Political Science Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Political Science distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
Democracy
A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through freely elected representatives. Democracies are characterized by free and fair elections, the protection of individual rights, the rule of law, and political pluralism.
Authoritarianism
A form of government characterized by the concentration of power in a single leader or a small elite not constitutionally accountable to the people. Authoritarian regimes limit political freedoms, suppress opposition, and control or heavily influence media and civil society.
Separation of Powers
A governance model in which governmental authority is divided among distinct branches, typically the legislative, executive, and judicial, to prevent the concentration of power and provide checks and balances. Each branch has independent powers and responsibilities that limit the others.
Federalism
A system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central authority and subnational political units such as states or provinces. Each level of government has its own defined powers and areas of jurisdiction, though they often share responsibilities.
Political Ideology
A coherent set of beliefs about the proper order of society, the role of government, and the relationship between the individual and the state. Ideologies provide frameworks for understanding political events and guide policy preferences and political action.
Public Opinion
The aggregate of individual attitudes, beliefs, and preferences held by the adult population on matters of public interest. Public opinion is shaped by media, political socialization, personal experience, and elite discourse, and it influences government policy and electoral outcomes.
Electoral Systems
The set of rules and procedures by which votes are translated into seats in a legislature or into executive office. Different systems, such as first-past-the-post, proportional representation, and ranked-choice voting, produce different outcomes in terms of representation and party systems.
International Relations
The study of interactions among sovereign states, international organizations, multinational corporations, and non-governmental actors. Major theoretical frameworks include realism, which emphasizes power and national interest, and liberalism, which stresses cooperation and international institutions.
Political Parties
Organized groups of people who share similar political views and work together to win elections, operate government, and influence public policy. Parties serve as intermediaries between citizens and government, aggregating interests and recruiting political leaders.
Civil Liberties
Fundamental individual rights and freedoms that are protected from government interference, typically guaranteed by a constitution or bill of rights. These include freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, and the press, as well as protections against unreasonable search and seizure and the right to due process.
Key Terms at a Glance
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