Of Governance

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Forms Of Governance, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Human Geography.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Define a stratocracy.

Answer: A government headed by military chiefs. Military officers hold civilian power.

Flashcard 2: Identify a feature of a technocracy.

Answer: Decision-makers are selected based on their expertise. Technical knowledge guides policy decisions.

Flashcard 3: Identify a feature of a technocracy.

Answer: Decision-makers are selected based on their expertise. Technical knowledge guides policy decisions.

Flashcard 4: What is a junta?

Answer: A government led by a committee of military leaders. Military officers control civilian government.

Flashcard 5: Identify a feature of a republic.

Answer: A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives. No monarch; leaders chosen by citizens.

Flashcard 6: Define a puppet state.

Answer: A state that is supposedly independent but is in fact dependent upon an outside power. Leaders installed and controlled by foreign power.

Flashcard 7: What is the main characteristic of a colony?

Answer: Territory under the immediate political control of another state. Direct administrative control by foreign power.

Flashcard 8: Define a communist state.

Answer: A state governed by a single party following Marxist-Leninist principles. Single-party rule with collective ownership.

Flashcard 9: Define a semi-presidential system.

Answer: Combines a president and a prime minister in governance. Dual executive with shared powers.

Flashcard 10: Define decentralization in governance.

Answer: Distribution of administrative powers or functions away from a central authority. Power moves closer to local populations.

Flashcard 11: What is a devolution in governance?

Answer: The transfer of power from a central government to subnational entities. Central authority grants autonomy to regions.

Flashcard 12: Define a monarchy.

Answer: A form of government with a monarch at the head. Leadership can be hereditary or constitutional.

Flashcard 13: Define a theocracy.

Answer: A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God. Religious authority guides political decisions.

Flashcard 14: What is a corporatocracy?

Answer: A society or system controlled by corporations. Business interests control political decisions.

Flashcard 15: Define a semi-presidential system.

Answer: Combines a president and a prime minister in governance. Dual executive with shared powers.

Flashcard 16: What is a meritocracy?

Answer: A system where advancement is based on individual ability or achievement. Talent and effort determine social position.

Flashcard 17: What is a satellite state?

Answer: A country that is formally independent but heavily influenced by another country. Cold War term for Soviet sphere.

Flashcard 18: What is a federal state?

Answer: A state where power is divided between central and local governments. Constitution distributes authority between levels.

Flashcard 19: Define a monarchy.

Answer: A form of government with a monarch at the head. Leadership can be hereditary or constitutional.

Flashcard 20: Identify a feature of a dictatorship.

Answer: Absolute authority by a single leader. No constitutional limits on power.

Flashcard 21: Define a protectorate.

Answer: A state controlled and protected by another. Stronger state provides defense and guidance.

Flashcard 22: What is a federal state?

Answer: A state where power is divided between central and local governments. Constitution distributes authority between levels.

Flashcard 23: What is a client state?

Answer: A state that is economically, politically, or militarily subordinate to another state. Depends on patron state for support.

Flashcard 24: What is a totalitarian regime?

Answer: A system where the state holds total authority over society and controls all aspects of public and private life. Government controls economy, media, and personal freedoms.

Flashcard 25: What is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer: A system where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. Monarch's power is limited by law.

Flashcard 26: Identify a feature of a republic.

Answer: A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives. No monarch; leaders chosen by citizens.

Flashcard 27: What is a representative democracy?

Answer: A democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Indirect democracy through elected officials.

Flashcard 28: What is a unitary state?

Answer: A state governed as a single entity with central authority. All power flows from the center to lower levels.

Flashcard 29: What is a junta?

Answer: A government led by a committee of military leaders. Military officers control civilian government.

Flashcard 30: Identify a characteristic of a parliamentary system.

Answer: Executive is derived from the legislative branch. Prime minister leads, chosen by legislature.

Flashcard 31: Identify a feature of a dictatorship.

Answer: Absolute authority by a single leader. No constitutional limits on power.

Flashcard 32: Define decentralization in governance.

Answer: Distribution of administrative powers or functions away from a central authority. Power moves closer to local populations.

Flashcard 33: What is a satellite state?

Answer: A country that is formally independent but heavily influenced by another country. Cold War term for Soviet sphere.

Flashcard 34: What is a unitary state?

Answer: A state governed as a single entity with central authority. All power flows from the center to lower levels.

Flashcard 35: What is an oligarchy?

Answer: A small group of people having control of a country. Rule by few, often based on wealth or power.

Flashcard 36: Define a direct democracy.

Answer: A form of democracy where people decide on policy initiatives directly. Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Flashcard 37: What is a plutocracy?

Answer: A government by the wealthy. Wealth determines political influence.

Flashcard 38: Define an autocracy.

Answer: A system of government by one person with absolute power. No checks on the ruler's authority.

Flashcard 39: Identify a feature of a presidential system.

Answer: The president is separate from the legislative branch. Executive and legislative branches are independent.

Flashcard 40: Identify a characteristic of a confederation.

Answer: Weak central authority; power held by member states. Central government has limited enforcement power.

Flashcard 41: Identify a characteristic of a parliamentary system.

Answer: Executive is derived from the legislative branch. Prime minister leads, chosen by legislature.

Flashcard 42: What is a client state?

Answer: A state that is economically, politically, or militarily subordinate to another state. Depends on patron state for support.

Flashcard 43: Define a communist state.

Answer: A state governed by a single party following Marxist-Leninist principles. Single-party rule with collective ownership.

Flashcard 44: What is the main feature of a bureaucratic system?

Answer: Government by administrative bureaus or officials. Administrative agencies implement policy decisions.

Flashcard 45: What is the main characteristic of a colony?

Answer: Territory under the immediate political control of another state. Direct administrative control by foreign power.

Flashcard 46: Define a puppet state.

Answer: A state that is supposedly independent but is in fact dependent upon an outside power. Leaders installed and controlled by foreign power.

Flashcard 47: What is a socialist state?

Answer: A state that manages the economy in the interest of the workers. Public ownership of production means.

Flashcard 48: Define a protectorate.

Answer: A state controlled and protected by another. Stronger state provides defense and guidance.

Flashcard 49: What is the difference between a federal and unitary state?

Answer: Federal divides power; unitary centralizes power. Federalism creates dual sovereignty systems.

Flashcard 50: What is a democracy?

Answer: A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives. Power derives from citizen participation.

Flashcard 51: Define a theocracy.

Answer: A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God. Religious authority guides political decisions.

Flashcard 52: Identify a feature of an anarchist society.

Answer: Absence of a recognized government or authority. No formal state structure exists.

Flashcard 53: What is federalism?

Answer: A system of government where entities such as states share power with a national government. Constitutional division of sovereignty between levels.

Flashcard 54: What is a socialist state?

Answer: A state that manages the economy in the interest of the workers. Public ownership of production means.

Flashcard 55: What is a constitutional monarchy?

Answer: A system where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. Monarch's power is limited by law.

Flashcard 56: Define an autocracy.

Answer: A system of government by one person with absolute power. No checks on the ruler's authority.

Flashcard 57: Define a stratocracy.

Answer: A government headed by military chiefs. Military officers hold civilian power.

Flashcard 58: What is a totalitarian regime?

Answer: A system where the state holds total authority over society and controls all aspects of public and private life. Government controls economy, media, and personal freedoms.

Flashcard 59: Identify a characteristic of a vassal state.

Answer: A state that is subordinate to a more powerful neighbor. Formal independence but practical dependence.

Flashcard 60: What is a kleptocracy?

Answer: A government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested. Leaders steal public resources for personal gain.

Flashcard 61: What is a plutocracy?

Answer: A government by the wealthy. Wealth determines political influence.

Flashcard 62: Identify a characteristic of a vassal state.

Answer: A state that is subordinate to a more powerful neighbor. Formal independence but practical dependence.

Flashcard 63: Identify a characteristic of an authoritarian regime.

Answer: Concentration of power in a leader or small elite not constitutionally responsible to the public. Limited freedoms but some opposition allowed.

Flashcard 64: Identify a characteristic of a confederation.

Answer: Weak central authority; power held by member states. Central government has limited enforcement power.

Flashcard 65: What is a devolution in governance?

Answer: The transfer of power from a central government to subnational entities. Central authority grants autonomy to regions.

Flashcard 66: What is an oligarchy?

Answer: A small group of people having control of a country. Rule by few, often based on wealth or power.

Flashcard 67: What is the difference between a federal and unitary state?

Answer: Federal divides power; unitary centralizes power. Federalism creates dual sovereignty systems.

Flashcard 68: Identify a feature of an anarchist society.

Answer: Absence of a recognized government or authority. No formal state structure exists.

Flashcard 69: What is a corporatocracy?

Answer: A society or system controlled by corporations. Business interests control political decisions.

Flashcard 70: What is a representative democracy?

Answer: A democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Indirect democracy through elected officials.

Flashcard 71: What is a kleptocracy?

Answer: A government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested. Leaders steal public resources for personal gain.

Flashcard 72: What is the main feature of a bureaucratic system?

Answer: Government by administrative bureaus or officials. Administrative agencies implement policy decisions.

Flashcard 73: What is a meritocracy?

Answer: A system where advancement is based on individual ability or achievement. Talent and effort determine social position.

Flashcard 74: Identify a characteristic of an authoritarian regime.

Answer: Concentration of power in a leader or small elite not constitutionally responsible to the public. Limited freedoms but some opposition allowed.

Flashcard 75: Identify a feature of a presidential system.

Answer: The president is separate from the legislative branch. Executive and legislative branches are independent.

Flashcard 76: What is federalism?

Answer: A system of government where entities such as states share power with a national government. Constitutional division of sovereignty between levels.

Flashcard 77: What is a democracy?

Answer: A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives. Power derives from citizen participation.

Flashcard 78: Define a direct democracy.

Answer: A form of democracy where people decide on policy initiatives directly. Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.