INCLUDES

Course framework
Instructional
section
Sample exam
questions

AP Comparative
®

Government
and Politics
COURSE AND EXAM DESCRIPTION

Effective
Fall 2019
AP Comparative
®

Government
and Politics
COURSE AND EXAM DESCRIPTION

Effective
Fall 2019

AP COURSE AND EXAM DESCRIPTIONS ARE UPDATED PERIODICALLY

Please visit AP Central (apcentral.collegeboard.org) to determine whether
a more recent course and exam description is available.
About College Board
College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects
students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, College Board
was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership
association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions
and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year,
College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful
transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and
college success—including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement® Program.
The organization also serves the education community through research and
advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools.

For further information, visit collegeboard.org.

AP Equity and Access Policy

College Board strongly encourages educators to make equitable access a guiding
principle for their AP programs by giving all willing and academically prepared
students the opportunity to participate in AP. We encourage the elimination
of barriers that restrict access to AP for students from ethnic, racial, and
socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented. Schools
should make every effort to ensure their AP classes reflect the diversity of their
student population. College Board also believes that all students should have
access to academically challenging coursework before they enroll in AP classes,
which can prepare them for AP success. It is only through a commitment to
equitable preparation and access that true equity and excellence can be achieved.

Designers: Sonny Mui and Bill Tully

© 2019 College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are
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respective owners.

Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.

 Contents
v Acknowledgments
1 About AP
4 AP Resources and Supports
6 Instructional Model
7 About the AP Comparative Government and Politics Course
7 College Course Equivalent
7 Prerequisites

COURSE FRAMEWORK
11 Introduction
13 Course Framework Components
15 Disciplinary Practices
17 Course Content
20 Course at a Glance
23 Unit Guides
25 Using the Unit Guides
29 UNIT 1: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
49 UNIT 2: Political Institutions
67 UNIT 3: Political Culture and Participation
89 UNIT 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
107 UNIT 5: Political and Economic Changes and Development

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES
131 Selecting and Using Course Materials
134 Instructional Strategies
138 Developing the Disciplinary Practices

EXAM INFORMATION
149 Exam Overview
154 Sample Exam Questions
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 Acknowledgments

College Board would like to acknowledge the following committee

members, consultants, and reviewers for their assistance with and
commitment to the development of this course. All individuals and their
affiliations were current at the time of contribution.
Andy Conneen, Adlai Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL
Rob Crawford, University School of Nova Southeastern University,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Sarah Fisher, Central Kitsap High School, Silverdale, WA
Mohsin Hashim, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Elizabeth Heckman, Westminster School, Simsbury, CT
Jennifer Horan, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC
Lauren MacLean, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Raul Madrid, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Chris Voltzke, Windermere High School, Windermere, FL

College Board Staff

John C. Baran, Jr., Director, AP Instructional Design and
PD Resource Development
Cheryl Harmon, Senior Director, AP Instructional Design and
PD Resource Development
Rebecca Hayes, Director, AP Government Content Development
Daniel McDonough, Senior Director, AP Content Integration
Allison Milverton, Director, AP Curricular Publications
Allison Thurber, Executive Director, AP Curriculum and Assessment

SPECIAL THANKS
Christopher Budano, D. William Tinkler, and John R. Williamson

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About AP

College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) is able to provide teachers and students with formative
enables willing and academically prepared students assessments—Personal Progress Checks—that
to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity teachers can assign throughout the year to measure
to earn college credit, advanced placement, or students’ progress as they acquire content knowledge
both—while still in high school. Through AP courses and develop skills.
in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging
exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid Enrolling Students:
arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills
that prepare them for college and beyond. Taking Equity and Access
AP courses demonstrates to college admission officers College Board strongly encourages educators to
that students have sought the most challenging make equitable access a guiding principle for their
curriculum available to them, and research indicates AP programs by giving all willing and academically
that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam prepared students the opportunity to participate
typically experience greater academic success in in AP. We encourage the elimination of barriers
college and are more likely to earn a college degree that restrict access to AP for students from ethnic,
than non-AP students. Each AP teacher’s syllabus racial, and socioeconomic groups that have been
is evaluated and approved by faculty from some of traditionally underserved. College Board also believes
the nation’s leading colleges and universities, and that all students should have access to academically
AP Exams are developed and scored by college faculty challenging coursework before they enroll in AP classes,
and experienced AP teachers. Most four-year colleges which can prepare them for AP success. It is only
and universities in the United States grant credit, through a commitment to equitable preparation and
advanced placement, or both on the basis of successful access that true equity and excellence can be achieved.
AP Exam scores; more than 3,300 institutions worldwide
annually receive AP scores. Offering AP Courses:
The AP Course Audit
AP Course Development The AP Program unequivocally supports the principle
In an ongoing effort to maintain alignment with best that each school implements its own curriculum that will
practices in college-level learning, AP courses and enable students to develop the content understandings
exams emphasize challenging, research-based and skills described in the course framework.
curricula aligned with higher education expectations.
While the unit sequence represented in this publication
Individual teachers are responsible for designing is optional, the AP Program does have a short list of
their own curriculum for AP courses and selecting curricular and resource requirements that must be
appropriate college-level readings, assignments, fulfilled before a school can label a course “Advanced
and resources. This course and exam description Placement” or “AP.” Schools wishing to offer AP courses
presents the content and skills that are the focus of must participate in the AP Course Audit, a process
the corresponding college course and that appear on through which AP teachers’ course materials are
the AP Exam. It also organizes the content and skills reviewed by college faculty. The AP Course Audit
into a series of units that represent a sequence found was created to provide teachers and administrators
in widely adopted college textbooks and that many with clear guidelines on curricular and resource
AP teachers have told us they follow in order to focus requirements for AP courses and to help colleges and
their instruction. The intention of this publication is to universities validate courses marked “AP” on students’
respect teachers’ time and expertise by providing a transcripts. This process ensures that AP teachers’
roadmap that they can modify and adapt to their local courses meet or exceed the curricular and resource
priorities and preferences. Moreover, by organizing the expectations that college and secondary school faculty
AP course content and skills into units, the AP Program have established for college-level courses.

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© 2019 College Board
The AP Course Audit form is submitted by the questions and through-course performance
AP teacher and the school principal (or designated assessments, as applicable, are scored by thousands
administrator) to confirm awareness and understanding of college faculty and expert AP teachers. Most are
of the curricular and resource requirements. A syllabus scored at the annual AP Reading, while a small portion
or course outline, detailing how course requirements is scored online. All AP Readers are thoroughly trained,
are met, is submitted by the AP teacher for review by and their work is monitored throughout the Reading
college faculty. for fairness and consistency. In each subject, a highly
respected college faculty member serves as Chief
Please visit collegeboard.org/apcourseaudit for more
Faculty Consultant and, with the help of AP Readers
information to support the preparation and submission
in leadership positions, maintains the accuracy of
of materials for the AP Course Audit.
the scoring standards. Scores on the free-response
questions and performance assessments are weighted
How the AP Program and combined with the results of the computer-scored
Is Developed multiple-choice questions, and this raw score is
converted into a composite AP score on a 1–5 scale.
The scope of content for an AP course and exam is
derived from an analysis of hundreds of syllabi and AP Exams are not norm-referenced or graded on a curve.
course offerings of colleges and universities. Using Instead, they are criterion-referenced, which means that
this research and data, a committee of college faculty every student who meets the criteria for an AP score of
and expert AP teachers work within the scope of 2, 3, 4, or 5 will receive that score, no matter how many
the corresponding college course to articulate what students that is. The criteria for the number of points
students should know and be able to do upon the students must earn on the AP Exam to receive scores
completion of the AP course. The resulting course of 3, 4, or 5—the scores that research consistently
framework is the heart of this course and exam validates for credit and placement purposes—include:
description and serves as a blueprint of the content and
§§ The number of points successful college students
skills that can appear on an AP Exam.
earn when their professors administer AP Exam
The AP Test Development Committees are responsible questions to them.
for developing each AP Exam, ensuring the exam §§ The number of points researchers have found
questions are aligned to the course framework. The to be predictive that an AP student will succeed
AP Exam development process is a multiyear endeavor; when placed into a subsequent, higher-level
all AP Exams undergo extensive review, revision, college course.
piloting, and analysis to ensure that questions are
§§ Achievement-level descriptions formulated by
accurate, fair, and valid, and that there is an appropriate
college faculty who review each AP Exam question.
spread of difficulty across the questions.

Committee members are selected to represent a variety Using and Interpreting AP Scores
of perspectives and institutions (public and private,
The extensive work done by college faculty and
small and large schools and colleges), and a range of
AP teachers in the development of the course and
gender, racial/ethnic, and regional groups. A list of each
exam and throughout the scoring process ensures
subject’s current AP Test Development Committee
that AP Exam scores accurately represent students’
members is available on apcentral.collegeboard.org.
achievement in the equivalent college course. Frequent
Throughout AP course and exam development, and regular research studies establish the validity of
College Board gathers feedback from various AP scores as follows:
stakeholders in both secondary schools and higher
education institutions. This feedback is carefully Credit College Grade
considered to ensure that AP courses and exams are AP Score Recommendation Equivalent
able to provide students with a college-level learning
5 Extremely well qualified A
experience and the opportunity to demonstrate their
qualifications for advanced placement or college credit. 4 Well qualified A-, B+, B

How AP Exams Are Scored 3 Qualified B-, C+, C

The exam scoring process, like the course and exam Possibly qualified n/a
2
development process, relies on the expertise of both
AP teachers and college faculty. While multiple-choice 1 No recommendation n/a
questions are scored by machine, the free-response

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© 2019 College Board
While colleges and universities are responsible for educators—make improvements to the way they
setting their own credit and placement policies, most teach or score because of their experience at the
private colleges and universities award credit and/ AP Reading.
or advanced placement for AP scores of 3 or higher. §§ Gain in-depth understanding of AP Exam and
Additionally, most states in the U.S. have adopted AP scoring standards: AP Readers gain exposure
statewide credit policies that ensure college credit to the quality and depth of the responses from the
for scores of 3 or higher at public colleges and entire pool of AP Exam takers and thus are better
universities. To confirm a specific college’s AP credit/ able to assess their students’ work in the classroom.
placement policy, a search engine is available at
§§ Receive compensation: AP Readers are
apstudent.org/creditpolicies.
compensated for their work during the Reading.
Expenses, lodging, and meals are covered for
BECOMING AN AP READER
Readers who travel.
Each June, thousands of AP teachers and college
faculty members from around the world gather for §§ Score from home: AP Readers have online
seven days in multiple locations to evaluate and distributed scoring opportunities for certain subjects.
score the free-response sections of the AP Exams. Check collegeboard.org/apreading for details.
Ninety-eight percent of surveyed educators who took §§ Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs):
part in the AP Reading say it was a positive experience. AP Readers earn professional development hours
and CEUs that can be applied to PD requirements
There are many reasons to consider becoming an
by states, districts, and schools.
AP Reader, including opportunities to:

§§ Bring positive changes to the classroom: How to Apply

Surveys show that the vast majority of returning Visit collegeboard.org/apreading for eligibility
AP Readers—both high school and college requirements and to start the application process.

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© 2019 College Board
 AP Resources
and Supports

By completing a simple activation process at the start of the school year, teachers and
students receive access to a robust set of classroom resources.

AP Classroom
AP Classroom is a dedicated online platform designed to support teachers and students
throughout their AP experience. The platform provides a variety of powerful resources and
tools to provide yearlong support to teachers and enable students to receive meaningful
feedback on their progress.

UNIT GUIDES
Appearing in this publication and on AP Classroom, these planning guides outline all required
course content and skills, organized into commonly taught units. Each unit guide suggests a
sequence and pacing of content, scaffolds skill instruction across units, organizes content
into topics, and provides tips on taking the AP Exam.

PERSONAL PROGRESS CHECKS

Formative AP questions for every unit provide feedback to students on the areas where they
need to focus. Available online, Personal Progress Checks measure knowledge and skills
through multiple-choice questions with rationales to explain correct and incorrect answers,
and free-response questions with scoring information. Because the Personal Progress
Checks are formative, the results of these assessments cannot be used to evaluate teacher
effectiveness or assign letter grades to students, and any such misuses are grounds for losing
school authorization to offer AP courses.*

PROGRESS DASHBOARD
This dashboard allows teachers to review class and individual student progress throughout
the year. Teachers can view class trends and see where students struggle with content and
skills that will be assessed on the AP Exam. Students can view their own progress over time to
improve their performance before the AP Exam.

AP QUESTION BANK
This online library of real AP Exam questions provides teachers with secure questions to use
in their classrooms. Teachers can find questions indexed by course topics and skills, create
customized tests, and assign them online or on paper. These tests enable students to practice
and get feedback on each question.

*To report misuses, please call 877-274-6474 (International: +1-212-632-1781).

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© 2019 College Board
Digital Activation
In order to teach an AP class and make sure students are registered to take the AP Exam,
teachers must first complete the digital activation process. Digital activation gives students
and teachers access to resources and gathers students’ exam registration information online,
eliminating most of the answer sheet bubbling that has added to testing time and fatigue.

AP teachers and students begin by signing in to My AP and completing a simple activation

process at the start of the school year, which provides access to all AP resources, including
AP Classroom.

To complete digital activation:

§§ Teachers and students sign in to or create their College Board accounts.

§§ Teachers confirm that they have added the course they teach to their AP Course Audit
account and have had it approved by their school’s administrator.
§§ Teachers or AP Coordinators, depending on who the school has decided is responsible,
set up class sections so students can access AP resources and have exams ordered on
their behalf.
§§ Students join class sections with a join code provided by their teacher or AP Coordinator.
§§ Students will be asked for additional registration information upon joining their first class
section, which eliminates the need for extensive answer sheet bubbling on exam day.
While the digital activation process takes a short time for teachers, students, and
AP Coordinators to complete, overall it helps save time and provides the following
additional benefits:

§§ Access to AP resources and supports: Teachers have access to resources specifically

designed to support instruction and provide feedback to students throughout the school
year as soon as activation is complete.
§§ Streamlined exam ordering: AP Coordinators can create exam orders from the same
online class rosters that enable students to access resources. The coordinator reviews,
updates, and submits this information as the school’s exam order in the fall.
§§ Student registration labels: For each student included in an exam order, schools will
receive a set of personalized AP ID registration labels, which replaces the AP student pack.
The AP ID connects a student’s exam materials with the registration information they
provided during digital activation, eliminating the need for preadministration sessions and
reducing time spent bubbling on exam day.
§§ Targeted Instructional Planning Reports: AP teachers will get Instructional Planning
Reports (IPRs) that include data on each of their class sections automatically rather than
relying on special codes optionally bubbled in on exam day.

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© 2019 College Board
 Instructional
Model

Integrating AP resources throughout the course can help students develop skills and
conceptual understandings. The instructional model outlined below shows possible ways to
incorporate AP resources into the classroom.

Plan
Teachers may consider the following approaches as they plan their instruction before
teaching each unit.

§§ Review the overview at the start of each unit guide to identify essential questions,
conceptual understandings, and skills for each unit.
§§ Use the Unit at a Glance table to identify related topics that build toward a common
understanding and then plan appropriate pacing for students.
§§ Identify useful strategies in the Instructional Approaches section to help teach the
concepts and skills.

Teach
When teaching, supporting resources could be used to build students’ conceptual
understanding and their mastery of skills.

§§ Use the topic pages in the unit guides to identify the required content.
§§ Integrate the content with a skill, considering any appropriate scaffolding.
§§ Employ any of the instructional strategies previously identified.
§§ Use the available resources on the topic pages to bring a variety of assets into
the classroom.

Assess
Teachers can measure student understanding of the content and skills covered in the unit and
provide actionable feedback to students.

§§ At the end of each unit, use AP Classroom to assign students the online Personal
Progress Checks, as homework or an in-class task.
§§ Provide question-level feedback to students through answer rationales; provide unit- and
skill-level feedback using the progress dashboard.
§§ Create additional practice opportunities using the AP Question Bank and assign them
through AP Classroom.

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© 2019 College Board
About the AP
Comparative Government
and Politics Course

AP Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to the rich diversity of political
life outside the United States. The course uses a comparative approach to examine the
political structures; policies; and political, economic, and social challenges of six selected
countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Students compare
the effectiveness of approaches to many global issues by examining how different
governments solve similar problems. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that
require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop
evidence-based arguments.

College Course Equivalent

AP Comparative Government and Politics is equivalent to a one-semester introductory
college course in comparative government and politics.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for AP Comparative Government and Politics. Students should be
able to read a college-level textbook and write grammatically correct, complete sentences.

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AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Course
Framework
Introduction

The AP Comparative Government and Politics course detailed in this

framework reflects what comparative political science teachers, professors,
and researchers agree that a college-level comparative government and
politics course should teach students to do: define and describe major
political concepts, analyze patterns of political processes and behavior and
their consequences, and compare and contrast political institutions and
processes across countries.
The AP Comparative Government and Politics Course Students study six countries in AP Comparative
and Exam Description defines what representative Government and Politics: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria,
colleges and universities typically expect students Russia, and the United Kingdom.*
to know and be able to do in order to earn college
Although the course framework is designed to
credit or placement. Students practice the skills
provide a clear and detailed description of the course
used by comparative political scientists by studying
content and skills, it is not a curriculum. Teachers create
data, political writings from different countries, and
their own curricula to meet the needs of their students
the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety
and any state or local requirements.
of country settings. Students will show mastery of
these skills on the AP Exam through various means,
including applying concepts, analyzing data, comparing
countries, and writing political science arguments.

*We recognize that the official names of these countries are the People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, United Mexican States,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Russian Federation, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In AP Comparative Government and
Politics, we use the common forms of these names.

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Course Framework
Components

Overview
This course framework provides a description of what students should know and
be able to do to qualify for college credit or placement.

The course framework includes

two essential components:
1 DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES
The disciplinary practices are central to the study and practice of
comparative government and politics. Students should develop and apply
the described practices on a regular basis over the span of the course.

2 COURSE CONTENT
The course content is organized into commonly taught units of study that
provide a suggested sequence for the course. These units comprise the
content and conceptual understandings that colleges and universities
typically expect students to master to qualify for college credit and/or
placement. This content is grounded in big ideas, which are cross-cutting
concepts that build conceptual understanding and spiral throughout
the course.

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 AP COMPARATIVE
1 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Disciplinary
Practices
The table that follows presents the disciplinary practices, along with their related
skills, that students should develop during the AP Comparative Government and
Politics course. These practices form the basis of the tasks on the AP Exam.

The unit guides later in this publication embed and spiral these practices
throughout the course, providing teachers with one way to integrate the practices
into the course content with sufficient repetition to prepare students to transfer
those skills when taking the AP Exam.

More detailed information about teaching the disciplinary practices can be found in
the Instructional Approaches section of this publication.

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 AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Disciplinary Practices

Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 3 Practice 4 Practice 5

Concept Country Data Source Argumentation 5

Application 1 Comparison 2 Analysis 3 Analysis 4 Develop an argument in

Apply political concepts Compare political concepts Analyze and interpret Read, analyze, and interpret essay format.
and processes in authentic and processes among the quantitative data represented text-based sources.
contexts. course countries (China, Iran, in tables, charts, graphs, maps,
Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and and infographics.
the United Kingdom).

SKILLS

1.A  Describe 2.A  Compare two 3.A  Describe the data 4.A  Describe the 5.A  Articulate a
political systems, or more course presented. author’s claim(s), defensible claim/
principles, institutions, countries based on perspective, evidence, thesis.
processes, policies, their political systems, 3.B  Describe patterns and reasoning.
and behaviors. principles, institutions, and trends in data. 5.B  Support the

processes, policies, 4.B  Explain how the argument using

1.B  Explain political 3.C  Explain patterns author’s argument or relevant evidence.
and behaviors.
systems, principles, and trends in data to perspective relates
institutions, 2.B  Explain the draw conclusions. to political systems, 5.C  Use reasoning to

processes, policies, implications of the principles, institutions, organize and analyze

3.D  Explain what evidence, explaining
and behaviors. similarities and processes, policies,
differences between the data implies or and behaviors. its significance to
1.C  Compare countries with similar illustrates about justify the claim/thesis.
political systems, political systems, political systems, 4.C  Explain how the
principles, institutions, principles, institutions, principles, institutions, implications of the 5.D  Use refutation,

processes, policies, processes, policies, processes, policies, author’s argument or concession, or rebuttal
and behaviors. and behaviors. and behaviors. perspective may affect in responding to
political systems, opposing or alternate
1.D  Describe 3.E  Explain possible perspectives.
2.C  Explain the principles, institutions,
political systems, implications of the limitations of the data processes, policies,
principles, institutions, similarities and provided. and behaviors.
processes, policies, differences between
and behaviors of a countries with different
course country. political systems,
principles, institutions,
1.E  Explain how
processes, policies,
political systems, and behaviors.
principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors apply in
a course country.

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© 2019 College Board
 AP COMPARATIVE
2 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Course
Content
Based on the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this
course framework provides a description of the course requirements necessary
for student success. The framework specifies what students should know and be
able to do to, with a focus on big ideas that encompass core principles, theories,
and processes of the discipline. The framework also encourages instruction that
prepares students for advanced comparative political science coursework and to
be active and informed about politics abroad.

Big Ideas
The big ideas serve as the foundation of the course and enable students to create
meaningful connections among concepts. They are themes that become threads
that run throughout the course. Revisiting the big ideas and applying them in a
variety of contexts allows students to develop a deeper conceptual understanding.
Below are the big ideas of the course and a brief description of each.

BIG IDEA 1: POWER AND AUTHORITY (PAU)

Political systems and regimes govern societies and determine who has
power and authority. They shape the level of legitimacy and produce different
policy outcomes.

BIG IDEA 2: LEGITIMACY AND STABILITY (LEG)

Political legitimacy is the degree to which a government’s right to rule
is accepted by the citizenry. Governments that maintain high levels of
legitimacy tend to be more stable and have an easier time enacting,
implementing, and enforcing their policies.

BIG IDEA 3: DEMOCRATIZATION (DEM)

Democratization is a process that involves the adoption of free and fair
elections, the extension of civil liberties, and the establishment of the rule of
law. Democratization is a long-term and often uneven process that typically
results in increased governmental transparency and greater citizen access
and influence over policy making.

continued on next page

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 BIG IDEA 4: INTERNAL/EXTERNAL FORCES (IEF)
Internal forces, such as political culture, citizen participation, civil society,
interest groups, environmental pressures, and internal divisions based on
class, religion, ethnicity, and/or territory, can both challenge and reinforce
regimes. External forces, especially globalization, include the increasing
worldwide flow of goods, investments, ideas, and people in a manner that is
largely unconstrained by national borders.

BIG IDEA 5: METHODS OF POLITICAL ANALYSIS (MPA)

Political scientists collect data and make observations in order to describe
patterns and trends and explain the political behavior of individuals, groups,
organizations, and governments. They use data and ideas from other
disciplines such as economics, sociology, history, and geography when
drawing conclusions.

UNITS in which the class meets five days a week for 45 minutes
The course content is organized into commonly each day. While these recommendations have been
taught units. The units have been arranged in a logical made to aid planning, teachers should of course adjust
sequence frequently found in many college courses the pacing based on the needs of their students,
and textbooks. alternate schedules (e.g., block scheduling), or their
school’s academic calendar.
The five units in AP Comparative Government and
Politics, and their weighting on the multiple-choice TOPICS
section of the AP Exam, are listed below. Each unit is broken down into teachable segments
Pacing recommendations at the unit level and called topics. The topic pages (starting on page 34)
on the Course at a Glance table provide suggestions contain all required content for each topic. Although
on how to teach the required course content and most topics can be taught in one or two class periods,
administer the Personal Progress Checks. The teachers are again encouraged to pace the course to
suggested class periods are based on a schedule suit the needs of their students and school.

Units Exam Weighting

Unit 1: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments 18–27%

Unit 2: Political Institutions 22–33%

Unit 3: Political Culture and Participation 11–18%

Unit 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations 13–18%

Unit 5: Political and Economic Changes and Development 16–24%

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Spiraling the Big Ideas
The following table shows how the big ideas spiral across units.

Big Ideas Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5

Political Systems, Political Political Party and Political and
Regimes, and Institutions Culture and Electoral Systems Economic
Governments Participation and Citizen Changes and
Organizations Development

Power and
Authority
PAU

Legitimacy and
Stability
LEG

Democratization
DEM

Internal/External
Forces
IEF

Methods of
Political Analysis
MPA

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 19

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
Course at Political Systems,
Political
a Glance
UNIT UNIT
Regimes, and
1 Governments 2 Institutions

~22/~11 Class
Periods 18–27% AP Exam
Weighting ~32/~16 Class
Periods 22–33% AP Exam
Weighting

MPA The Practice of Political PAU Parliamentary,

Plan 3
1.1
Scientists
2.1
Presidential, and
The Course at a Glance provides 1 Semi-Presidential
a useful visual organization of PAU 1.2 Defining Political Systems
the AP Comparative Government 1 Organizations
PAU 2.2 Comparing
and Politics curricular Parliamentary,
PAU 1.3 Democracy vs.
components, including: Presidential, and
Authoritarianism 2
2 Semi-Presidential
§§ Sequence of units, along Systems
with approximate weighting PAU 1.4 Democratization
PAU 2.3 Executive Systems
and suggested pacing. 1

Please note, pacing options 1

PAU 1.5 Sources of Power and
are provided for teaching the Executive Term Limits
Authority PAU 2.4
course for a full year and for 2
5
a single semester. PAU 1.6 Change in Power and
§§ Progression of topics within 4 Authority PAU 2.5 Removal of Executives
each unit. 4
PAU 1.7 Federal and Unitary
§§ Spiraling of the big ideas and Systems PAU 2.6 Legislative Systems
4
practices across units. 2
LEG 1.8 Political Legitimacy
Teach 3
PAU 2.7 Independent
4 Legislatures
DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES
Disciplinary practices spiral across units.
LEG 1.9 Sustaining Legitimacy
1
PAU 2.8 Judicial Systems
1 Concept 3 Data Analysis 1
Application LEG 1.10 Political Stability
4 Source Analysis
2 Country 3
PAU 2.9 Independent
5 Argumentation Judiciaries
Comparison 5

BIG IDEAS
Big ideas spiral across units.

PAU Power and IEF Internal/External

Authority Forces

LEG Legitimacy and MPA Methods of

Stability Political Analysis

DEM Democratization

Assess
Assign the Personal Progress
Checks—either as homework
or in class—for each unit.
Each Personal Progress Check
contains formative multiple-
choice and free-response
questions. The feedback from
the Personal Progress Checks Personal Progress Check 1 Personal Progress Check 2
shows students the areas where Multiple-choice: ~30 questions Multiple-choice: ~20 questions
they need to focus. Free-response: 3 questions Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Conceptual Analysis §§ Argument Essay (partial)
§§ Quantitative Analysis (partial) §§ Comparative Analysis
§§ Comparative Analysis (partial) §§ Argument Essay (partial)

NOTE: Partial versions of the free-response questions are provided to prepare students for more
complex, full questions that they will encounter on the AP Exam.
V.1 | 20
© 2019 College Board
 Party and Political and
UNIT Political Culture UNIT Electoral Systems UNIT Economic
3 and Participation 4 and Citizen 5 Changes and
Organizations Development
~28/~14 Class
Periods 11–18% AP Exam
Weighting ~18/~9 Class
Periods 13–18% AP Exam
Weighting ~20/~10 Class
Periods 16–24% AP Exam
Weighting

IEF 3.1 Civil Society DEM 4.1 Electoral Systems IEF 5.1 Impact of Global
1 2 and Rules Economic and
3 Technological Forces
IEF 3.2 Political Culture DEM 4.2 Objectives of
2 4 Election Rules IEF 5.2 Political Responses to
2 Global Market Forces
IEF 3.3 Political Ideologies PAU 4.3 Political Party Systems
1 3 IEF 5.3 Challenges from
1 Globalization
IEF 3.4 Political Values PAU 4.4 Role of Political
3 and Beliefs 2 Party Systems IEF 5.4 Policies and Economic
3 Liberalization
DEM 3.5 Nature and Role of IEF 4.5 Impact of Social
3 Political Participation Movements and LEG 5.5 International and
5 Interest Groups Supranational
DEM 3.6 Forces that Impact 4 Organizations
5 Political Participation IEF 4.6 Pluralist and
4 Corporatist Interests LEG 5.6 Adaptation of
DEM 3.7 Civil Rights and 2 Social Policies
4 Civil Liberties
LEG 5.7 Impact of
LEG 3.8 Political and Social Industrialization and
2 Cleavages 5 Economic Development

LEG 3.9 Challenges from LEG 5.8 Causes and Effects of

Political and Social Demographic Change
3
5 Cleavages
LEG 5.9 Impact of Natural
4 Resources

Personal Progress Check 3 Personal Progress Check 4 Personal Progress Check 5

Multiple-choice: ~20 questions Multiple-choice: ~15 questions Multiple-choice: ~25 questions
Free-response: 3 questions Free-response: 3 questions Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Argument Essay (partial) §§ Comparative Analysis §§ Quantitative Analysis
§§ Argument Essay §§ Argument Essay §§ Argument Essay
§§ Quantitative Analysis §§ Conceptual Analysis §§ Conceptual Analysis

V.1 | 21
© 2019 College Board
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Unit
Guides
Introduction
Designed with extensive input from the community of AP Comparative
Government and Politics educators, the unit guides offer all teachers
helpful guidance in building students’ skills and knowledge. The suggested
sequence in these unit guides was identified through a thorough analysis
of the syllabi of highly effective AP teachers and the organization of typical
college textbooks.

This unit structure respects new AP teachers’ time by providing one

possible sequence they can adopt or modify rather than having to build
from scratch. An additional benefit is that these units enable the AP
Program to provide interested teachers with formative assessments—the
Personal Progress Checks—that they can assign their students at the end
of each unit to gauge progress toward success on the AP Exam. However,
experienced AP teachers who are satisfied with their current course
organization and exam results should feel no pressure to adopt these units,
which comprise an optional sequence for this course.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 23

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© 2019 College Board
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
Using the Unit Guides

UNIT OPENERS
UNIT Developing Understanding provides an overview that
1 18–27%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~22/~11 CLASS PERIODS
contextualizes and situates the key content of the unit within the
Political Systems, scope of the course.
Regimes, and
The big ideas serve as the foundation of the course and
Governments
develop understanding as they spiral throughout the course.
The essential questions are thought-provoking questions that
Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 1
Power and
Comparative political scientists seek to understand similarities and differences between
states, evaluating political realities and understanding political change. This first unit sets
motivate students and inspire inquiry.
Authority PAU the foundation for students to think like comparative political scientists by teaching them to

Building the Disciplinary Practices describes specific aspects

§ How does a political read and analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to the six required course countries
system affect the daily (China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and helping them understand
life of citizens? concepts and examples they can use to support an argument about the countries.
§ How do people both
inside and outside the
Understanding the similarities and differences in political systems, regimes, and
governments—how they function and how they gain and maintain power and legitimacy— of the practices that are appropriate to focus on in that unit.
government impact the as well as the terminology used to describe them provides students with the foundational
relationship between knowledge needed to be able to compare course countries throughout future units.
the government and
its citizens?
Building the Preparing for Preparing for the AP Exam provides helpful tips and common
BIG IDEA 2
Legitimacy and
Disciplinary Practices
2.A 3.B 4.A
the AP Exam
The AP Comparative Government and
student misunderstandings identified from prior exam data.
Stability LEG
Comparative political scientists study Politics course requires students to apply
§ How does the
political systems, principles, institutions, their knowledge in a variety of contexts
perceived legitimacy
processes, policies, and behaviors in and real-world scenarios. On the AP Exam,
of a government by its
various countries. students will show an understanding of how
citizenry impact how
political concepts actually work, often by
other countries see it? This first unit introduces the practice of describing or explaining an interaction or
data analysis. Quantitative data may be application within a given scenario.
BIG IDEA 5 represented in tables, charts, graphs, maps,
Methods of Political or infographics. Initially, students should The conceptual analysis question on the
Analysis MPA accurately describe presented data, which exam requires that students focus on the
§ How do comparative builds an understanding that allows them to application of a concept with no required
political scientists then identify and explain trends and patterns country. Students should go beyond
generate meaningful in the data. description and definition by explaining the
conclusions that impact of a political concept and transferring
can be applied to Like quantitative sources, text-based their knowledge to different political concepts.
other countries? qualitative sources help students understand
how governmental and political institutions Students often struggle with explanations
function and the reasons for their behaviors. by neglecting to explain the how or why in
When asking students to use these sources, the context of the question. Have students
have them identify an author’s claim(s) and practice by asking them to explain the steps,
the supporting evidence and whether that stages, and interactions of processes;
evidence is logical throughout the piece. explain and link causes and effects; and
identify and explain the significance of
similarities and differences.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 31

The Unit at a Glance table shows the topics, related enduring

UNIT understandings, and suggested skills. The “class periods”
1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
column has been left blank so that teachers can customize the
UNIT AT A GLANCE time they spend on each topic.

The suggested skill for each topic shows one way teachers
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~22/~11 CLASS PERIODS

can link the content in that topic to a specific AP Comparative
MPA-1

1.1 The Practice of 3.B Describe patterns and trends in data.

Political Scientists
Government and Politics skill. The individual skill has been
Describe political systems, principles,

thoughtfully chosen in a way that allows teachers to spiral

1.2 Defining Political 1.A
Organizations institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

those skills, along with the disciplinary practices, throughout

1.3 Democracy vs. 2.A Compare two or more course countries based
Authoritarianism on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

1.4 Democratization 1.D Describe political systems, principles,

the course. The questions on the Personal Progress Checks are
PAU-1

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors of a

based on this pairing. However, AP Exam questions can pair the

course country.

1.5 Sources of Power 2.B Explain the implications of the similarities and

content with any of the skills.

and Authority differences between countries with similar political
systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

1.6 Change in Power 4.A Describe the author’s claim(s), perspective,

and Authority evidence, and reasoning.

1.7 Federal and 4.B Explain how the author’s argument or

PAU-2

Unitary Systems perspective relates to political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

1.8 Political Legitimacy 3.C Explain patterns and trends in data to

draw conclusions.

1.9 Sustaining Legitimacy 1.E Explain how political systems, principles,

LEG-1

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors

apply in a course country.

1.10 Political Stability 3.D Explain what the data implies or illustrates
about political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 1.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

32 | Course Framework V.1 AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 25

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
Using the Unit Guides

The Sample Instructional Activities page includes optional

UNIT activities that can help teachers tie together the content and
Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1 skill of a particular topic. Additionally, this page offers space for
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES teachers to make notes on their approach to the individual topics
and the unit as a whole.
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 1.1 Create Representations

Using the data collection resources identified in essential knowledge statement MPA-1.A.8
(e.g., the Human Development Index), ask students to identify a set of data that can be
used to investigate relationships among course countries, such as voting patterns by
gender and ethnicity. Then have them create a representation that best shows the data
and the trends. Follow up this activity with a whole-group discussion about quantitative
analysis and why it is important.

2 1.3 Graphic Organizer

This topic is a good place to introduce a comparative look across the core course
countries. Using a graphic organizer, such as a Venn diagram, and the content in essential
knowledge statements PAU-1.B.1, PAU-1.B.2, and PAU-1.B.3, ask students to generate the
relevant similarities and differences between the countries and their governments.

3 1.6 Discussion Groups

Use learning objective PAU-1.D (Explain sources of power and authority in political
systems) and have students gather information and show their understanding of changes
in power and authority. Ask students to consider peaceful versus violent change or how
different regimes maintain sovereignty. By allowing students to engage in small-group
discussion, you can then scale up to a whole-group discussion, which may expand on the
ideas expressed in the small groups.

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you will introduce country
comparison and present both data and text-based sources for analysis.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 33

TOPIC PAGES
UNIT The suggested skill offers a possible skill to pair with the topic.
Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.4 SUGGESTED SKILL Where possible, available resources are listed that might help
Concept Application

Democratization 1.D
Describe political systems,
teachers address a particular topic in their classroom.
principles, institutions,
processes, policies,

Enduring understandings are the long-term takeaways related

and behaviors of a
course country.

to the big ideas that leave a lasting impression on students.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCE
§ Classroom Resources >
Students build and earn these understandings over time by
exploring and applying course content throughout the year.
The Democratic
Transition in Nigeria

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-1
Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
government and its citizens. Learning objectives define what a student should be able to do
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
with content knowledge in order to progress toward the enduring
PAU-1.C
Explain the process and
PAU-1.C.1
Democratization is a transition from an understandings.
goals of democratization. authoritarian regime to a democratic regime;
while this process can start or temporarily

Essential knowledge statements describe the knowledge

change direction, the process aims to result in
the following over time:
a. More competition, fairness, and
transparency in elections
b. Increased citizen participation in required to perform the learning objectives.
policy-making processes
c. Universal suffrage for adult citizens
d. Greater governmental transparency
e. Protected civil rights and liberties
f. Equal treatment of citizens
g. Establishment of the rule of law
PAU-1.C.2
Democratic electoral systems can
accommodate ethnic diversity and increase
multiparty competition with rule adjustments,
including gender or cultural quotas,
proportional representation, and changes in
vote thresholds and district boundaries.

continued on next page

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 39

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 26

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
REQUIRED COURSE CONTENT LABELING SYSTEM

BIG IDEA ENDURING LEARNING ESSENTIAL

UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE
PAU PAU-1 PAU-1.A PAU-1.A.1
Power and Authority Political systems and Describe differences Political systems comprise the
regimes reflect the dynamic between regimes, laws, ideas, and procedures
balance of power between states, nations, and that address who should have
the government and its governments. authority to rule and what the
citizens. government’s influence on its
people and economy should be.

Note: Labels are used to distinguish each unique element of the required course content and are used throughout this course and exam
description. Additionally, they are used in the AP Question Bank and other resources found in AP Classroom. Enduring understandings
are labeled sequentially according to the big idea they relate to. Learning objectives are labeled to correspond with the enduring
understanding they relate to. Finally, essential knowledge statements are labeled to correspond with the learning objective to which
they relate.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 27

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNIT 1
Political
Systems,
Regimes, and
Governments

18–27%
AP EXAM WEIGHTING

~22/~11
CLASS PERIODS

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 29

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 Remember to go to AP Classroom
to assign students the online
Personal Progress Check for
this unit.
Whether assigned as homework or
completed in class, the Personal
Progress Check provides each
student with immediate feedback
related to this unit’s topics and skills.

Personal Progress Check 1

Multiple-choice: ~30 questions
Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Conceptual Analysis
§§ Quantitative Analysis (partial)
§§ Comparative Analysis (partial)

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 30

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 UNIT

1 18–27%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~22/~11 CLASS PERIODS

Political Systems,
Regimes, and
Governments
Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 1 Comparative political scientists seek to understand similarities and differences between
Power and states, evaluating political realities and understanding political change. This first unit sets
Authority PAU the foundation for students to think like comparative political scientists by teaching them to
§ How does a political read and analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to the six required course countries
system affect the daily (China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and helping them understand
life of citizens? concepts and examples they can use to support an argument about the countries.
§§ How do people both Understanding the similarities and differences in political systems, regimes, and
inside and outside the governments—how they function and how they gain and maintain power and legitimacy—
government impact the as well as the terminology used to describe them provides students with the foundational
relationship between knowledge needed to be able to compare course countries throughout future units.
the government and
its citizens?
Building the Preparing for
BIG IDEA 2 Disciplinary Practices the AP Exam
Legitimacy and
2.A 3.B 4.A The AP Comparative Government and
Stability LEG
Comparative political scientists study Politics course requires students to apply
§§ How does the
political systems, principles, institutions, their knowledge in a variety of contexts
perceived legitimacy
processes, policies, and behaviors in and real-world scenarios. On the AP Exam,
of a government by its
various countries. students will show an understanding of how
citizenry impact how
political concepts actually work, often by
other countries see it? This first unit introduces the practice of describing or explaining an interaction or
data analysis. Quantitative data may be application within a given scenario.
BIG IDEA 5 represented in tables, charts, graphs, maps,
Methods of Political or infographics. Initially, students should The conceptual analysis question on the
Analysis MPA accurately describe presented data, which exam requires that students focus on the
§§ How do comparative builds an understanding that allows them to application of a concept with no required
political scientists then identify and explain trends and patterns country. Students should go beyond
generate meaningful in the data. description and definition by explaining the
conclusions that impact of a political concept and transferring
can be applied to Like quantitative sources, text-based their knowledge to different political concepts.
other countries? qualitative sources help students understand
how governmental and political institutions Students often struggle with explanations
function and the reasons for their behaviors. by neglecting to explain the how or why in
When asking students to use these sources, the context of the question. Have students
have them identify an author’s claim(s) and practice by asking them to explain the steps,
the supporting evidence and whether that stages, and interactions of processes;
evidence is logical throughout the piece. explain and link causes and effects; and
identify and explain the significance of
similarities and differences.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 31

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 UNIT

1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

UNIT AT A GLANCE
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~22/~11 CLASS PERIODS

MPA-1

1.1 The Practice of 3.B Describe patterns and trends in data.

Political Scientists

1.2 Defining Political 1.A Describe political systems, principles,

Organizations institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

1.3 Democracy vs. 2.A Compare two or more course countries based
Authoritarianism on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

1.4 Democratization 1.D Describe political systems, principles,

PAU-1

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors of a

course country.

1.5 Sources of Power 2.B Explain the implications of the similarities and
and Authority differences between countries with similar political
systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

1.6 Change in Power 4.A Describe the author’s claim(s), perspective,

and Authority evidence, and reasoning.

1.7 Federal and 4.B Explain how the author’s argument or

PAU-2

Unitary Systems perspective relates to political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

1.8 Political Legitimacy 3.C Explain patterns and trends in data to

draw conclusions.

1.9 Sustaining Legitimacy 1.E Explain how political systems, principles,

LEG-1

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors

apply in a course country.

1.10 Political Stability 3.D Explain what the data implies or illustrates
about political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 1.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 32

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 UNIT
Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 1.1 Create Representations

Using the data collection resources identified in essential knowledge statement MPA-1.A.8
(e.g., the Human Development Index), ask students to identify a set of data that can be
used to investigate relationships among course countries, such as voting patterns by
gender and ethnicity. Then have them create a representation that best shows the data
and the trends. Follow up this activity with a whole-group discussion about quantitative
analysis and why it is important.

2 1.3 Graphic Organizer

This topic is a good place to introduce a comparative look across the core course
countries. Using a graphic organizer, such as a Venn diagram, and the content in essential
knowledge statements PAU-1.B.1, PAU-1.B.2, and PAU-1.B.3, ask students to generate the
relevant similarities and differences between the countries and their governments.

3 1.6 Discussion Groups

Use learning objective PAU-1.D (Explain sources of power and authority in political
systems) and have students gather information and show their understanding of changes
in power and authority. Ask students to consider peaceful versus violent change or how
different regimes maintain sovereignty. By allowing students to engage in small-group
discussion, you can then scale up to a whole-group discussion, which may expand on the
ideas expressed in the small groups.

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you will introduce country
comparison and present both data and text-based sources for analysis.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 33

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 UNIT

1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis
TOPIC 1.1
3.B
Describe patterns and
trends in data.
The Practice of
Political Scientists

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Classroom Resources >
Required Course Content
◆◆ Comparative Politics
Made Simple
◆◆ Teaching the
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
Comparative Method
MPA-1
Empirical data is important in identifying and explaining political behavior of
individuals and groups.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

MPA-1.A MPA-1.A.1
Explain how political Analysis of quantitative and qualitative
scientists construct information (including charts, tables, graphs,
knowledge and communicate speeches, foundational documents, political
inferences and explanations cartoons, maps, and political commentaries)
about political systems, is a way to make comparisons between and
institutional interactions, inferences about course countries.
and behavior. MPA-1.A.2
Analyzing empirical data using quantitative
methods facilitates making comparisons
among and inferences about course countries.
MPA-1.A.3
Causation is difficult to determine with
certainty in comparative politics, as
often there are numerous variables that
potentially influence political policies and/
or regime stability, with no way to isolate and
demonstrate which is producing the change.
MPA-1.A.4
Correlation exists when there is an association
between two or more variables.
MPA-1.A.5
Comparative political research requires
differentiation between empirical (factual/
objective) and normative (value) statements.

continued on next page

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 34

Return to Table of Contents
© 2019 College Board
 UNIT
Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
MPA-1.A MPA-1.A.6
Explain how political Political scientists most often use empirical
scientists construct information to apply concepts, support
knowledge and communicate generalizations, or make arguments.
inferences and explanations MPA-1.A.7
about political systems,
Comparative political scientists compare
institutional interactions,
different political systems to derive
and behavior.
conclusions about politics.
MPA-1.A.8
A number of data collection resources are used
to investigate relationships among course
countries, including:
a. The Human Development Index (HDI)
b. Gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP
per capita
c. GDP growth rate
d. Gini index (coefficient)
e. Freedom House
f. Transparency International
g. Failed States Index

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 35

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© 2019 College Board
 UNIT

1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 1.2
1.A
Describe political systems,
principles, institutions,
Defining Political
processes, policies,
and behaviors. Organizations

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-1
Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
government and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.A PAU-1.A.1
Describe differences Political systems comprise the laws, ideas,
between regimes, states, and procedures that address who should have
nations, and governments. authority to rule and what the government’s
influence on its people and economy
should be.
PAU-1.A.2
States are political organizations that combine
a permanent population with governing
institutions to exercise control over a defined
territory with international recognition.
Regimes refer to the fundamental rules
that control access to and the exercise of
political power. Regimes typically endure from
government to government.
PAU-1.A.3
A regime can be characterized as democratic
or authoritarian based on how it sets rules or
makes decisions about how to exercise power.

continued on next page

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 36

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© 2019 College Board
 UNIT
Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
PAU-1.A PAU-1.A.4
Describe differences Government is the set of institutions or
between regimes, states, individuals legally empowered to make binding
nations, and governments. decisions for a state. A government’s authority
is derived from the state’s legitimate right to
use power to enforce policies and decisions;
the right and power to govern itself without
outside interference is a crucial aspect of
a state’s sovereignty. A sovereign state has
independent legal authority over a population
in a particular territory.
PAU-1.A.5
A nation is a group of people with commonalities
including race, language, religion, ethnicity,
political identity, and aspirations.

AP Comparative Government and Politics Course and Exam Description Course Framework V.1 | 37

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© 2019 College Board
 UNIT

1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison
TOPIC 1.3
2.A
Compare two or more course
countries based on their
Democracy vs.
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.
Authoritarianism

AVAILABLE RESOURCE
§§ Classroom Resources >
Required Course Content
Illiberal Democracy
and Vladimir Putin’s
Russia
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-1
Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
government and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.B PAU-1.B.1
Describe democracy Factors that indicate the degree of democracy
and authoritarianism. or authoritarianism of states include the extent
of state adherence to rule of law, such as:
a. The principle that a state should be
governed by law and not arbitrary decisions
made by individual government officials
b. The degree of state influence on or control
of the media
c. The degree and practice of free and
fair elections
d. The degree of transparency of
governmental decision making
e. The nature of citizen participation
in government
PAU-1.B.2
The branches of national government in
democratic regimes are more likely to
be independent of one another than in
authoritarian regimes. Independence can serve
to prevent any one branch from controlling all
governmental power.
PAU-1.B.3
Authoritarian regimes include illiberal
democracies or hybrid regimes, one-party
states, theocracies, totalitarian governments,
and military regimes.

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Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.4 SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application

Democratization 1.D
Describe political systems,
principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors of a
course country.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCE

§§ Classroom Resources >
The Democratic
Transition in Nigeria

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-1
Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
government and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.C PAU-1.C.1
Explain the process and Democratization is a transition from an
goals of democratization. authoritarian regime to a democratic regime;
while this process can start or temporarily
change direction, the process aims to result in
the following over time:
a. More competition, fairness, and
transparency in elections
b. Increased citizen participation in
policy-making processes
c. Universal suffrage for adult citizens
d. Greater governmental transparency
e. Protected civil rights and liberties
f. Equal treatment of citizens
g. Establishment of the rule of law
PAU-1.C.2
Democratic electoral systems can
accommodate ethnic diversity and increase
multiparty competition with rule adjustments,
including gender or cultural quotas,
proportional representation, and changes in
vote thresholds and district boundaries.

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1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.C PAU-1.C.3
Explain the process and Political corruption inhibits democratization—
goals of democratization. independent judiciaries can reduce such
corruption while protecting individual liberties
and civil rights.
PAU-1.C.4
Democratization can stall or be reversed;
policy changes regarding election
rules and civil liberties can support or
impede democratization.
PAU-1.C.5
Democratic consolidation refers to the process
by which a democratic regime matures in
terms of election rules, separation of powers,
and protection of civil liberties, making it
unlikely to revert to authoritarianism without an
external shock.
PAU-1.C.6
Consensus among competing cultural and
political groups about governmental policies
associated with democratization and economic
development can advance the process and
make it sustainable.

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Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.5 SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison

Sources of Power 2.B

Explain the implications
of the similarities and

and Authority differences between

countries with similar
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-1
Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
government and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.D PAU-1.D.1
Explain sources of power and Sources of power and authority include
authority in political systems. constitutions, religions, military forces, political
parties, legislatures, and popular support;
over time, course country (China, Iran, Mexico,
Nigeria, Russia, or the United Kingdom)
regimes have been affected by such sources,
represented by:
a. The Communist Party’s control over China’s
military, which provided power and authority
to maintain regime stability
b. The transition of power from dictatorial
rule in Iran to a theocracy based on Islamic
Sharia law after the 1979 Revolution
c. The transition of power in Nigeria and Mexico
to multiparty republics following military rule
and single-party dominance, respectively
d. The political elite’s backing of a
strong president in Russia, creating a
managed democracy with election rules
favoring one party
e. Constitutional reforms in the United
Kingdom that devolved power to multiple
parliaments, allowing the regime to
maintain stability

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1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis
TOPIC 1.6
4.A
Describe the author’s
claim(s), perspective,
Change in Power
evidence, and reasoning.
and Authority

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Professional
Required Course Content
Development >
◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
Primary Sources ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
◆ Writing from PAU-1
Challenging Primary Political systems and regimes reflect the dynamic balance of power between the
Sources government and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-1.D PAU-1.D.2
Explain sources of power and How a regime chooses to use power in support
authority in political systems. of sovereignty is determined in large part by its
democratic or authoritarian characteristics—
democratic regimes can maintain sovereignty
using less power than authoritarian regimes.
PAU-1.D.3
Changes in regimes occur when rules and
institutions are replaced either incrementally
or suddenly, as a result of elections, coups,
or revolutions in which a large portion of
the population supports a change in the
political system.
PAU-1.D.4
Governments, including political officeholders,
can be changed more frequently and easily
than regimes through the relatively peaceful
process of elections, appointments, and
lines of succession. However, governments
also change by more violent means, such as
revolutions or coups d’état, represented by
such violent transitions in Iran and Nigeria.

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Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.7 SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis

Federal and 4.B

Explain how the author’s
argument or perspective

Unitary Systems relates to political systems,

principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCES

§§ Professional
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading of
Challenging Primary
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING Sources
PAU-2 ◆◆ Writing from
Distribution of power and authority and the influence of internal and external actors Challenging Primary
affect regime stability. Sources

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-2.A PAU-2.A.1
a. Describe federal and Federal states like Mexico, Nigeria, and
unitary systems among Russia divide power among different levels
course countries. of government to confer a degree of local
b. Explain the purposes autonomy in supplying social and educational
of adopting a federal or services, while also reserving powers for the
unitary system. national government. Unitary states like China,
Iran, and the United Kingdom concentrate
power at the national level with more uniform
policies and potentially more efficient
policy making.
PAU-2.A.2
The degree to which power is centralized or
decentralized can change over time in both
federal and unitary states, and in many cases
reflects a state response to internal and
external actors that include ethnic cleavages
and operations of supranational organizations
and other countries.

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1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis
TOPIC 1.8
3.C
Explain patterns and trends
in data to draw conclusions.
Political Legitimacy

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-1
Political legitimacy reinforces the sovereignty of the state.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-1.A LEG-1.A.1
Describe the sources of Legitimacy refers to whether a government’s
political legitimacy for constituents believe their government
different types of regimes has the right to use power in the way
among course countries. they do. Legitimacy confers authority on
and can increase the power of a regime
and government.
LEG-1.A.2
Sources of legitimacy for both democratic
and authoritarian regimes can include
popular elections as well as constitutional
provisions. Other sources of legitimacy
include nationalism, tradition, governmental
effectiveness, economic growth, ideology,
religious heritage and organizations, and the
dominant political party’s endorsement.

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Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.9 SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application

Sustaining Legitimacy 1.E

Explain how political
systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors
apply in a course country.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-1
Political legitimacy reinforces the sovereignty of the state.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-1.B LEG-1.B.1
Explain how governments Governments maintain legitimacy through
maintain legitimacy. a variety of processes or factors, including
policy effectiveness, political efficacy,
tradition, charismatic leadership, and
institutionalized laws.
LEG-1.B.2
Peaceful resolution of conflicts, peaceful
transfer of power, reduced governmental
corruption, and economic development can
reinforce legitimacy.
LEG-1.B.3
An increase in corruption, reduced electoral
competition, and serious problems (such as
a poor economy or social conflicts) can all
undermine legitimacy.

continued on next page

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1 Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-1.B LEG-1.B.4
Explain how governments Devolution and delegation of power to
maintain legitimacy. regional governments can enhance or weaken
legitimacy, creating both opportunities for and
obstacles to resolving social, political, and
economic issues by:
a. Promoting policy innovation, matching
policies to local needs, improving policies
through competition, increasing political
participation, checking central power, and
allowing better representation of religious/
ethnic/minority groups
b. Creating contradictory policies, potentially
making policy implementation more
complicated and inefficient, allowing
inequality between regions, increasing
competition for resources, and exacerbating
ethnic and local tensions
LEG-1.B.5
Questions about the integrity of election
results across the course countries can lead to
protests that may weaken legitimacy and any
ongoing democratization processes.

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Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
1
TOPIC 1.10 SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis

Political Stability 3.D

Explain what the data
implies or illustrates about
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-1
Political legitimacy reinforces the sovereignty of the state.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-1.C LEG-1.C.1
Explain how internal actors Internal actors can interact with governments
influence and interact with to bolster or undermine regime stability and
state authority and either rule of law, represented by:
enhance or threaten stability. a. Contrasting methods to combat political
corruption among the six course countries
b. State responses to separatist group
violence, drug trafficking, and discrimination
based on gender or religious differences in
Iran, Mexico, and Nigeria
c. Varied state responses to mass protest
movements that oppose governmental
policies or their equal enforcement
LEG-1.C.2
State authorities of different regime types
attempt to limit the influence of divisive and
violent actors in their countries to attract more
private capital and foreign direct investment
and to improve economic growth.
LEG-1.C.3
Across the course countries, internal reform
pressure from citizen protest groups and civil
society can lead to the creation of new political
institutions or policies to protect civil liberties,
improve transparency, address election
fairness and media bias, limit corruption, and
ensure equality under law.

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THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNIT 2
Political
Institutions

22–33%
AP EXAM WEIGHTING

~32/~16
CLASS PERIODS

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 Remember to go to AP Classroom
to assign students the online
Personal Progress Check for
this unit.
Whether assigned as homework or
completed in class, the Personal
Progress Check provides each
student with immediate feedback
related to this unit’s topics and skills.

Personal Progress Check 2

Multiple-choice: ~20 questions
Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Argument Essay (partial)
§§ Comparative Analysis
§§ Argument Essay (partial)

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2 22–33%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~32/~16 CLASS PERIODS

Political Institutions

Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 1 This unit first looks at the political structure in each course country and then the executive,
Power and legislative, and judicial systems within the political structure. Students develop an
Authority PAU understanding of the various structures of the branches of government as well as how each
§§ What are the implications uses the structure to wield and maintain power.
of cooperation and Knowing and applying country-specific terminology allows students to understand the
conflict within a country’s similarities and differences between different systems of authority in the context of
political system? the six course countries. At the end of this unit, students should be able to characterize the
advantages and disadvantages of different institutional arrangements and the implications
of having one system over another in regard to stability, legitimacy, and policy making.

Building the Preparing for

Disciplinary Practices the AP Exam
4.B 5.A On the AP Exam, students will be asked
Comparing countries with similar and different to make connections between political
political concepts and processes helps concepts, course countries, and arguments
students identify problems, analyze policy in text-based sources. One way that
making, and ultimately explain implications of comparative political scientists often think
policy decisions. Coming to understandings about those connections is by making
by comparison, without preconceived comparisons between concepts. Students
notions, highlights how countries have solved will make comparisons and draw conclusions
problems or exacerbated them. on both sections of the exam.

In the previous unit, students began The comparative analysis question on the
practicing identifying and describing the AP Exam requires that students focus on
perspective of the author, and now, they will comparison of concepts. When making
start to connect the author’s perspective comparisons, it’s important for students to
to the political elements of a country and identify the relevant categories of comparison
eventually show how the perspective could (i.e., what characteristic or attribute they
impact a country’s political elements. should compare). Two common mistakes that
students make are discussing similarities
As students begin to read and analyze text- and differences that are (1) not relevant
based sources in this unit, these sources can based on the given task and (2) not shared
serve as models for students’ development by the objects of comparison. Have students
of writing their own arguments. Developing practice identifying categories of comparison
an argument in an essay is an important regularly. Once students have identified
practice in comparative political science and an appropriate and relevant category of
will be assessed on the AP Exam. Student comparison, then they can develop their
arguments need to be defensible and not explanation of why the similarities or
simply a restatement of a prompt. differences exist and why they are significant.

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 UNIT

2 Political Institutions

UNIT AT A GLANCE
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~32/~16 CLASS PERIODS

2.1 Parliamentary, Presidential, 1.B Explain political systems, principles,

and Semi-Presidential institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.
Systems

2.2 Comparing Parliamentary, 2.C Explain the implications of the similarities

Presidential, and and differences between countries with different
Semi-Presidential Systems political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

2.3 Executive Systems 1.D Describe political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors of a
course country.

2.4 Executive Term Limits 5.A Articulate a defensible claim/thesis.

2.5 Removal of Executives 4.B Explain how the author’s argument or

PAU-3

perspective relates to political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

2.6 Legislative Systems 2.A Compare two or more course countries based
on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

2.7 Independent Legislatures 4.C Explain how the implications of the author’s
argument or perspective may affect political
systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

2.8 Judicial Systems 1.E Explain how political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors
apply in a course country.

2.9 Independent Judiciaries 5.B Support the argument using relevant evidence.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 2.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

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Political Institutions
2
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 2.2 Debate
A debate gives students both the opportunity to collect evidence in support of their position
and the chance to orally present and defend it. Be sure to direct students to uncover both the
affirming and contradictory evidence on their position. For this topic, you could have students
debate whether policy making is more efficient in a presidential or a parliamentary system.

2 2.4 Critique Reasoning

In 2018, China removed presidential term limits. Using op-eds from major national and
international newspapers and magazines, ask students to undertake critique reasoning to
identify authors’ claims, evidence, and analysis. Additionally, have students make connections
to previously studied relevant course concepts. Allow for collaborative discussion at multiple
levels—pairs, small groups, and whole group—to achieve understanding.

3 2.6 Jigsaw
Using a variety of reference texts (textbooks, websites, databases), place students in
country-specific “expert” groups to examine legislative systems. The structures and
functions of legislatures in course countries are described in PAU-3.E.1. Then organize
students into groups where each course country is represented and have them summarize
and present information on the legislative structures of the course countries, allowing
students to become “experts” on each country.

4 2.9 Match Claims and Evidence

After describing the structure and functions of judiciaries (Topic 2.8), give students sample
claims about independent judiciaries and ask them to evaluate and improve on the claims,
if necessary. Then ask them to identify evidence that can be used to support the claims,
culminating with a writing activity that asks them to state how and why the evidence they
culled supports the claims.

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you want to continue building the
skills of country comparison and source analysis while also introducing argumentation.

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2 Political Institutions

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 2.1
1.B
Explain political systems,
principles, institutions,
Parliamentary,
processes, policies,
and behaviors. Presidential, and
Semi-Presidential
Systems
Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.A PAU-3.A.1
Describe parliamentary, Parliamentary systems, such as the United
presidential, and Kingdom, combine the lawmaking and
semi-presidential systems. executive functions, which allows the national
legislature to select and remove the head of
government and cabinet.
PAU-3.A.2
Presidential systems, such as Mexico and
Nigeria, feature a cabinet that is mostly
responsible to the elected executive, with
a legislature that can only remove cabinet
members through impeachment. These
systems have separate fixed-term, popular
elections for the national legislature, and a top
executive leader serving as both head of state
and head of government.
PAU-3.A.3
Semi-presidential systems, such as Russia,
feature separate popular elections for the
president and for the national legislature,
allowing the president to nominate a prime
minister (who must be approved by the
legislature); members of the cabinet are
held accountable by both the president
and legislature.

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Political Institutions
2
TOPIC 2.2 SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison

Comparing 2.C
Explain the implications
of the similarities and

Parliamentary, differences between

countries with different
political systems, principles,

Presidential, and Semi- institutions, processes,

policies, and behaviors.

Presidential Systems
Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Classroom Resources >
◆◆ Comparative Politics
Made Simple
◆◆ Teaching the
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
Comparative Method
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.B PAU-3.B.1
Compare institutional relations Although parliamentary systems have fewer
among parliamentary, institutional obstacles to enact policy than
presidential, and semi- presidential systems (presidential systems
presidential systems. have divided branch powers), parliamentary
systems have their own checks on the
executive branch.
PAU-3.B.2
Parliaments may censure cabinet ministers,
refuse to pass executive proposed legislation,
question the executive and cabinet ministers,
and impose time deadlines on calling
new elections.

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2 Political Institutions

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 2.3
1.D
Describe political systems,
principles, institutions,
Executive Systems
processes, policies,
and behaviors of a
course country.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.C PAU-3.C.1
Explain the structure, Governments have executive institutions,
function, and change of including chief executives and cabinets, that
executive leadership in formulate, implement, and enforce policy
course countries. through different methods and agencies.
PAU-3.C.2
Titles, powers, structure, and functions vary in
executive leadership across the six countries:
a. China’s president serves as commander in
chief, chair of China’s Military Commission,
and General Secretary of the Chinese
Communist party (NPC); the president
nominates the premier of the NPC,
who in turn serves as head of government
overseeing the civil service; changes
in top leadership are accomplished
behind closed doors.
b. Iran’s Supreme Leader sets the political
agenda, serves as commander in chief,
and appoints top ministers, the Expediency
Council, half of the Guardian Council,
and the head of the judiciary. The president
is elected for up to two 4-year terms,
oversees the civil service, and conducts
foreign policy.

continued on next page

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Political Institutions
2
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
PAU-3.C c. Mexico’s elected president, as both head
Explain the structure, of state and head of government, serves
function, and change of as commander in chief and leader of the
executive leadership in bureaucracy, and can approve domestic
course countries. legislation and lead foreign policy;
the president is restricted to one term.
d. Nigeria’s elected president, as both
head of state and head of government,
serves as chief executive, commander
in chief, and head of civil service, and
can approve domestic legislation and
conduct foreign policy.
e. Russia’s prime minister, the head of
government, oversees the civil service.
The elected president, head of state and
commander in chief, appoints top ministers,
conducts foreign policy, and presides over
the Duma under certain conditions.
f. The United Kingdom’s monarch serves
ceremonially as head of state and formally
appoints as prime minister the leader of
the party or coalition holding the largest
number of seats in the House of Commons.
The prime minister can call elections, sets
the foreign policy agenda, and serves as
de facto commander in chief and chief
executive over the civil service.

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2 Political Institutions

SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation
TOPIC 2.4
5.A
Articulate a defensible
claim/thesis.
Executive Term Limits

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.C PAU-3.C.3
Explain the structure, Executive term limits have advantages and
function, and change of disadvantages with regard to promoting
executive leadership in stability and effective policies in a country.
course countries. a. Advantages of executive term limits are that
they check executive power by and inhibit
the emergence of dictators and personality
rule; help to focus the officeholder on
governing rather than winning elections;
and provide opportunities for new leaders
with new ideas, policies, or goals.
b. Disadvantages of executive term limits
are that they force good executives to
leave office; allow insufficient time for an
officeholder to achieve goals; impede policy
continuity; weaken accountability; create
a lame-duck period for the officeholder;
prevent the officeholder from building
experience as chief executive; and can
cause poorly designed policy.

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Political Institutions
2
TOPIC 2.5 SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis

Removal of Executives 4.B

Explain how the author’s
argument or perspective
relates to political systems,
principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCES

§§ Professional
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING Primary Sources
PAU-3 ◆◆ Writing from
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power Challenging
within a political system. Primary Sources

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.D PAU-3.D.1
Describe procedures Across the course countries, executive leaders
for the removal of can be removed by the legislative branch
executive leadership by through different procedures that control the
other institutions. abuse of power.

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2 Political Institutions

SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison
TOPIC 2.6
2.A
Compare two or more
course countries based
Legislative Systems
on their political systems,
principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.E PAU-3.E.1
Describe legislative Legislative institutions of course countries
structures and functions in include the following structures and functions:
course countries. a. China’s party-controlled system is
unicameral and consists of an elected
National People’s Congress that the
constitution recognizes as the government’s
most powerful institution that elects the
president, approves the premier, and
legitimizes policies of the executive.
b. Iran’s theocracy is unicameral; the Majles
is elected and holds the power to approve
legislation, oversee the budget, and confirm
presidential nominees to the Cabinet.
This body acts under the supervision of the
Guardian Council to ensure compatibility
with Islam and Sharia law.
c. Mexico’s congressional-presidential system
is bicameral. It consists of an elected lower
house—the Chamber of Deputies—that
approves legislation, levies taxes, and
verifies outcomes of elections. The elected
upper house, the Senate, holds the unique
power to confirm presidential appointments
to the Supreme Court, approve treaties, and
approve federal intervention in state matters.

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2
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
PAU-3.E d. Nigeria’s congressional-presidential system
Describe legislative is bicameral, consisting of an elected upper
structures and functions in and lower chamber (Senate and House
course countries. of Representatives). Both chambers hold
the power to approve legislation, and the
Senate possesses unique impeachment and
confirmation powers.
e. Russia’s parliamentary-hybrid system
is bicameral, and consists of an elected
state Duma, which passes legislation and
confirms the prime minister. An appointed
Federation Council approves budget
legislation, treaties, judicial nominees, and
troop deployment.
f. The United Kingdom’s parliamentary system
is bicameral, consisting of an elected House
of Commons—which approves legislation—
and the prime minister appointed by the
monarch, whereas an appointed House
of Lords reviews and amends bills from
the Commons, effectively delaying
implementation as a power check.

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2 Political Institutions

SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis
TOPIC 2.7
4.C
Explain how the implications
of the author’s argument
Independent
or perspective may affect
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
Legislatures
policies, and behaviors.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Professional
Required Course Content
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
Primary Sources ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
◆◆ Writing from PAU-3
Challenging The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
Primary Sources within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.F PAU-3.F.1
Explain how legislative Legislative powers can be constrained by other
powers are constrained by governmental institutions, including:
other institutions and/or a. China’s Politburo Standing Committee,
processes, which can affect which is the actual center of power in the
legislative independence. Chinese state
b. China’s Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress (NPC), which assumes
legislative duties most of the year when the
NPC is not in session, sets NPC legislative
agenda, supervises NPC member elections,
and interprets the Constitution and laws
c. Iran’s Expediency Council, which is selected
by the Supreme Leader as an advisory
committee to resolve disputes between the
Majles and the Guardian Council
d. Iran’s Guardian Council, which vets candidates
and oversees the Majles to make sure laws
comply with Islamic law
PAU-3.F.2
Legislatures have the potential to reinforce
legitimacy and stability by responding to public
demand, openly debating policy, facilitating
compromise between factions, extending
civil liberties, and restricting the power of
the executive.

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TOPIC 2.8 SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application

Judicial Systems 1.E

Explain how political
systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors
apply in a course country.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.G PAU-3.G.1
Describe the structure and Judiciaries in course countries have different
functions of judiciaries. functions and use various methods to appoint
judges to interpret and apply laws and resolve
disputes, represented by:
a. In China, rule by law (instead of rule of law)
means the judicial system is subservient to
the decisions of the Chinese Communist
Party (CPC), which controls most
judicial appointments.
b. The Iranian judiciary’s major function is to
ensure that the legal system is based on
religious law, so judges must be trained in
Islamic Sharia law. The head of the judiciary
is appointed by the Supreme Leader and
can nominate half of the Guardian Council
with approval by the Majles.
c. The Mexican judiciary is in transition—the
Supreme Court has the power of judicial
review and subsequent constitutional
amendments have been implemented
with the intent to make the system more
independent and effective.

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2 Political Institutions

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.G d. In Mexico, Supreme Court magistrates are
Describe the structure and nominated by the president and approved
functions of judiciaries. by the Senate for a term of 15 years.
e. The Nigerian judiciary has the power of
judicial review, and an effort has been
made to reestablish its legitimacy and
independence by reducing corruption;
under the system of federalism, Islamic
Sharia Courts have been established in
the north.
f. In Nigeria, Supreme Court judges are
recommended by a judicial council and
are appointed by the president with
confirmation by the Senate.
g. Russia’s government uses the judicial
system to target opposition, and although
constitutionally the courts have the
power of judicial review, this power has
not been used to limit the authority of the
governing branches.
h. In Russia, judges are nominated by
the president and approved by the
Federation Council.
i. The United Kingdom’s judicial system uses
common law to enforce the rule of law;
major functions of the Supreme Court
include its serving as the final court of
appeals, protecting human/civil rights and
liberties, and ruling on devolution disputes.

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TOPIC 2.9 SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation

Independent 5.B
Support the argument using
relevant evidence.

Judiciaries

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-3
The structure and function of political institutions reflect the allocation of power
within a political system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-3.H PAU-3.H.1
Explain the importance of The degree of the judiciary’s independence
independent judiciaries from other branches of government depends
relative to other on the amount of authority the courts have
political institutions. to overrule executive and legislative actions,
the process by which judicial officials acquire
their jobs, the length of judicial terms, the
professional and academic backgrounds that
judicial officials are expected to have, and
the processes used to remove judges from
their posts.
PAU-3.H.2
Independent judiciaries can strengthen
democracy by maintaining checks and
balances, protecting rights and liberties,
establishing the rule of law, and maintaining
separation of powers.

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 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNIT 3
Political
Culture and
Participation

11–18%
AP EXAM WEIGHTING

~28/~14
CLASS PERIODS

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 Remember to go to AP Classroom
to assign students the online
Personal Progress Check for
this unit.
Whether assigned as homework or
completed in class, the Personal
Progress Check provides each
student with immediate feedback
related to this unit’s topics and skills.

Personal Progress Check 3

Multiple-choice: ~20 questions
Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Argument Essay (partial)
§§ Argument Essay
§§ Quantitative Analysis

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3 11–18%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~28/~14 CLASS PERIODS

Political Culture and

Participation

Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 2 Politics hinges on the interactions between the state and society. A country’s political
Legitimacy and patterns are influenced by the characteristics and demands of its population. Citizens
Stability LEG participate in politics both individually and in groups. Cleavages within the population,
§§ What changes might such as ethnicity, religion, or class, become politically relevant.
a government face This unit includes civil society, a range of voluntary associations that are autonomous from the
in response to a state and that can help mediate state power and enhance the power of citizens. Students learn
controversial cleavage? about participation in both authoritarian and democratic regimes and how the type of regime
impacts the type of participation. Understanding that concept will help guide students in Unit 4,
BIG IDEA 3 where they consider the role and impact of parties and elections on political participation.
Democratization DEM
§§ Why might a country
discourage participation?
Building the Preparing for
Encourage? Disciplinary Practices the AP Exam
3.C 3.D 5.B 5.C The AP Exam asks students to analyze
BIG IDEA 4 quantitative data presented visually and
Internal/External In the first unit students learned about
the practice of data analysis and how to apply that analysis to their understanding of
Forces IEF political concepts in both the multiple-choice
§§ How does regime type accurately describe presented data. Unit 2
builds on that understanding and expands and free-response sections.
impact the function
of civil society in
it to include the ability to explain patterns In both types of questions, students will
and trends in data to draw conclusions need to be able to (1) identify or describe
a country?
about political elements within and across data, (2) describe patterns or trends in data,
course countries. Students should begin to (3) describe or explain a political concept,
explain how and/or why processes, systems, (4) draw conclusions about patterns or
institutions, elections, or demographics relate trends in data, and (5) explain what the data
to one another and not simply describe them implies or illustrates about political systems,
in isolation. As students continue to build principles institutions, processes, policies,
these skills, they will then connect the data and behaviors.
and its trends/patterns to draw implications
about political systems, principles, Students often struggle to connect
institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors conclusions drawn from data to political
within and across the course countries. concepts, such as behavior. Encourage
them to take their conclusions further and
In the previous unit, students began writing explain how a trend, identified by data, can
their own defensible arguments that were lead to conclusions about a course country’s
not simply restatements of the prompt. They political system or institutions.
should continue that practice by writing
arguments that establish a line of reasoning,
utilizing specific evidence to support their
claim/thesis and unify the essay.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

UNIT AT A GLANCE
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~28/~14 CLASS PERIODS

3.1 Civil Society 1.E Explain how political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors
apply in a course country.

3.2 Political Culture 2.C Explain the implications of the similarities

and differences between countries with different
political systems, principles, institutions,
IEF-1

processes, policies, and behaviors.

3.3 Political Ideologies 1.C Compare political systems, principles,

institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

3.4 Political Values and Beliefs 3.C Explain patterns and trends in data to
draw conclusions.

3.5 Nature and Role of 3.D Explain what the data implies or illustrates
Political Participation about political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.
DEM-1

3.6 Forces that Impact 5.B Support the argument using relevant evidence.
Political Participation

3.7 Civil Rights and 4.A Describe the author’s claim(s), perspective,
Civil Liberties evidence, and reasoning.

3.8 Political and 2.A Compare two or more course countries based
Social Cleavages on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.
LEG-2

3.9 Challenges from Political 5.C Use reasoning to organize and analyze
and Social Cleavages evidence, explaining its significance to justify the
claim/thesis.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 3.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

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Political Culture and Participation
3
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 3.1 Debriefing
Civil society is a challenging topic for students. They tend to struggle with defining and
applying it. For complex issues, such as civil society, you can lead a facilitated discussion to
solidify and deepen understanding of civil society, which is reflected in essential knowledge
statements IEF-1.A.1 and IEF-1A.2. You can have students do a comparison across countries,
including researching specific examples. For example, they could compare civil societies in
different types of governments (e.g., authoritarian versus democratic regimes).

2 3.4 Look for a Pattern

This topic presents an opportunity to analyze polling data that addresses values and
beliefs that impacts citizens’ voting and ultimately how they wish governments to make
policy choices that address political problems. Have students examine complex data with
multiple variables to find trends and draw conclusions. The Pew Research Center: Global
Attitudes & Trends is a resource for this data, and course countries may have their own
polling institutions. You may ask students to create their own visual representations after
they evaluate data.

3 3.8 Socratic Seminar

By holding a focused discussion around the essential question What changes might
a government face in response to a controversial cleavage? you can provide students
with an opportunity to illustrate their understanding of the learning objectives LEG-2.A
and LEG-2.B and essential knowledge statements LEG-2.A.1 and LEG-2.B.1 to LEG-2.B.4
related to political and social cleavages. This activity also allows for comparative analysis
of cleavages across course countries, which is a challenge area for students.

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you want to continue analyzing and
interpreting data and developing arguments with evidence and reasoning.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 3.1
1.E
Explain how political
systems, principles,
Civil Society
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors
apply in a course country.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-1
Political culture, including core beliefs and values that address the tension between
order and liberty, shapes the relationship between a state and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-1.A IEF-1.A.1
Describe civil society. Civil society comprises a range of voluntary
associations that are autonomous from
the state, including local religious and
neighborhood organizations, news media,
business and professional associations, and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
IEF-1.A.2
The strength and variety of civil society
organizations differs depending on the regime
type in which they operate. Civil society
organizations can be limited by government
registration and monitoring policies.

IEF-1.B IEF-1.B.1
Explain the role of civil society Though civil society organizations are not
among course countries. necessarily political, a robust civil society
serves as an agent of democratization.
IEF-1.B.2
Across the course countries, civil society
organizations, to varying degrees, can
monitor and lobby the government, expose
governmental malfeasance, represent the
interests of members, and provide members
with organizational experience.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-1.B IEF-1.B.3
Explain the role of civil society Across course countries, the placing of
among course countries. restrictions on NGOs and civil society tends to
highlight violations of civil liberties protected
under foundational documents.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison
TOPIC 3.2
2.C
Explain the implications
of the similarities and
Political Culture
differences between
countries with different
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-1
Political culture, including core beliefs and values that address the tension between
order and liberty, shapes the relationship between a state and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-1.C IEF-1.C.1
Explain how political culture Political culture is the collective attitudes,
relates to citizen behavior values, and beliefs of the citizenry and the
and the role of the state. norms of behavior in the political system.
It sets expectations about the exercise of
power to establish a balance between social
order and individual liberty.
IEF-1.C.2
Political culture is influenced by factors of
geography, religious traditions, and history,
forming a population’s values and beliefs
about the role of government, the rights of the
individual, and the extent and role of citizens in
controlling government policy making.
IEF-1.C.3
Political culture is transmitted through the
process of political socialization, which
is the lifelong process of acquiring one’s
beliefs, values, and orientations toward the
political system.
IEF-1.C.4
Family, schools, peers, religious institutions,
media, and social environments, including
civic organizations, play a crucial role in the
socialization process and help develop political
attitudes and values.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-1.C IEF-1.C.5
Explain how political culture Though many agents of socialization
relates to citizen behavior (e.g., family, school, peers, media, and
and the role of the state. government) are similar across regime types,
authoritarian regimes apply more concerted
governmental pressures to socialize their
citizens around conforming beliefs than do
democratic regimes.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 3.3
1.C
Compare political systems,
principles, institutions,
Political Ideologies
processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-1
Political culture, including core beliefs and values that address the tension between
order and liberty, shapes the relationship between a state and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-1.C IEF-1.C.6
Explain how political culture A political ideology is a set of values and beliefs
relates to citizen behavior about the goals of government, public policy,
and the role of the state. or politics, as represented by:
a. Individualism—belief in individual civil liberties
and freedom over governmental restrictions
b. Neoliberalism—belief in limited
governmental intervention in the economy
and society; supports privatization, free
trade, deregulation, and the elimination of
state subsidies
c. Communism—belief in the abolition of private
property with near total governmental control
of the economy
d. Socialism—belief in the reduction of income
disparities and the nationalization of major
private industries
e. Fascism—extreme nationalist ideology that
favors authoritarian rule and the rights of the
ethnic majority over that of ethnic minorities
and the political opposition
f. Populism—political philosophy that supports
the interests and rights of the common people
over that of the elites

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TOPIC 3.4 SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis

Political Values 3.C

Explain patterns and trends
in data to draw conclusions.

and Beliefs

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-1
Political culture, including core beliefs and values that address the tension between
order and liberty, shapes the relationship between a state and its citizens.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-1.D IEF-1.D.1
Explain how political values Contrasting political ideologies, including rule
and beliefs frame policy by law as opposed to rule of law, affect how the
choices to address particular state treats its citizens and deals with specific
political problems. problems, such as political corruption.
a. Political beliefs associated with authoritarian
regimes tend to rely on rule by law, in which
the state uses the law to reinforce the
authority of the state.
b. Political beliefs associated with democratic
regimes tend to rely on rule of law, in which
the state is limited to the same rules
as its citizens.
IEF-1.D.2
Beliefs about social and economic equality
can be held by citizens in both democratic and
authoritarian regimes but can be contrasted
by the amount of enforcement responsibility
transferred to the government and the amount
of choice afforded to citizens to protect their
health and material well-being (ranging from
limited governmental social protections to a
welfare state).

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3 Political Culture and Participation

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-1.D IEF-1.D.3
Explain how political values Post-materialism refers to social valuing of
and beliefs frame policy self-expression and quality of life that leads
choices to address particular to applying pressure on governments to
political problems. address environmental issues and social and
economic equality.

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TOPIC 3.5 SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis

Nature and Role of 3.D

Explain what the data
implies or illustrates about

Political Participation political systems, principles,

institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCE

§§ Classroom Resources >
The Nation-State
in the Twenty-First
Century: Successes,
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING Challenges, and
Failures
DEM-1
The way a regime uses power and authority to support or suppress its citizens
establishes a balance between order and individual liberty.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-1.A DEM-1.A.1
Explain the nature and role Political participation can be voluntary or coerced
of political participation as and may occur at the individual or group level.
related to a regime’s use of DEM-1.A.2
authority and power.
Political participation can range from behavior
supportive of a regime (either independently or
under state direction) to oppositional behavior
that seeks to change governmental policies or
overthrow the regime.
DEM-1.A.3
Certain political conditions make it more likely
that citizens will engage in violent political
behavior, including when citizens feel that more
conventional options for political participation
are ineffective or unavailable.
DEM-1.A.4
Formal political participation (including casting
ballots in elections) can be encouraged across
regime types to enhance legitimacy, gather
input, act as a safety valve, or apply a check on
governmental policies, though authoritarian
regimes are more likely to use citizen
participation to intimidate opposition or give an
illusion of influence, while democratic regimes
hold elections to allow citizen control of the
policy-making process.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-1.A DEM-1.A.5
Explain the nature and role Referenda allow citizens to vote directly on
of political participation as policy questions and are used for a variety
related to a regime’s use of of reasons, including as a means to promote
authority and power. democratic policy making, to allow a chief
executive to bypass the legislature, and to
oblige citizens to make difficult and potentially
unpopular decisions on public policy issues.
The United Kingdom has used referenda to
decide questions about the devolution of
powers to regional assemblies, the separation
and creation of an independent nation-state,
and their withdrawal from the European Union.

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TOPIC 3.6 SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation

Forces that Impact 5.B

Support the argument using
relevant evidence.

Political Participation

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
DEM-1
The way a regime uses power and authority to support or suppress its citizens
establishes a balance between order and individual liberty.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-1.B DEM-1.B.1
Explain how political Authoritarian and democratic regimes support
participation affects and is similar forms of participation to influence
affected by democratic or policy making (including casting votes in
authoritarian regime types. public elections) but differ in how much
impact citizens have on policies and policy
making based on how open and competitive
elections are. In many elections in authoritarian
regimes, there are few if any opposition
candidates—those advocating differing views
from that of the controlling party/elite—who are
allowed to run for office. The government often
intervenes in these elections to ensure that its
preferred candidates and parties win.
DEM-1.B.2
Informal participation, such as protests and
political criticism expressed through social
media, is treated differently across regime
types. In authoritarian systems, there is less
tolerance of critical viewpoints that may
challenge authoritarian regimes.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-1.B DEM-1.B.3
Explain how political Both authoritarian and democratic regimes
participation affects and is regulate formal political participation by
affected by democratic or placing restrictions on voting access and
authoritarian regime types. disallowing disruptive and violent protests, but
authoritarian regimes manage and limit citizen
participation to a much greater extent.
DEM-1.B.4
Authoritarian regimes tolerate mass political
protests and movements less than democratic
regimes do, valuing public order more than
individual liberties and civil rights.

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TOPIC 3.7 SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis

Civil Rights and 4.A

Describe the author’s
claim(s), perspective,

Civil Liberties evidence, and reasoning.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCES

§§ External Resource >
National Constitution
Center’s Rights Around
the World
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING §§ Classroom Resources >
DEM-1 Illiberal Democracy
and Vladimir Putin’s
The way a regime uses power and authority to support or suppress its citizens
Russia
establishes a balance between order and individual liberty.
§§ Professional
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE of Challenging
DEM-1.C DEM-1.C.1 Primary Sources
Explain the extent to which Protection of key civil liberties differs across ◆ Writing from
civil rights and civil liberties the six course countries. Challenging
are protected or restricted in Primary Sources
DEM-1.C.2
different regimes.
Both democratic and authoritarian regimes
impose constraints on the media to protect
citizens and maintain order, but democratic
regimes generally tolerate a high degree of
media freedom to encourage citizen control of
the political agenda and check political power
and corruption.
DEM-1.C.3
Stronger authoritarian regimes monitor and
restrict citizens’ media access to a greater degree
to maintain political control, as represented by:
a. The Chinese Communist Party’s use of the
Great Firewall to limit political criticism on
social media
b. The Iranian court’s suspension or revocation
of media licenses when a jury finds
owners guilty of publishing anti-religious
material or information detrimental to the
national interest
c. The Russian government’s nationalization of
most broadcast media and rigid controls on
opposition news segments

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3 Political Culture and Participation

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-1.C DEM-1.C.4
Explain the extent to which A government is transparent when it allows
civil rights and civil liberties information about government and policy
are protected or restricted in making to circulate openly; authoritarian
different regimes. regimes tend to prefer secret or closed
proceedings to maximize order.
DEM-1.C.5
Competitive authoritarian regimes act as
a hybrid of democratic and authoritarian
regimes; Russia is characterized as a
competitive authoritarian regime or illiberal
democracy, holding contested elections but
with limited degrees of competitiveness and
providing minimal civil liberty protections and
governmental transparency.
DEM-1.C.6
Comparing data that shows the extent to which
governments protect or restrict civil liberties
over time can determine regime placement on
an authoritarian/democratic scale.

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Political Culture and Participation
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TOPIC 3.8 SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison

Political and 2.A

Compare two or more
course countries based

Social Cleavages on their political systems,

principles, institutions,
processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-2
How governments respond to social and political divisions affects interactions
between citizens and long-term regime stability.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-2.A LEG-2.A.1
Describe politically relevant Social and political cleavages can be described
social cleavages. as internal divisions that structure societies
and may be based on class, ethnicity, religion,
or territory, as represented by:
a. In China, ethnic and regional divisions
between the majority Han ethnic group and
at least 55 recognized ethnic minorities,
such as the Uighurs in the northwest and
the Tibetans in the southwest, and between
areas that have developed at different rates.
b. In Iran, religious divisions between the
Shi’a Muslim majority and members
of other religions, such as Christianity,
Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, have resulted
in a threatening atmosphere despite
official recognition; within practitioners
of Islam, there are divisions between the
Shi’a majority and those who are Sunni.
There are also ethnic cleavages between
the majority Persians and several ethnic
minorities, including Azerbaijanis and Kurds.
c. In Mexico, ethnic divisions between the
Amerindian (indigenous) population and
whites and mestizos, and regional divisions
between the north and the south.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-2.A d. In Nigeria, ethnic divisions among more than
Describe politically relevant 250 ethnic groups (including Hausa-Fulani,
social cleavages. Yoruba, and Igbo), and religious and regional
cleavages between the north (predominantly
Muslim) and the south (where Christians and
animists are concentrated).
e. In Russia, cleavages between ethnic Russians,
who are more than 80 percent of the
population and tend to be Russian Orthodox,
and minority, non-Russian populations
(including the Chechens in the Caucasus
region, who are predominantly Muslim).
f. In the United Kingdom, ethnic and regional
differences between nations such as the
Scottish, English, Welsh, and Irish; religious
differences between Protestants and
Catholics in Northern Ireland; and racial
tensions between whites and non-European
minorities whose heritage is related to the
United Kingdom’s colonial history.

LEG-2.B LEG-2.B.1
Explain how political Major social and political cleavages differ
and social cleavages in across course countries and affect voting
course countries affect behavior and party systems as well as informal
citizen relationships and political networks.
political stability. LEG-2.B.2
Course countries have responded differently to
social cleavages and their political consequences.
a. Even stable regimes are increasingly dealing
with radical/terrorist religious elements that
have sprung from long-standing cleavages.
b. State responses can range from brute
repression to recognition of ethnic/religious
minorities and creation of autonomous
regions and/or representation of minorities
in governmental institutions.
LEG-2.B.3
Examples of the use of social and political
cleavages to strengthen legitimacy and
hold onto power can be found in all course
countries. Such cleavages may also lead to
conflict and undermine legitimacy.

continued on next page

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Political Culture and Participation
3
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
LEG-2.B LEG-2.B.4
Explain how political Social cleavages have different impacts in
and social cleavages in course countries.
course countries affect a. Separatist movements have emerged in China,
citizen relationships and Iran, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom
political stability. as a result of the social cleavages.
b. Other groups demanding autonomy, but not
independence, have emerged in Mexico and
the United Kingdom.
c. Ethnicity has played a more significant role in
Nigeria than in Mexico because of different
colonial histories and a greater diversity and
politicization of ethnic/religious identities
in Nigeria.

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3 Political Culture and Participation

SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation
TOPIC 3.9
5.C
Use reasoning to organize
and analyze evidence,
Challenges from
explaining its significance to
justify the claim/thesis. Political and Social
Cleavages
Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-2
How governments respond to social and political divisions affects interactions
between citizens and long-term regime stability.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-2.B LEG-2.B.5
Explain how political Challenges governments face in securing
and social cleavages in stability in multinational states include:
course countries affect a. Conflicting interests and competition
citizen relationships and among groups and political parties
political stability.
b. Perceived lack of governmental authority
and legitimacy
c. Pressure for autonomy/secession,
intergroup conflict, terrorism, and civil war
d. Encroachment of neighboring states
that sense government weakness
and vulnerability

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 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNIT 4
Party and
Electoral Systems
and Citizen
Organizations

13–18%
AP EXAM WEIGHTING

~18/~9
CLASS PERIODS

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 Remember to go to AP Classroom
to assign students the online
Personal Progress Check for
this unit.
Whether assigned as homework or
completed in class, the Personal
Progress Check provides each
student with immediate feedback
related to this unit’s topics and skills.

Personal Progress Check 4

Multiple-choice: ~15 questions
Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Comparative Analysis
§§ Argument Essay
§§ Conceptual Analysis

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4 13–18%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~18/~9 CLASS PERIODS

Party and Electoral

Systems and Citizen
Organizations
Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 1 Individuals and groups use various ways to gain influence and power within a government and
Power and its political institutions. This unit breaks down the larger concepts about political institutions
Authority PAU studied in Unit 2 and considers how individuals, parties, and citizen organizations influence
§§ How do different power. The exercise of political power in the six course countries occurs in a variety of ways.
electoral systems For example, the rules of electoral systems, both formal and informal, have a profound impact
encourage or discourage on citizen participation. Studying how and why a regime grants or limits access to sources
citizen influence? of power helps students understand and explain how this control ultimately impacts policy
making in a global context.
BIG IDEA 3
Democratization DEM
Building the Preparing for
§§ Why are election
rules different for Disciplinary Practices the AP Exam
different regimes? 2.C 4.C Although there is not a free-response
In this unit, students compare countries with question focused on source analysis on the
BIG IDEA 4 AP Exam, source analysis will be assessed in
both similar and different political concepts
Internal/External the multiple-choice questions.
and processes in order to identify problems,
Forces IEF
analyze policy making, and ultimately explain Students should be able to read, analyze,
§§ Why would an
implications of these policy decisions. and interpret text-based sources to build
authoritarian regime
While students often find it easy to make the skill of analysis. The author of each
open up political access
direct comparisons between countries, they source conveys their idea, which is a claim,
to interest groups and
struggle with analyzing the implications of and they support that claim with evidence.
citizen organizations?
how those similarities, or differences, can Students should be able to identify the claim
§§ Why would a democratic
impact institutions, policies, and behavior. and evidence, but they should also be able to
regime restrict political
As students continue to read and analyze explain how the author’s argument relates to
access to interest groups
and citizen organizations? text-based sources, it is important for them political elements within and across course
to begin to connect the implications of the countries. Political scientists are asked to
author’s argument to a course country’s make predictions based on evidence and
political systems, principles, institutions, data and students may need assistance
processes, policies, and behaviors. directly connecting a source’s implication to
Furthermore, students should have the a predicted outcome.
opportunity to read, analyze, and interpret
the interplay of several text-based sources
related to the course countries.

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4 Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

UNIT AT A GLANCE
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~18/~9 CLASS PERIODS

4.1 Electoral Systems 2.A Compare two or more course countries based
and Rules on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.
DEM-2

4.2 Objectives of 4.B Explain how the author’s argument or

Election Rules perspective relates to political systems, principles,
institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

4.3 Political Party Systems 3.B Describe patterns and trends in data.
PAU-4

4.4 Role of Political 2.C Explain the implications of the similarities

Party Systems and differences between countries with different
political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

4.5 Impact of Social 5.D Use refutation, concession, or rebuttal in

Movements and responding to opposing or alternate perspectives.
Interest Groups
IEF-2

4.6 Pluralist and 4.C Explain how the implications of the author’s
Corporatist Interests argument or perspective may affect political
systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 4.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

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Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
4
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 4.2 Think-Pair-Share
This topic hits two challenge areas for students: comparative analysis and political
institutions. To practice explaining how election rules serve different regime objectives, ask
students to consider ballot access, election wins, and constituency accountability. This
strategy allows students to develop initial ideas, test and revise with a partner, and then
share with the larger group.

2 4.3 Making Connections

Write terms or concepts related to political party systems and party membership for
course countries on index cards and have students choose cards at random. Allow
students a couple of minutes to gather and recall information about the terms or concepts.
Then pair students and ask them to find and explain the similarities and differences
between their terms or concepts. This activity addresses the challenge areas of
comparative analysis and political institutions.

3 4.5 Quickwrite
Set aside a short, specific amount of time during a class period for students to perform a
quickwrite on social movements and interest groups. As preparation for the free-response
question for which students write an argument, have students write claims and explain
evidence that supports those claims for various topics, such as how social movements
and interest groups affect social and political change in course countries.

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you want to incorporate comparing
countries with different political elements and thinking about how sources can impact countries.

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4 Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison
TOPIC 4.1
2.A
Compare two or more course
countries based on their
Electoral Systems
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.
and Rules

AVAILABLE RESOURCE
§§ Classroom Resources >
Required Course Content
Recent Elections from
Around the World

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
DEM-2
The rules of electoral systems reflect party and legislative control and
level of democratization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-2.A DEM-2.A.1
Describe electoral systems In some regimes, electoral rules and systems
and election rules among are structured to allow for the competitive
course countries. selection of representatives, while in other
regimes rules are frequently changed to
advance different political interests.
a. The National People’s Congress of China
selects members indirectly through a series
of local and regional elections.
b. Iran’s Majles members are directly elected in
single-member and multimember districts,
which sometimes requires a second round
of voting; candidates are vetted by the
Guardian Council, and the legislative body
lacks formal political party structures; a
small number of the 290 seats in the Majles
are reserved for non-Muslim minorities,
such as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians.

continued on next page

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Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
DEM-2.A c. Mexico’s Congress of the Union has
Describe electoral systems two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies,
and election rules among which has 300 members directly elected
course countries. in single-member districts by plurality and
an additional 200 members elected by
a proportional representation, party list
system; and the Chamber of Senators,
which has 96 members elected in three-
seat constituencies and 32 by proportional
representation; gender quotas in the party
list system have helped increase female
representation in the legislature.
d. Members of the Nigerian House of
Representatives are directly elected in
single-member districts with representatives
from each of Nigeria’s states; the number of
representatives elected from each state is
based on population size, whereas the Senate
has three members directly elected from each
of Nigeria’s 36 states; two major parties have
alternated control of the National Assembly.
e. Changes to state Duma elections in Russia
have returned it to a system in which half
of the representatives are directly elected
from single-member districts and the other
half are chosen through elections that use
proportional representation with a threshold.
f. The United Kingdom’s House of Commons
members are directly elected under single-
member district, first-past-the-post rules.
DEM-2.A.2
Proportional representation relies on
multimember districts that promote
multiparty systems.

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4 Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis
TOPIC 4.2
4.B
Explain how the author’s
argument or perspective
Objectives of
relates to political
systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
Election Rules
policies, and behaviors.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Professional
Required Course Content
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
Primary Sources ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
◆◆ Writing from DEM-2
Challenging The rules of electoral systems reflect party and legislative control and
Primary Sources level of democratization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-2.B DEM-2.B.1
Explain how election rules Proportional representation can result in an
serve different regime increase in the number of political parties
objectives regarding ballot represented in national legislatures, as well
access, election wins, and as an increase in the election of minority and
constituency accountability. women candidates.
DEM-2.B.2
Single-member district plurality systems tend
to promote two-party systems. They provide
voters with strong constituency service
and accountability because there is a single
representative per district, and they ensure
geographic representation.
DEM-2.B.3
Different presidential election systems have
different rules for determining election winners;
some systems employ second-round or runoff
elections to obtain a majority vote, while others
decide elections based on a plurality of most
votes cast among candidates in the race.
a. Mexico’s president is elected by a plurality
of the national popular vote, not an
absolute majority.

continued on next page

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Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
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LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
DEM-2.B b. Presidential candidates in Nigeria must win
Explain how election rules the most votes and secure at least 25 percent
serve different regime of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria’s states,
objectives regarding ballot reflecting the federal characteristic of
access, election wins, and this regime.
constituency accountability. c. Presidential candidates in Iran and Russia
must win an absolute majority of the
popular vote in either the first or second
round of national voting. If no candidate
wins an absolute majority in the first round,
the second round is conducted between the
top two vote earners in the first round.
d. Majoritarian rules in Iran, Nigeria, and Russia
provide the winners with a national mandate.
DEM-2.B.4
Different political systems use electoral
regulatory organizations to set various rules
about ballot access and competition.
a. Iran’s Guardian Council excludes reform-
minded candidates or those who do not
support Islamic values from the ballot, which
limits the number of candidates and reduces
electoral competition and representation.
b. As part of their democratic transition,
Mexico and Nigeria have created independent
election commissions that attempt to reduce
voter fraud and manipulation and enhance
electoral competition.
DEM-2.B.5
Some regimes use an appointment system for
membership in legislative bodies to promote
a diversity of viewpoints, while other regimes
use it to advance the political agenda of
governing elites.
a. Appointments for the United Kingdom’s
House of Lords are approved by the monarch
with recommendations made by the prime
minister and an independent commission.

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4 Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

DEM-2.B b. Half of Iran’s Guardian Council members
Explain how election rules are selected by the Supreme Leader, and
serve different regime half are nominees from the judiciary with
objectives regarding ballot Majles approval.
access, election wins, and c. The appointment process for positions
constituency accountability. in Russia’s Federation Council is done
by regional governors and the regional
legislature. The creation of nine federal
districts (with the annexation of Crimea)
has reasserted federal power under the
Russian president by allowing him to
appoint presidential envoys to the districts,
and allowing regional legislatures to forgo
elections and appoint a governor from a list
of candidates approved by the president.
DEM-2.B.6
Election rule changes affect the representation
of different religious, ethnic, and
socioeconomic groups.
DEM-2.B.7
The timing of legislative elections across the
six countries can vary among systems based
on term-limit policies.

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TOPIC 4.3 SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis

Political Party Systems 3.B

Describe patterns and
trends in data.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-4
The power, influence, and strength of political parties and the degree of competition
between parties reflect the values of the regime or type of government.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-4.A PAU-4.A.1
Describe characteristics of Party systems and membership differ among
political party systems and course countries, ranging from dominant party
party membership. systems to multiparty systems.
PAU-4.A.2
China has rules that allow only one party, the
Communist Party of China, to control governing
power to maintain the values of centralism and
order, while allowing eight other parties to exist
to broaden discussion and consultation.
PAU-4.A.3
Rules ensuring one-party dominance in
Russia include increasing party registration
requirements, allowing only legally registered
parties to run for office, using selective court
decisions to disqualify candidates, limiting the
ability of political opposition to present their
viewpoints in the media, increasing threshold
rules to limit party access to the ballot, and
eliminating gubernatorial elections.

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PAU-4.A PAU-4.A.4
Describe characteristics of Rules that facilitate Mexico’s transition away
political party systems and from one-party dominance include eliminating
party membership. el dedazo, privatizing state-owned corporations
to decrease patronage, decentralizing and
reducing one-party power at the subnational
level, and establishing and strengthening the
National Electoral Institute (IFE).
PAU-4.A.5
The degree of competition within multiparty
systems can influence representation and
formal political participation by citizens.
a. Nigeria’s multiparty system includes
30 registered political parties, with two
strong parties, the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) and the All Progressives
Congress of Nigeria (APC), and a third party
having a degree of electoral success.
b. The United Kingdom’s party system features
competition primarily between two major
parties, the Conservative and Labour parties,
which control the legislature and executive
(with first-past-the-post election rules
favoring the major parties). But minor parties
with regional representation are also able to
win some legislative representation.
PAU-4.A.6
Catch-all political parties can earn support
from groups with different characteristics,
attracting popular support with
ideologically diverse platforms.
PAU-4.A.7
Some legislatures, such as the United Kingdom’s
House of Commons, are highly organized by
political parties, with voting based on strict party
discipline that influences policy making.

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TOPIC 4.4 SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison

Role of Political 2.C

Explain the implications
of the similarities and

Party Systems differences between

countries with different
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
PAU-4
The power, influence, and strength of political parties and the degree of competition
between parties reflect the values of the regime or type of government.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

PAU-4.B PAU-4.B.1
Explain how political party Party systems vary across the course
systems and memberships countries in terms of rules governing elections,
link citizen participation party structure, and laws regulating political
to policy making. parties, as represented by:
a. In China, one party (Communist Party of China)
has controlled the government (and military)
since 1949, while minor parties have limited
power to fill minor political offices.
b. Iran lacks formal political party structures;
parties operate as loosely formed political
alliances with questionable linkage
to constituents.
c. In Mexico, a multiparty system is dominated
by National Action Party (PAN), the Party of
the Democratic Revolution (PRD), and the
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI); parties
are allowed to form coalitions to nominate
candidates for any particular election.
d. In Nigeria, multiple parties with ethnic quotas
affect representation in the country’s
federal legislature.

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PAU-4.B e. In Russia, one party has been dominating
Explain how political party recent elections; diminished representation
systems and memberships of smaller parties occurs because of
link citizen participation changing threshold rules; the elimination
to policy making. and then reinstatement of single-member
districts has affected regional parties and the
representation of independent candidates.
f. In the United Kingdom, two large parties
(Labour and Conservative) dominate the
House of Commons.
g. In the United Kingdom, single-member
district plurality elections diminish minor-
party representation.
h. In the United Kingdom, single-member
districts allow regional parties to win
legislative seats.
PAU-4.B.2
Party systems across the course countries
vary in how they affect and are affected by
citizen participation.

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TOPIC 4.5 SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation

Impact of Social 5.D

Use refutation,
concession, or rebuttal in

Movements and responding to opposing

or alternate perspectives.

Interest Groups
Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-2
Strong and varied citizen organizations and movements foster and are
reinforced by democratization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-2.A IEF-2.A.1
Explain how social Social movements involve large groups of
movements and interest people pushing collectively for significant
groups affect social and political or social change.
political change. IEF-2.A.2
Interest groups are explicitly organized to
represent and advocate for a specific interest
or policy issue, while social movements
represent multiple groups and individuals
advocating for broad social change.
IEF-2.A.3
Social movements across course countries
have put pressure on the state to promote
indigenous civil rights, redistribute revenues
from key exports such as oil, conduct fair
and transparent elections, and ensure fair
treatment of citizens of different sexual
orientations, including:
a. The Green Movement in Iran that protested
corruption in the 2009 election
b. Zapatistas or Chiapas uprising in Mexico in
response to socioeconomic inequality and
the negative impact of the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

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IEF-2.A c. Movements in Nigeria (often militant),
Explain how social including the Movement for the Emancipation
movements and interest of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Movement
groups affect social and for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP),
political change. which have emerged to advocate for the
rights of an ethnic minority or protest against
unjust methods of extraction and distribution
of oil in the Niger Delta region
d. The Boko Haram movement attempting to
establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria
e. Domestic protests over Russian state
Duma’s passage of legislation against
same-sex couples
IEF-2.A.4
Grassroots social movements exert their power
up from the local level to the regional, national,
or international level.
IEF-2.A.5
With limited organizational hierarchies, such
movements are difficult for state-run military or
law enforcement to suppress, but some social
movements also have difficulty in attracting
and mobilizing support among fellow citizens or
negotiating with governmental representatives.

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 UNIT
Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
4
TOPIC 4.6 SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis

Pluralist and 4.C

Explain how the implications
of the author’s argument

Corporatist Interests or perspective may affect

political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content AVAILABLE RESOURCES

§§ Professional
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING Primary Sources
IEF-2 ◆ Writing from
Strong and varied citizen organizations and movements foster and are Challenging
reinforced by democratization. Primary Sources

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-2.B IEF-2.B.1
Describe pluralist and Pluralism and corporatism are systems of
corporatist interest interest group representation.
group systems. IEF-2.B.2
Pluralist systems promote competition
among autonomous groups not linked to the
state, whereas in a corporatist system the
government controls access to policy making
by relying on state-sanctioned groups or single
peak associations (SPAs) to represent labor,
business, and agricultural sectors.
IEF-2.B.3
The state retains more control over citizen
input in a corporatist system than it does in
a pluralist system.
IEF-2.B.4
Interest group systems can change over time,
as represented by Mexico’s moving from a
corporatist system toward a pluralist system.

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THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
 AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNIT 5
Political and
Economic
Changes and
Development

16–24%
AP EXAM WEIGHTING

~20/~10
CLASS PERIODS

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 Remember to go to AP Classroom
to assign students the online
Personal Progress Check for
this unit.
Whether assigned as homework or
completed in class, the Personal
Progress Check provides each
student with immediate feedback
related to this unit’s topics and skills.

Personal Progress Check 5

Multiple-choice: ~25 questions
Free-response: 3 questions
§§ Quantitative Analysis
§§ Argument Essay
§§ Conceptual Analysis

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 UNIT

5 16–24%  AP EXAM WEIGHTING ~20/~10 CLASS PERIODS

Political and
Economic Changes
and Development
Developing Understanding
BIG IDEA 2 The interaction of political and economic changes within and across the course countries and
Legitimacy and how these changes impact political policies and behaviors is particularly important for students
Stability LEG to understand. They need to connect what they learned about the domestic political power
§§ How do nongovern-
structure in previous units with how that structure plays out in an interconnected global context.
mental groups impact Every country studied in this course has had profound economic and political change over
regimes? the past 30 years. Students will study political changes through the lens of democratization
and the relative success or failure of these efforts to take hold. The economic impact
§§ Why do governments
of globalization on local citizens, relationships between countries, and the response to
change policies in the
challenges presented in this economic reality are the focus of the unit.
face of public pressure?
How does this impact
the balance of power Building the Preparing for
between the citizens Disciplinary Practices the AP Exam
and the government?
3.E 5.D The argument essay on the AP Exam asks
BIG IDEA 4 In previous units, students practiced students to respond to an opposing or
Internal/External data analysis and looked at what data alternate perspective or demonstrate a
Forces IEF communicates. As students build on that complex understanding of the topic. It is
skill in this unit, they confront the possible not enough for students to simply identify
§§ What are the benefits
limitations of data and need to determine an opposing or alternate perspective, they
and drawbacks to
what information is missing. What does should demonstrate a correct understanding
a country’s natural
the data not tell us about political systems, of the perspective by briefly describing
resource endowment?
principles, institutions, processes, policies, it and then refute, concede, or rebut that
and behaviors? Data analysis is a challenge perspective. They may demonstrate a
area for students, so regular practice will complex understanding in multiple ways:
help. Have students search for credible data (1) qualify or modify an argument by
sources that might help create a more robust considering diverse or alternate views or
understanding of a political system, principle, evidence, (2) explain the nuance of an issue
institution, process, policy, or behavior from by analyzing multiple variables, or (3) explain
within or across course countries. relevant or insightful connections across
required course countries.
In earlier units, students also began building
their arguments, which incorporated a This task is often difficult for students.
defensible claim, relevant evidence, and a Many students can identify an opposing
line of reasoning. In this unit, they continue to or alternate perspective, but they struggle
use those skills but now also use refutation, to explain why the other perspective is
concession, or rebuttal when they respond incorrect or why the other perspective may
to opposing perspectives. By offering the be more correct than their own.
rebuttal, but succinctly stating for the reader
why their claim/thesis is more effective, they
develop a high-quality argument.

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 UNIT

5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

UNIT AT A GLANCE
Understanding

Class Periods
Enduring

Topic Suggested Skills ~20/~10 CLASS PERIODS

5.1 Impact of Global Economic 3.A Describe the data presented.

and Technological Forces

5.2 Political Responses to 2.C Explain the implications of the similarities

Global Market Forces and differences between countries with different
political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.
IEF-3

5.3 Challenges from 1.D Describe political systems, principles,

Globalization institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors of a
course country.

5.4 Policies and 3.D Explain what the data implies or illustrates
Economic Liberalization about political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors.

5.5 International and 4.B Explain how the author’s argument or

Supranational perspective relates to political systems, principles,
Organizations institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

5.6 Adaptation of 2.B Explain the implications of the similarities and

LEG-3

Social Policies differences between countries with similar political

systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

5.7 Impact of Industrialization 5.D Use refutation, concession, or rebuttal in

and Economic responding to opposing or alternate perspectives.
Development
LEG-4

5.8 Causes and Effects of 3.E Explain possible limitations of the data provided.
Demographic Change

5.9 Impact of Natural 4.C Explain how the implications of the author’s
LEG-5

Resources argument or perspective may affect political

systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Go to AP Classroom to assign the Personal Progress Check for Unit 5.

Review the results in class to identify and address any student misunderstandings.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The sample activities on this page are optional and are offered to provide possible ways
to incorporate instructional approaches into the classroom. Teachers do not need to use
these activities and are free to alter or edit them. The examples below were developed in
partnership with teachers from the AP community to share ways that they approach teaching
some of the topics in this unit. Please refer to the Instructional Approaches section beginning
on p. 129 for more examples of activities and strategies.

Activity Topic Sample Activity

1 5.1 Close Reading

Students often struggle with the differences between international economic
institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World
Trade Organization. Present students with readings about these organizations (charters,
newspaper or magazine articles) and ask them to highlight country-specific words and
passages in order to then connect them to political policies, behaviors, and culture.

2 5.5 Guided Discussion

This umbrella strategy allows you to use multiple techniques with students in a lesson.
For this topic, use brainstorming and quickwrite as strategies during a guided discussion
to help students understand how international and supranational organizations influence
domestic policymakers and national sovereignty. This will help students see the big picture
of stability (enduring understanding LEG-3).

3 5.7 Self/Peer Revision

By this point in the course, students should have had multiple opportunities to practice
their argumentative essay writing. This strategy employs students to act as reviewers of
their peers to provide feedback on essay components. This topic offers an opportunity for
students to practice using refutation, concession, or rebuttal in responding to opposing or
alternate perspectives regarding the impact of industrialization and economic development.

4 5.9 Fishbowl
This strategy requires students to be, at different times, active participants and listeners. It
also asks students to bring textual evidence to their discussions to support their opinions.
Using secondary sources about course countries and their natural resource endowments,
ask students to discuss how these natural resources affect political and economic
development. You may wish to focus on rentier states and the “resource curse.”

Unit Planning Notes

Use the space below to plan your approach to the unit. Consider how you want to pace your course and
methods of instruction and assessment.

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis
TOPIC 5.1
3.A
Describe the data
presented.
Impact of Global
Economic and
Technological Forces
Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-3
Economic globalization and economic liberalization have positively and negatively
affected political policies and behaviors.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-3.A IEF-3.A.1
Explain how global economic Economic globalization—including economic
and technological forces networks that are growing more interconnected,
influence political policies, a worldwide market with actors unconstrained by
behaviors, and culture. political borders, and a reduction in state control
over economies—has deepened cross-national
connections among workers, goods, and capital
and has caused challenges for regime and
cultural stability.
IEF-3.A.2
State membership in the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the World Trade
Organization (WTO) has promoted economic
liberalization policies.
a. China and Nigeria have enacted economic
liberalization policies and a majority of
respondents in recent studies have said that
they expect children in their countries to be
better off than their parents.
b. In Mexico, in part as a result of these
policies, the number of people in the middle
class has grown.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-3.A IEF-3.A.3
Explain how global economic Multinational corporations (MNCs) increasingly
and technological forces dominate global markets and pose challenges to,
influence political policies, and sometimes conflict with, domestic economic
behaviors, and culture. policies regarding labor, the environment, land
rights, taxation, and the budget.
IEF-3.A.4
Globalization and neoliberalism can provoke
conflicts within states, including:
a. Increased demands being placed on
governments by civil society groups
b. Protests by students and disenfranchised
groups
c. Arrests of protesters and imposition of social
media restrictions
d. Empowerment of once-marginal, nationalist,
and populist groups that blame the
government for changes in culture and
economic conditions

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison
TOPIC 5.2
2.C
Explain the implications
of the similarities and
Political Responses to
differences between
countries with different
political systems, principles,
Global Market Forces
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-3
Economic globalization and economic liberalization have positively and negatively
affected political policies and behaviors.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-3.B IEF-3.B.1
Compare political responses In response to market forces, course
to global market forces. countries continue to experiment with policies
regarding private ownership of industry and
capital, including:
a. Special economic zones along the coast
of China
b. Privatization and increased competition in
Mexico’s oil industry (Pemex)
c. Nigeria’s state-owned Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) collaborating
with foreign companies in joint ventures to
extract and produce oil
d. Putin’s re-nationalization of oil/natural
gas industries and imposition of foreign
investment limitations
IEF-3.B.2
Course countries allow varying degrees of
private control of natural resources, with the
United Kingdom allowing the most private
control of natural resources and China
allowing the least.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-3.B IEF-3.B.3
Compare political responses Governments respond to global market forces
to global market forces. in order to:
a. Improve domestic economic conditions
b. Respond to domestic demands
c. Control or influence domestic political
debates to maintain or increase their
own power
d. Extend national influence regionally
and internationally

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Concept Application
TOPIC 5.3
1.D
Describe political systems,
principles, institutions,
Challenges from
processes, policies,
and behaviors of a
course country.
Globalization

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-3
Economic globalization and economic liberalization have positively and negatively
affected political policies and behaviors.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-3.C IEF-3.C.1
Explain how globalization Many aspects of globalization can challenge
creates challenges to regime sovereignty, including:
regime sovereignty. a. Foreign direct investment and multinational
corporations from originating regimes
can pose a challenge to a government’s
foundational economic and political ideas
and principles.
b. Cultural influences (often Western) that
accompany investment and trade with a given
regime can provoke a domestic backlash.
c. Increased economic development
can cause environmental degradation
and accompanying health issues that
alienate citizens.
d. Foreign governments can bring political
and economic pressures (including
treaty reversals, public condemnation at
intergovernmental organizations like the
United Nations, and economic sanctions) to
bear on countries whose actions (including
human rights violations) offend them.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-3.C IEF-3.C.2
Explain how globalization In response to global market forces,
creates challenges to governments frequently strive to respond
regime sovereignty. to internal demands for domestic reform.
Governments also work to control domestic
policy debates and attempt to extend their
influence regionally to deflect criticism and
improve economic conditions.

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis
TOPIC 5.4
3.D
Explain what the data
implies or illustrates about
Policies and Economic
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.
Liberalization

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
IEF-3
Economic globalization and economic liberalization have positively and negatively
affected political policies and behaviors.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

IEF-3.D IEF-3.D.1
Describe economic and Economic liberalization occurs when a state
political liberalization policies. reduces its economic role and embraces
free market mechanisms such as eliminating
subsidies and tariffs, privatizing government-
owned industries, and opening the economy to
foreign direct investment.

IEF-3.E IEF-3.E.1
Explain the adoption Political-economic systems in the course
of and consequences countries can be compared by measuring
associated with economic levels of economic development,
liberalization policies. economic growth, human development,
wealth, and inequality.
IEF-3.E.2
Course countries of all regime types adopt
economic liberalization policies with the
goals of remedying undesirable domestic
circumstances, such as rising unemployment
and reduced productivity, and undesirable
external situations, such as trade deficits
with other states and decreasing demand for
raw materials like petroleum, natural gas, and
rare-earth metal.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
IEF-3.E IEF-3.E.3
Explain the adoption Neoliberal economic policies (referring to the
of and consequences removal of barriers and restrictions on what
associated with economic internal/external economic actors can do)
liberalization policies. have had mixed effects, including reduction in
inflation and increases in national income, as
well as growing inequality in wealth distribution,
persistent political corruption, and the
exacerbation of existing social tensions as
governments attempt to balance economic
freedom with policies that promote economic
and political equality.
IEF-3.E.4
Economic prosperity tied to liberalization policies
has affected the power of ruling political parties
among course country political systems.
IEF-3.E.5
While often stimulating growth, economic
liberalization has contributed to environmental
pollution, urban sprawl, and uneven economic
development in course countries, as a result of:
a. Increased consumption and use of
automobiles and other engines using
fossil fuels
b. Poor infrastructure and lack of government
regulation
c. Regional migration patterns (including
east/west in China; north/south in Mexico;
rural/urban in both)

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis
TOPIC 5.5
4.B
Explain how the author’s
argument or perspective
International and
relates to political
systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
Supranational
policies, and behaviors.
Organizations
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Professional
Required Course Content
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
Primary Sources ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
◆◆ Writing from LEG-3
Challenging A government bolsters regime stability by adapting its policies to environmental,
Primary Sources political, economic, and cultural conditions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-3.A LEG-3.A.1
Explain how international International organizations like the International
and supranational Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank exert
organizations influence great influence through preconditions for
domestic policymakers and financial assistance; countries that receive
national sovereignty. IMF assistance often must agree to structural
adjustment programs requiring privatization
of state-owned companies, reduced tariffs,
and reduced governmental subsidies
of domestic industries.
LEG-3.A.2
To bolster their own developing industries,
some countries pass import substitution
industrialization (ISI) policies aimed at
reducing foreign dependency by raising
tariffs and encouraging local production
of industrialized products.
LEG-3.A.3
Supranational organizations such as the
Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU),
and the World Trade Organization (WTO)
have sovereign powers over the national
governments that are member states and can
apply pressure on policymakers to reduce
tariffs and otherwise liberalize trade.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
TOPIC 5.6 SUGGESTED SKILL
Country Comparison

Adaptation of 2.B
Explain the implications
of the similarities and

Social Policies differences between

countries with similar
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-3
A government bolsters regime stability by adapting its policies to environmental,
political, economic, and cultural conditions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-3.B LEG-3.B.1
Explain how governments In response to political, cultural, and economic
adapt social policies to changes, governments create new social
address political, cultural, policies, including gender equity, health care,
and economic changes. and education policies, as represented by:
a. Gender equity rules in Iran with voting,
the election of Majles, and appointment to
cabinet positions
b. Disputes in Iran about female access
to certain university degree programs
and attendance at and participation in
sporting events
c. Varied abortion policies in Mexico’s local and
state governments
d. Gender quotas in Mexico
e. Unequal gender access to education in the
north and south of Nigeria
LEG-3.B.2
Governments implement social welfare policies
to reduce poverty, increase literacy, and improve
public health, both to improve citizens’ lives and
to maintain or bolster political legitimacy.

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Argumentation
TOPIC 5.7
5.D
Use refutation, concession,
or rebuttal in responding
Impact of
to opposing or
alternate perspectives. Industrialization and
Economic Development
Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-3
A government bolsters regime stability by adapting its policies to environmental,
political, economic, and cultural conditions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-3.C LEG-3.C.1
Explain how rapid Rapid industrialization and increasing dependence
industrialization and on energy from fossil fuels have created a variety
economic development have of environmental and political problems that
produced radical changes in governments must address to protect citizens.
governmental policies. Such government solutions include:
a. Physically moving factories, implementing
green technologies with subsidies for
industry compliance, and engaging in
increased infrastructure development and
environmental regulation
b. Passing laws that require nationwide
conversion to hybrid and battery-powered
autos to address air pollution problems in
major cities from auto and industrial emissions
c. Developing infrastructure and other
mechanisms to respond to health crises
related to systemic pollution

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
LEG-3.C LEG-3.C.2
Explain how rapid Trade liberalization affects the growth of
industrialization and domestic and foreign business, the amount of
economic development have direct foreign investment, foreign exchange
produced radical changes rates, population movement, and often the
in governmental policies. quality of the environment. Reducing tariffs
may lower consumer costs at the expense
of domestic industry, while increasing tariffs
may protect domestic industry against
foreign imports but at the expense of
higher consumer prices.
LEG-3.C.3
Governments concerned with budget deficits
resulting from world market fluctuations often
must adopt austerity measures, which result in
funding cuts to state programs.

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Data Analysis
TOPIC 5.8
3.E
Explain possible limitations
of the data provided.
Causes and Effects of
Demographic Change

Required Course Content

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
LEG-4
Demographic changes have political causes and consequences, and they can
present challenges to a government’s legitimacy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-4.A LEG-4.A.1
Explain political causes Growing populations, changing land use and
and consequences of values, and economic opportunities motivate
demographic changes. internal and external population movements
(including when populations shift from rural
to urban areas or when net migration rates
change) and the corresponding demographic
changes pose significant challenges
to governmental resources.
LEG-4.A.2
Government policies and employment
opportunities can draw workers to different
geographic regions or influence positive or
negative migration rates, often deepening
preexisting class and regional differences and
taxing government resources:
a. China’s shifting emphasis from agriculture
to industry, the creation of special economic
zones, the encouragement of foreign
direct investment, and fewer government
restrictions and regulations of the economy
have led to migration from rural to urban
areas and west to east (interior to coast),
creating a growing population whose rising
incomes allow them to pursue work and
educational opportunities abroad.

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
LEG-4.A b. Highly skilled or well-educated individuals
Explain political causes have left home countries such as Iran and
and consequences of Nigeria to escape government policies or
demographic changes. practices that are perceived as limiting,
corrupt, or repressive.
c. The North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) and other economic liberalization
policies (such as removing agricultural
subsidies), maquiladora zones, and foreign
direct investment patterns prompted
migration from rural to urban areas
and from southern to northern Mexico,
and contributed to greater economic
development in the north than in the south,
as well as other regional disparities.
d. A positive net migration of immigrants
into countries like the United Kingdom has
resulted in social and political tensions.
LEG-4.A.3
Shifting migration patterns have political and
social consequences, including:
a. Increased crime stemming from higher
population density
b. The concentration of highly skilled
individuals in certain areas and their
absence in other areas
c. Increased use of existing infrastructure
and housing and demands for new and
expanded infrastructure and housing
d. The growth of new political parties that
stand against immigration and supranational
organizations that challenge the
government’s legitimacy
LEG-4.A.4
The political leadership of the United Kingdom is
facing increasing constituent demands to reduce
the rising costs of health care, exacerbated by
an aging population and a declining working-age
population faced with increased tax burdens to
fund the universal health care system.
LEG-4.A.5
States respond to demographic pressures
with different actions or policies that influence
citizen behavior, including policies encouraging
or discouraging the birth of children or actions
promoting or discouraging discrimination
against religious minorities.

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5 Political and Economic Changes and Development

SUGGESTED SKILL
Source Analysis
TOPIC 5.9
4.C
Explain how the implications
of the author’s argument
Impact of Natural
or perspective may affect
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes,
Resources
policies, and behaviors.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
§§ Professional
Required Course Content
Development >
◆◆ Close Reading
of Challenging
Primary Sources ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
◆◆ Writing from LEG-5
Challenging Natural resource endowments can have positive and negative effects on political
Primary Sources stability and economic development.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

LEG-5.A LEG-5.A.1
Explain how natural Rentier states (including Iran, Nigeria, and
resources affect political and Russia) that obtain a sizable percentage of total
economic development. government revenue from the export of oil and
gas or from leasing the resource to foreign
countries, have been able to raise standards of
living and fund governmental programs based
on their huge reserves.
LEG-5.A.2
Political and economic outcomes related
to rentier state status, often referred to
as the “resource curse” when petroleum
is involved, include:
a. Lack of economic diversification
b. Concentration of governmental resources
on developing the one profitable export
industry to the exclusion of other types
of industries
c. Severe revenue fluctuations based on world
market pricing
d. The overvaluation of currency and
trade imbalances
e. The increasing disparity between rich
and poor

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Political and Economic Changes and Development
5
LEARNING OBJECTIVE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
LEG-5.A f. A lack of incentive to modernize
Explain how natural the economy or cooperate with
resources affect political and international judicial bodies
economic development. g. Increased governmental corruption
h. A lack of governmental accountability to
citizens when not relying on citizens for taxes
i. The absence of democracy
LEG-5.A.3
Resources are nationalized in China, Iran,
Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia to provide
government revenue, consolidate government
control, and reduce political influence of
foreign governments and multinational
corporations (MNCs), all of which can reinforce
political legitimacy. The degree of central
government control in these states differs,
as represented by:
a. The Mexican government’s decision to allow
private investment in Pemex
b. The political control exercised by foreign
MNCs that underwrite Nigeria’s oil production
c. The high degree of centralized control
over natural resource companies under
Russian President Putin that has resulted in
wealth concentration
LEG-5.A.4
Privatized ownership of natural resources
decreases government control, increases
wealth inequality, and results in the potential
loss of sovereignty.

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THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Instructional
Approaches
Selecting and Using
Course Materials

Using a wide array of source material helps students

Text-Based Qualitative Sources
become proficient with the disciplinary practices and
develop a conceptual understanding of the course (Primary and Secondary Sources)
country governments and their interactions. In addition Political science writing differs from writing in other
to using a college-level textbook that will provide fields. It focuses on what influences political behavior
required course content, students should have regular and attitudes (e.g., voting, party identification, candidate
opportunities to examine primary and secondary source support) and how political ideas and policies are
material in varied forms, as well as other types of political developed and implemented.
science scholarship. Rich, diverse source material gives
Students in this AP course are required to analyze
teachers more flexibility in designing learning activities
primary and secondary source material, including
that develop the habits of thinking like a comparative
arguments written by political scientists and others,
political scientist that are essential for student success
in order to deepen their understanding of the key
in the course.
concepts addressed by the textbook and to engage
in the required disciplinary practices. Students are
Textbooks not expected to conduct original research, but they
The AP Comparative Government and Politics course should be introduced to scholarly political science
requires the use of a college-level textbook. Also, research articles.
because the disciplinary practices are fundamental to
the course, a textbook that focuses on skill instruction
PRIMARY SOURCES
Students will find it useful to analyze primary source
is useful.
material regularly to deepen their understanding of
While nearly all college-level comparative government the learning objectives and develop the required
textbooks address the five units of the AP Comparative disciplinary practices. While publishers are
Government and Politics course, they do not always increasingly including primary source material within
do so in a balanced fashion. In that case, it will be the textbook, it is important to introduce students to
important for teachers to identify other types of a wide variety of source material in order to provide
secondary sources and supplement the textbook opportunities to analyze historical and contemporary
accordingly to ensure that each of the five topic evidence from diverse sources. These sources need to
areas receives adequate attention. Some textbooks include written documents as well as images, such as
review historical contexts of significant political and photographs, cartoons, and works of art. The ancillary
governmental events. Since this is a political science materials and website sources that accompany most
course rather than a history course, it helps to focus of the recently published textbooks may have high-
on how those debates or movements shaped or quality primary source documents, artwork, charts,
relate to the present-day governments of the course and other sources of data that are linked to the
countries. Ultimately, it is best to select a textbook topics and themes addressed in the textbook. If the
that closely aligns with the course framework and the textbook doesn’t provide ample primary sources, or
disciplinary practices. the sources are too brief, teachers can supplement the
course with document readers that provide lengthier
An example textbook list of college-level textbooks
selections or online compilations of primary sources
that meet the AP Course Audit resource requirements is
related to particular topic areas.
found on AP Central.

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SECONDARY SOURCES Students should have opportunities to practice with
Student success in the course also depends on a wide variety of visual sources. The textbook may
exposure to, and analysis of, multiple secondary contain some maps and cartoons, and the following
sources in which political scientists present and explain resources provide a wealth of visuals to choose from
their arguments. The most common secondary sources for bell-ringer exercises and skills practice.
students should encounter include editorials, journal §§ Gapminder is a “fact tank” that offers free
articles, news media articles, and essays and books teaching resources based on statistics culled from
by political scientists. The course framework includes universities, the UN, and NGOs.
suggested supplemental readings for many of the
§§ The Economist is a news magazine that broadly
topics, but the choice of which secondary texts to use
covers topics and policies relating to all course
is entirely up to the teacher. It helps to choose a variety
countries.
of sources that represent different points of view and
that will engage students while enhancing learning. §§ Freedom House is an independent watchdog
Select high-interest readings and add new articles to organization that presents analysis on the progress
keep up with rapidly changing events. and decline of freedom around the world.

Quantitative Sources Evaluating Quality and

Political science courses require students to Credibility of Different Sources
engage with data in a variety of ways. The analysis, and Perspectives
interpretation, and application of quantitative
Students have unprecedented access to information,
information are vital skills for students in AP
so it is more important than ever to help them
Comparative Government and Politics. New textbooks
determine the credibility of sources. The disciplinary
and publishers’ resources often contain quantitative
practices require students to evaluate the quality
information presented via charts, graphs, or other
and credibility of different information sources and
infographics, but that data may soon become out of
perspectives and derive supportable conclusions.
date. Research institutions such as the Pew Research
Teachers might want to provide students with a list of
Center are good resources for current data to practice
news media websites with different perspectives, such
quantitative skills with students.
as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The
Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, TASS, and The Christian
Visual Sources Science Monitor. The BBC also offers a wide range of
Students will encounter a variety of visual sources on articles each day from different sources on a variety
the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam. of topics.
Some visuals contain data, such as a map showing The table on the following page explains how teachers
election results. Other visuals may illustrate political might address the credibility and/or reliability of
principles, processes, or behaviors. Visual information various sources.
may also be expressed in a political cartoon or
an infographic.

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 Criteria Considerations Examples

Credibility §§ Credibility requires students to §§ Design a lesson to help students

obtain information from sources with identify political perspective by
knowledge and expertise in political comparing the headlines from different
science. Sources can be print, online, or news sources, such as BBC and
expert interviews. Al Jazeera.
§§ Because many students are using the §§ Have students examine the language
internet or database sources, they used in the lead stories as well as the
should consider the following: pictures that accompany them.
◆◆ The domain name extensions, §§ Ask students to compare the focus
which indicate who publishes and of local news with that of national and
owns the domain. Commonly used international sources and discuss
extensions include: possible reasons certain stories are not
covered in the news.
–– .edu (educational organization)
§§ Have students synthesize their findings
–– .com (company)
in a short paper examining the role of
–– .org (any organization) the media in providing citizens with
–– .gov (government agency) political information.
–– .net (network)
◆◆ The author(s) of the website
◆◆ The credibility of sources cited
in the materials as well as any
websites they link to
§§ Students should read past the first slash
in the domain name to see if the page
might be someone’s personal page.
A personal page might be less credible
or include a bias that distorts the facts.
§§ Finding out who the authors are, their
credentials, and the organization(s) they
are associated with will help determine
whether they are qualified to write about
the topic.
§§ An article that includes citations of
sources is often more credible.

Reliability §§ Students should examine the content §§ An article about the life of British Prime
of a source (the evidence) to ensure Minister Theresa May may not be
it supports their claims and provides relevant in supporting a claim about a
insight and knowledge that relates to particular decision by Parliament.
the topic. This means that evidence §§ A public opinion poll from 2008 might
is only relevant when it addresses not be relevant in 2018.
both the topic in context and the
student’s argument.
§§ Because students are investigating
political processes and institutions
that are changing and evolving, it is
important for them to consider whether
the information being provided is the
most current.

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Instructional Strategies

The AP Comparative Government and Politics course framework outlines the concepts and
skills students must master in order to be successful on the AP Exam. In order to address those
concepts and skills effectively, it helps to incorporate a variety of instructional approaches into
daily lessons and activities. The following table presents strategies that can help students apply
their understanding of course concepts.

Strategy Definition Purpose Example

Close Reading Students read, reread, Develops comprehensive When students are reading
and analyze small chunks understanding of text. secondary sources, such
of text word for word, as a BBC article, have
sentence by sentence, and them highlight relevant
line by line. country-specific words and
passages that support the
author’s claim.

Create Students create Helps students organize Give students a set of data,
Representations tables, graphs, or other information using multiple such as voting patterns by
infographics to interpret ways to present data. gender and ethnicity, and
text or data. have them create a graph
that best shows the data and
the trends.

Critique Through collaborative Helps students learn Have students critique the
Reasoning discussion, students from others as they make argument for learning about
critique the arguments connections between Islam using “To the Youth in
of others, questioning concepts and learn to Europe and North America.”
the author’s perspective, support their arguments Ask them to examine the
evidence presented, with evidence and author’s perspective and the
and reasoning behind reasoning that make sense evidence and reasoning he
the argument. to peers. uses to support his position.

Debate Students present an Gives students an Have students debate

informal or formal opportunity to collect and whether policy making is
argument that defends a orally present evidence more efficient in a presidential
claim with reasons, while supporting the arguments system or a parliamentary
others defend different for or against a proposition system, using evidence
claims about the same or issue. and reasoning to support
topic or issue. The goal is their claims.
to debate ideas without
attacking the people who
defend those ideas.

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 Strategy Definition Purpose Example

Debriefing Teachers facilitate a Helps students solidify For complex issues such
discussion that leads to and deepen understanding as civil society, lead
consensus understanding of content. students in a debrief to
or helps students identify ensure understanding.
the key conclusions
or takeaways.

Discussion Students engage in an Helps students gain Assign students to groups

Groups interactive small-group new understanding of to discuss a learning
discussion, often with or insight into a text or objective, such as Explain the
assigned roles (e.g., issue by listening to importance of independent
questioner, summarizer, multiple perspectives. judiciaries relative to other
facilitator, evidence keeper) political institutions, with a
to consider a topic, text, view to helping them gain new
or question. understanding by hearing the
views of their classmates.

Fishbowl Some students form an Provides students with an Have students discuss the
inner circle and model opportunity to engage in arguments presented in
appropriate discussion a formal discussion and country-specific secondary
techniques while an outer to experience roles both sources and how they relate
circle of students listens, as participant and active across governments.
responds, and evaluates. listener; students also
have the responsibility of
supporting their opinions
and responses using
specific textual evidence.

Graphic Students use a visual Builds comprehension and Ask students to use a graphic
Organizer representation for the facilitates discussion by organizer to compare political
organization of information. representing information in beliefs, ideologies, principles,
visual form. and models. Make sure
students use the organizer
thoughtfully and are not
simply “filling in the blanks.”

Guided A guided discussion is Helps students see the Use brainstorming and
Discussion an umbrella strategy big picture and builds their quickwrite as strategies
that allows for the use of confidence when dealing during a guided discussion to
different techniques as you with difficult content or help students understand how
guide students through new skills. political culture in a course
the lesson. country affects beliefs about
social and economic equality.

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 Strategy Definition Purpose Example

Jigsaw Each student in a group Helps students Use this strategy to facilitate
reads a different text or a summarize and present understanding of high-level
different passage from a information to others readings, such as data
single text, taking on the in a way that facilitates analysis papers found on
role of “expert” on what an understanding of a V-Dem or Freedom House.
was read. Students share text (or multiple texts)
the information from that or issue without having
reading with students each student read the
from other groups and text in its entirety; by
then return to their original teaching others, they
groups to share their become experts.
new knowledge.

Look for a Students evaluate Helps students identify Using a complex graph (with
Pattern data or create visual patterns that may be used at least two data sets), such
representations to find to draw conclusions. as one showing educational
a trend. attainment and demographics
in the six course countries,
have students compare the
data to find a trend and draw
a conclusion.

Making Students are given Reinforces the fact that Write concepts related to
Connections a concept, term, or political concepts are one of the course big ideas
document and asked often connected and on cards, place them in a box,
to write what they know provides the opportunity and have students pick a card
about it. Then, students for students to make at random. Give students a
are paired and asked to and explain connections few minutes to gather and
determine, describe, and between and among recall information about the
explain the connection these concepts. term, and then pair students
between the two concepts. and ask them to find the
connection between their
concepts. Finally, ask the pairs
to write a brief explanation of
how the concepts are related.

Match Claims Students are given sample Provides opportunities for In the early stages of
and Evidence claims (most of which students to edit existing practicing argumentation, ask
can be improved on) claims and match those small groups of students to
to evaluate and revise. claims with evidence in write claims and supporting
Then students match preparation for writing their evidence statements based
their revised claims with own argumentative essays. on a question structured
pieces of evidence that in the same way as free-
can be used to support response question 4. Have
the claims. Once claims groups trade claims and
and evidence are matched, evidence, revise or modify the
students write a statement claims (if necessary), match
explaining how and why the claims and evidence, and
the evidence supports write statements explaining
the claim. why the evidence supports
the claim.

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 Strategy Definition Purpose Example

Quickwrite Students write for a short, Helps generate ideas in a As preparation for the free-
specific amount of time short time. response question for which
about a designated topic. students write an argument,
have them write claims
and explain evidence that
supports their claims for
various topics, such as the
structure of government or
political participation.

Self/Peer Students work alone or Provides students with Have students perform
Revision with a partner to examine an opportunity to edit self- and peer revisions of
a piece of writing for a written text to ensure their practice argument
accuracy and clarity. the correctness of essays so they have the
identified components. opportunity to review their
practice claims, supporting
evidence, sourcing, analysis,
and reasoning.

Socratic This is a focused Helps students arrive Use an essential question

Seminar discussion tied to a topic, at a new understanding from the start of a unit, such
essential question, or by asking questions as How does the perceived
selected text in which that clarify; challenging legitimacy of a government
students ask questions of assumptions; probing by its citizenry impact how
one another. The questions perspective and point of other countries see it? to
initiate a conversation view; questioning facts, initiate a discussion in which
that continues with a reasons, and evidence; students can illustrate their
series of responses and or examining implications understanding of the learning
additional questions. and outcomes. objectives and essential
knowledge statements.

Think-Pair- Students think through a Enables the development To practice comparing

Share question or issue alone, of initial ideas that are then executive leadership in course
pair with a partner to share tested with a partner in countries, ask students to
ideas, and then share preparation for revising consider structure, function,
results with the class. ideas and sharing them and change, and have them
with a larger group. use think-pair-share to
come up with similarities
and differences.

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Developing the
Disciplinary Practices

Throughout the AP Comparative Government and in a process similar to that followed by political
Politics course, students will develop skills that are scientists. This process begins with a close analysis
fundamental to the discipline of comparative political of quantitative and qualitative sources and reaches
science. Since these disciplinary practices represent its conclusion when evidence is used effectively to
the complex skills that adept comparative political support an argument about political systems, principles,
scientists demonstrate, students will benefit from institutions, processes, policies, or behaviors.
multiple opportunities to develop these skills in a
The unit guides feature a suggested skill for each
scaffolded manner.
course topic. However, teachers are free to use either
A college-level comparative political science course will that skill or one of their choosing to allow students to
challenge students to put that knowledge into action practice the skills using course content. It is important
through various discipline-based practices common to help students develop all the skills throughout the
to the field. One of the aims of the AP Comparative course, and teachers should use their professional
Government and Politics course is to have students judgment to sequence and scaffold them appropriately
think like political scientists. for their students.

The disciplinary practices and their related skills The tables on the pages that follow provide sample
articulated in the course framework equip students to activities and instructional strategies for incorporating
understand, analyze, and apply political information the skills into instruction.

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Disciplinary Practice 1: Apply political concepts and
processes in authentic contexts
Students should have ample practice applying their content knowledge. Comparative
political scientists practice their discipline by applying their knowledge to different contexts
and scenarios and to the current political environment of the six course countries. Students in
the AP Comparative Government and Politics course have this same opportunity through this
disciplinary practice.

Disciplinary Practice 1: Concept Application

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

1.A: Describe §§ Describe characteristics and Before students can apply §§ Graphic
political systems, traits of terms and concepts. their knowledge, they need to Organizer
§§ Classify terms and concepts. demonstrate understanding by
principles,
describing and explaining. Before
institutions, beginning a deeper discussion
processes, on the balance of power between
policies, and governments and its citizenry, have
behaviors. students describe differences
between regimes, states, nations,
and government. (Topic 1.2)

1.B: Explain §§ Identify and describe the Ask students to explain the §§ Discussion
political systems, steps or stages in a process. structure, function, and changes Groups
§§ Explain how and why a of executive leadership in course §§ Making
principles,
process changes. countries. (Topic 2.3) Connections
institutions,
processes, §§ Explain the significance of
a process.
policies, and
behaviors.

1.C: Compare §§ Identify the relevant, specific Make sure students understand §§ Look for a
political systems, categories for comparing that they need to identify relevant Pattern
similarities and differences. and specific similarities and §§ Graphic
principles,
§§ Explain the reasons for differences. They should compare Organizer
institutions, like factors. Ask students to identify
the relevant similarities
processes, and differences. and then explain relevant, specific
policies, and similarities and differences among
§§ Explain the relevance,
behaviors. social and political cleavages. Have
implications, and/or
them compare like categories,
significance of the similarities
such as voting behavior or political
and differences.
networks. (Topics 3.8 and 3.9)

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Disciplinary Practice 1: Concept Application

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

1.D: Describe §§ Describe characteristics and Ask students to describe the §§ Debriefing
political systems, traits of terms and concepts electoral systems and election rules
of a course country. in China. (Topic 4.1)
principles,
§§ Classify terms and concepts
institutions,
of a course country.
processes,
policies, and
behaviors of a
course country.

1.E: Explain how §§ Identify and describe the Ask students to explain how and §§ Discussion
political systems, steps or stages in a process why governments adapt social Groups
in a course country. policies, such as Mexico’s gender §§ Close Reading
principles,
§§ Explain how and why a quotas, to address political, cultural,
institutions, and economic changes. (Topic 5.6)
process changes in a
processes, course country.
policies, and
§§ Explain the significance of a
behaviors apply in process in a course country.
a course country.

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Disciplinary Practice 2: Compare political concepts
and processes among the course countries (China, Iran,
Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom)
Comparative political scientists seek to understand similarities and differences between states,
evaluate political realities, and understand political change. Students can come to understandings
about course countries through ample practice comparing the political concepts and processes
across these countries.

Disciplinary Practice 2: Country Comparison

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

2.A: Compare two §§ Identify course countries to be Using at least two of the §§ Look for a
or more course compared. course countries, ask Pattern
§§ Find relevant, specific categories students to compare §§ Graphic
countries based
to compare two or more institutional relations Organizer
on their political among parliamentary,
course countries.
systems, principles, presidential, and semi-
§§ Using the categories, identify the
institutions, presidential systems.
similarities and differences between
processes, policies, (Topic 2.2)
the course countries.
and behaviors.

2.B: Explain the §§ Identify course countries with similar Identify at least two of §§ Graphic Organizer
implications of the political systems, principles, institutions, the course countries §§ Think-Pair-Share
processes, policies, and behaviors. that have similar political
similarities and §§ Discussion
§§ Find relevant, specific categories systems, principles
differences between Groups
to compare two or more course institutions, processes,
countries with countries with similar political policies, and behaviors.
similar political systems, principles institutions, Then ask students to
systems, principles, processes, policies, and behaviors. explain how the political
culture in these course
institutions, §§ Explain the varied implications of
countries relates to
processes, policies, similarities and differences among
citizen behavior and
and behaviors. course countries with similar political
the role of the state.
systems, principles institutions,
(Topics 3.2 and 3.3)
processes, policies, and behaviors.

2.C: Explain the §§ Identify course countries with Identify at least two of §§ Graphic
implications of the different political systems, principles, the course countries that Organizer
institutions, processes, policies, have different political §§ Debate
similarities and
and behaviors. systems, principles,
differences between institutions, processes,
§§ Find relevant, specific categories
countries with to compare two or more course policies, and behaviors.
different political countries with different political Then ask students to
systems, principles, systems, principles institutions, explain how the political
processes, policies, and behaviors. party systems and
institutions,
memberships link citizen
processes, policies, §§ Explain the varied implications of
participation to policy
and behaviors. similarities and differences among
making. (Topics 4.3
course countries with different
and 4.4)
political systems, principles,
institutions, processes, policies,
and behaviors.

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Disciplinary Practice 3: Analyze and interpret quantitative
data represented in tables, charts, graphs, maps,
and infographics
The analysis, interpretation, and application of quantitative information are vital skills for students
in AP Comparative Government and Politics. Analysis skills can be taught using any type of
quantitative information, but students should use current data so that they can draw accurate
conclusions and apply that knowledge to the enduring understandings and learning objectives in
the course.

Disciplinary Practice 3: Data Analysis

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

3.A: Describe the §§ How is the data presented? Have students collect data from §§ Look for a
data presented. §§ What does the data show? various sources that discuss Pattern
the political legitimacy of the §§ Create
state, such as Freedom House Representations
or V-Dem. Sources of legitimacy
can include popular election
results, economic growth, and
nationalism. (Topic 1.8)

3.B: Describe §§ What do you notice about Ask students to describe the §§ Debriefing
patterns and trends the data? patterns and trends they see in §§ Create
in data. §§ What trends and patterns can data, such as how internal actors Representations
you identify from the data? enhance or threaten political
stability. (Topic 1.10)

3.C: Explain §§ Why is the data displayed as Challenge students to compare §§ Debriefing
patterns and trends it is? the trends and draw a conclusion §§ Guided
§§ What does the author of the about the data. They should also Discussion
in data to draw
chart or graph want to show? explain their reasoning. Have
conclusions. students look at polling data
§§ What conclusions can you
from course countries to explain
draw by comparing the
how political values and beliefs
trends you found in the data?
frame policy choices to address
§§ What evidence do you have particular political problems.
to support that conclusion? (Topic 3.4)

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Disciplinary Practice 3: Data Analysis

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

3.D: Explain what §§ What concept or principle Have students apply this §§ Think-Pair-Share
the data implies does this data remind you of? information to a political system, §§ Guided
or illustrates §§ How does this data relate to a principle, institution, process, Discussion
political process? policy, or behavior. Students
about political could use this data to explain
systems, principles, §§ What could political
how political participation in a
actors learn from this data
institutions, course country is related to a
that would affect how
processes, policies, regime’s use of authority and
they operate?
power. (Topics 3.5 and 3.6)
and behaviors.

3.E: Explain §§ What does this data not Lead students to analyze §§ Look for a
possible limitations tell you? possible limitations of the data Pattern
§§ What do you know about the that is represented, such as §§ Create
of the data provided.
group or organization that looking at economic liberalization Representations
provided the data? policies without showing a
§§ Discussion
variety of factors (economic
§§ How does that knowledge Groups
development, economic growth,
influence the conclusions
human development, wealth,
you can draw from the data?
or inequality) to highlight
consequences. (Topic 5.8)

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Disciplinary Practice 4: Read, analyze, and interpret
text-based sources
The AP Comparative Government and Politics course requires students to analyze texts in terms
of perspective, conclusions, and supporting evidence and to understand how they illustrate
principles and processes of course country governments. In these texts, politicians, activists,
political scientists, and other scholars develop their ideas and arguments.

Disciplinary Practice 4: Source Analysis

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

4.A: Describe the §§ Who is the author? Lead students on a close §§ Close Reading
author’s claim(s), §§ What is the author’s perspective? reading of the open letter §§ Critique
“To the Youth in Europe Reasoning
perspective, evidence, §§ Why did the author write this?
and North America” by
and reasoning. §§ What do you know about the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
author and what the author Ask them to identify the
thinks about government and author, his perspective,
political principles? and his argument. Then ask
§§ What is the author’s argument? students to identify what
§§ What evidence does the author evidence and reasoning is
use to support the argument? provided in support of his
argument. (Topic 5.1)
§§ What reasoning does the author
use to justify the argument?

4.B: Explain how the §§ What political system, principle, Have students connect §§ Socratic
author’s argument or institution, process, policy, or Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Seminar
behavior have we studied that argument to global market §§ Discussion
perspective relates
is related to the author’s claim forces. (Topic 5.2) Groups
to political systems, and argument?
principles, institutions, §§ How is the author’s claim or
processes, policies, argument related to that political
and behaviors. principle or concept?

4.C: Explain how the §§ What would happen if we Challenge students to §§ Self/Peer
implications of the followed the author’s advice? determine how Ayatollah Revision
§§ How does the author’s position Ali Khamenei’s argument §§ Socratic
author’s argument or
affect a political system, in “To the Youth in Europe Seminar
perspective may affect and North America”
principle, process, institution,
political systems, policy, or behavior? affected political systems,
principles, institutions, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, processes, policies, or
behaviors in Iran, Europe, or
and behaviors.
North America. (Topic 2.7)

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Disciplinary Practice 5: Develop an argument in
essay format
Political scientists examine data, evidence, and differing perspectives to develop claims about
political systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors. As they begin to
articulate their positions, political scientists use reasoning processes that rely on their awareness
of different types of relationships, connections, and patterns within the data, evidence, and
perspectives. They then formulate a claim, or thesis, and develop an argument that explains how
the claim is supported by the available evidence.

A strong argument also accounts for how some evidence might seem to refute or rebut the
claim, addressing alternate perspectives. Students should learn how to create persuasive and
meaningful arguments by improving their proficiency with each of these practices in turn.

Disciplinary Practice 5: Argumentation

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

5.A: Articulate §§ What positions could you take Give students a question, §§ Match Claims
a defensible based on the question and such as Are executive and Evidence
the evidence? term limits advantageous §§ Quickwrite
claim/thesis.
§§ What position do you want to take? or disadvantageous with
§§ Debate
What claim will you make? regard to promoting
stability and effective
§§ What is your purpose (to define,
policies in a country?
show causality, compare, or explain
a process)? Students should analyze
§§ What reasons justify your claim andall possibilities and the
achieve your purpose? evidence for and against
§§ What evidence supports your claim each position. Have
and reasoning? students choose a position
and write a defensible claim
§§ What evidence runs counter to your
or thesis that reflects their
claim and reasoning?
reasoning and evidence.
§§ Write a defensible claim or thesis (Topic 2.4)
statement that reflects your
reasoning and evidence.

5.B: Support the §§ What evidence supports Have students identify and §§ Match Claims
argument using your claim? explain the evidence that and Evidence
§§ How does the evidence support supports their position, §§ Critique
relevant evidence.
your claim? with an emphasis on how Reasoning
the evidence supports the
claim. (Topic 2.4)

continued on next page

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Disciplinary Practice 5: Argumentation

Sample
Instructional
Skill Questions/Tasks Sample Activities Strategies

5.C: Use reasoning §§ Explain why your evidence supports Ask students to “close the §§ Match Claims
to organize and your claim, using a transition such loop” and explain, using and Evidence
as because or therefore. reasoning processes, why §§ Critique
analyze evidence,
§§ Question your reasoning. Does it the evidence supports their Reasoning
explaining its claim. (Topic 2.4)
make sense? Have you provided a
significance to justify solid explanation of your reasoning?
the claim/thesis.

5.D: Use refutation, §§ What evidence goes against Challenge students §§ Critique
concession, your claim? to identify and explain Reasoning
§§ What could someone with an evidence that refutes or §§ Debate
or rebuttal in
opposing view say about your claim rebuts their claim. A strong
responding to §§ Self/Peer
based on the evidence? essay acknowledges
opposing or alternate Revision
contrary positions and uses
§§ Taking the rebuttal evidence into
perspectives. other evidence to show
account, why is your claim still
why the author’s position is
the best?
the best choice. (Topic 2.4)

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AP COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Exam
Information
Exam Overview

The AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam assesses student

understanding of the disciplinary practices and learning objectives outlined
in the course framework. The exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes long and
includes 55 multiple-choice questions and 4 free-response questions.
The details of the exam, including exam weighting and timing, can be
found below.

Number of Exam
Section Question Type Questions Weighting Timing
I Multiple-choice questions 55 50% 60 minutes

II Free-response questions 4 90 minutes

(recommended
timing below)

Question 1: Conceptual Analysis 11% 10 minutes

(4 points)
Question 2: Quantitative Analysis 12.5% 20 minutes
(5 points)
Question 3: Comparative Analysis 12.5% 20 minutes
(5 points)
Question 4: Argument Essay (5 points) 14% 40 minutes

The exam assesses content from the five big ideas for the course:

Big Idea 1: Power and Authority

Big Idea 2: Legitimacy and Stability

Big Idea 3: Democratization

Big Idea 4: Internal/External Forces

Big Idea 5: Methods of Political Analysis

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The AP Exam also assesses the five units of the course with the following exam
weighting on the multiple-choice section:

Units Exam Weighting

Unit 1: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments 18–27%

Unit 2: Political Institutions 22–33%

Unit 3: Political Culture and Participation 11–18%

Unit 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations 13–18%

Unit 5: Political and Economic Changes and Development 16–24%

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How Student Learning Is
Assessed on the AP Exam

The AP Comparative Government and Politics disciplinary practices are assessed on the AP Exam as detailed below.

Multiple-Choice Section Free-Response Section

Practice 1: Approximately 40–55% of multiple-choice questions Free-response question 1

assess students’ ability to apply political concepts and focuses exclusively on Practice 1.
Concept
processes in hypothetical and authentic contexts. Both Free-response questions 2 and 3
Application individual and set-based multiple-choice questions are also assess this practice.
used to assess Practice 1.

Students will need to describe, explain, and compare

political systems, principles, institutions, processes,
policies, and behaviors.

Practice 2: Approximately 25–32% of multiple-choice questions will Free-response question 3 assesses

assess students’ ability to compare the political concepts Practice 2.
Country
and processes of China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia,
Comparison and the United Kingdom. Both individual and set-based
multiple-choice questions are used to assess Practice 2.

Students will need to compare course countries based

on their political systems, principles, institutions,
processes, policies, and behaviors as well as explain
the implications of similarities and/or differences.

Practice 3: Approximately 10–16% of multiple-choice questions Free-response question 2 focuses

will assess students’ ability to analyze and interpret primarily on Practice 3.
Data Analysis
quantitative data represented in tables, charts, graphs,
maps, and infographics. Only set-based multiple-
choice questions are used to assess Practice 3.

Students will need to describe and explain data as

well as explain the relationship between the data and
political systems, institutions, processes, policies,
and behaviors.

Practice 4: Approximately 9–11% of multiple-choice questions will Practice 4 is not explicitly assessed
assess students’ ability to read, analyze, and interpret in the free-response section.
Source Analysis
text-based sources. Only set-based multiple-choice
questions are used to assess Practice 4.

Students will need to describe and explain claims,

evidence, perspective, and reasoning in sources.
Additionally, students will need to explain how text-
based sources relate to political systems, principles,
institutions, processes, policies, and behaviors.

Practice 5: No multiple-choice questions are used to explicitly Free-response question 4 focuses

assess the argumentation practice. exclusively on Practice 5.
Argumentation

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Section I: Multiple-Choice
The first section of the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam includes
55 multiple-choice questions, appearing either as individual questions or in sets
of two to three questions each. The following table lays out the different types
of questions.

Question Type Number of Questions Stimulus Type Practices Assessed

Quantitative analysis Three sets: two to Each set includes Practice 3 primarily; also
three questions per set one of the following Practices 1 and 2
quantitative data as a
stimulus: line graphs,
charts, tables, maps,
or infographics.

Text-based analysis Two sets: two to Each set includes a Practice 4

three questions per set secondary source
passage.

Individual multiple- 40–44 No stimulus Practices 1 and 2

choice questions

Section II: Free-Response

The second section of the AP Comparative Government Free-response question 3: Comparative Analysis
and Politics Exam includes four free-response assesses students’ ability to compare political
questions (FRQs). concepts, systems, institutions, or policies in different
Free-response question 1: Conceptual Analysis course countries:
assesses students’ ability to define or describe a §§ Define a political concept, system, institution,
political concept and explain and/or compare political or policy
systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, §§ Describe examples of a political concept,
or behaviors. system, institution, or policy in two different
course countries
Free-response question 2: Quantitative Analysis
presents students with quantitative data in the form §§ Compare or explain responses by the two course
of a table, graph, map, or infographic. This question countries related to the political concept, system,
assesses students’ ability to perform the following: institution, or policy

§§ Describe the data presented Free-response question 4: Argument Essay assesses

§§ Describe a pattern, trend, similarity, or difference in students’ ability to do the following:
the data presented §§ Articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds
§§ Describe relevant course concepts to the question and establishes a line of reasoning
§§ Draw a conclusion based on the data and §§ Provide specific examples of evidence from two
course concepts course countries related to the course concepts in
the question prompt
§§ Explain how the data demonstrates political
systems, principles, institutions, processes, policies, §§ Use reasoning to explain why the evidence supports
or behaviors the claim
§§ Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective
using refutation, concession, or rebuttal

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Task Verbs Used in
Free-Response
Questions

The following task verbs are commonly used in the free-response questions:

Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.

Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.

Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.

Develop an argument: Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.

Draw a conclusion: Use available information to formulate an accurate

statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.

Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, pattern, position,

situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain
“how” typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position,
situation, or outcome, whereas explain “why” typically requires analysis of
motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation,
or outcome.

Identify: Indicate or provide specific information about a specified topic,

without elaboration or explanation.

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Sample Exam
Questions

The sample exam questions that follow illustrate the relationship between the course
framework and the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam and serve as
examples of the types of questions that appear on the exam. After the sample questions
is a table that shows to which skill, learning objective(s), and unit each question relates.
The table also provides the answers to the multiple-choice questions.

Section I: Multiple-Choice
1. If studies demonstrate that countries with higher per capita GDP are more
democratic than countries with lower per capita GDP, then the relationship
between per capita GDP and democracy is
(A) causal
(B) correlated
(C) normative
(D) qualitative

2. Which of the following variables is the best measure of living standards

in a country?
(A) Gross domestic product (GDP)
(B) Per capita gross domestic product
(C) Freedom House political rights score
(D) Human Development Index (HDI)

3. Which of the following best captures why Nigeria has experienced more coups
than Mexico has since 1960?
(A) Mexico’s economy is more dependent upon the export of natural resources
than Nigeria’s economy is, so outside corporations and governments take a
greater interest in Mexico’s stability.
(B) Nigeria features sharper ethnic and religious divides than Mexico does,
provoking conflict between groups for control of the central government,
which has permitted the military to intervene.
(C) Nigeria’s population is much larger than Mexico’s population, providing
more opportunities for conflict and a greater need for a powerful military.
(D) Mexico’s military has historically been a more powerful actor in domestic
politics than Nigeria’s military has, and it has used its influence to
ensure stability.

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4. Which of the following pairs of countries have presidential systems?
(A) Nigeria and Mexico
(B) Mexico and Iran
(C) China and the United Kingdom
(D) The United Kingdom and Russia

5. Which of the following statements about the role and function of executives in
each country is most accurate?
(A) The British monarch and the Iranian supreme leader are both largely
ceremonial positions.
(B) The Nigerian president conducts foreign policy, whereas the
Russian president relies on the prime minister for foreign policy.
(C) Iran has a supreme leader instead of a president, whereas Russia has a
president and a prime minister who serve as equals.
(D) The Chinese president and the Nigerian president are both commanders in
chief of the armed forces.

6. Which of the following describes an accurate difference between parliamentary

and presidential systems?
(A) Parliamentary systems have better rule of law than presidential systems.
(B) Parliamentary systems have fewer institutional obstacles to enact policy.
(C) Parliamentary systems are unitary, whereas presidential systems are federal.
(D) Parliamentary systems have more political parties than presidential
systems do.

7. Which of the following accurately compares the status of civil liberties and
civil rights in democratic and authoritarian regimes?
(A) Only democratic regimes encourage elections.
(B) Only authoritarian regimes place any restrictions on the media.
(C) Only authoritarian regimes restrict citizen access to information about
government policy making.
(D) Only democratic regimes encourage citizen control of the political agenda
by granting civil liberties.

8. Which of the following explains how civil society interacts with politics in both
Nigeria and Mexico?
(A) Nigeria and Mexico both totally repress civil society, which undermines
democracy by reducing individual freedoms.
(B) Nigeria and Mexico both suffer from a corporatist structure that
undermines the power of civil society.
(C) Nigeria and Mexico both benefit from an increasingly active civil society,
much of which focuses on reducing corruption.
(D) Nigeria and Mexico both have civil societies deeply rooted in their long
histories of democracy.

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9. Which of the following describes contrasting political ideologies?
(A) In Mexico, the government is limited to the same rules as its citizens,
whereas in Russia the government uses the law to reinforce the authority of
the state.
(B) In Iran, the government is limited to the same rules as its citizens, whereas
in Nigeria the government uses the law to reinforce the authority of the state.
(C) In China, citizens value rule by law, whereas in Iran citizens value rule of law.
(D) In Russia, citizens value rule of law, whereas in the United Kingdom citizens
value rule by law.

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Questions 10 and 11 refer to the passage.

Source: Geneive Adbo and Abdalla Hendawy, “Iran’s Latest Revolution

Won’t Fade Away,” Bloomberg Opinion, January 19, 2018.

As with any social uprising, the unpredictable factor when trying to gauge
the longevity of this particular movement is the strength of the state. . . .

What we are witnessing in Iran now should not be viewed as an isolated

outcry, but rather . . . a hybrid momentum that started in 1999 and led
by students who later became involved in the Green Movement. They are
belatedly joining the current unrest, which is evolving to include new social
classes of people who were not at the center of previous protests.

Although this momentum has not been linear, neither were the Arab
uprisings in 2011. The Iranian demonstrators’ demands—food subsidies,
jobs and lower prices—are perfectly attainable if the regime re-allocates
its resources from the military to the economy. The fact that it is highly
unlikely to do so, coupled with the demonstrators’ resentment, could inspire
more protests in the near future that may forge a broader alliance between
the middle class and the working class. It is unlikely that this simmering
social movement will wait another decade to rear its head.

10. Which of the following is supported by the main idea of the passage?
(A) Demonstrators in Iran are unpredictable and unclear in their demands,
which will lead them to be crushed by the government.
(B) The Arab uprisings in 2011 were the catalyst for the protests in Iran.
(C) The Iranian state could meet the demonstrators’ demands and end the
uprisings but probably will not.
(D) Students were the largest group of protesters in Iran, and their issues were
resolved in 2011.

11. Which of the following statements is an implication of the argument presented

in the passage?
(A) Because social movements lack organized hierarchy, it is difficult to meet
their demands, and Iran is likely to face continued political instability.
(B) It is wrong to conflate the Green Movement, which was about foreign
direct investment, with this most recent movement, which is about
economic struggle.
(C) Iran has a strong state that is able to suppress opposition movements and is
able to control all social media posts about political protests.
(D) Since the Green Movement was not successful, citizens have stopped
believing that protests are an effective means of voicing frustration with
the government.

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12. Which of the following characteristics best fits a catch-all party?
(A) Presenting voters with an ideological viewpoint that envisions the role of
government in a consistent manner on all issues
(B) A singular focus on one political issue that it considers most important and
in need of government attention
(C) A willingness to change its position on a given issue to encourage more
voters to support it in any given election
(D) The transnational pursuit of power by presenting a consistent message to
voters in multiple countries

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Questions 13 and 14 refer to the chart.

Source: BBC News Asia, 2012.

13. Which of the following is accurate according to the chart?

(A) Between 1980 and 2040, China’s actual fertility rate will rise significantly,
but the estimated fertility rate would have remained stable without the
one-child policy.
(B) China’s fertility rate would have been much higher prior to 2005 without
the one-child policy.
(C) Families were refusing to obey the one-child policy as represented by the
increased fertility rates between 1990 and 2010.
(D) China’s fertility rate will be higher in 2005 than it was in 1980.

14. Which of the following is an implication of the chart?

(A) A two-child policy in the 1980s would have been a more effective response
to demographic pressures than the one-child policy was.
(B) The fertility rate in China was heavily influenced by the one-child policy,
especially between 1990 and 2015.
(C) China’s one-child policy was an effective response to demographic pressures.
(D) China’s one-child policy was unnecessary, as the fertility rate would have
declined similarly without a policy restricting fertility rates.

15. Economic liberalization policies in Mexico resulted in which of the following?

(A) Internal migration from the north of the country to the south
(B) The removal of maquiladora zones in the north
(C) The removal of agricultural subsidies
(D) The refusal to sign the North American Free Trade Agreement

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Section II: Free-Response
The following are examples of the kinds of free-response questions found on the exam.

Conceptual Analysis (Free-Response Question 1 on the AP Exam)

Answer a, b, c, and d.
(A) Define economic liberalization.
(B) Describe a measure that a democratic or authoritarian government could use to
liberalize its economy.
(C) Explain one reason a government would choose to liberalize its economy.
(D) Explain why a decision to introduce economic liberalization policies might
affect social cleavages.

Quantitative Analysis (Free-Response Question 2 on the AP Exam)

Answer a, b, c, d, and e.

(A) Using the data in the graph, identify the country with the highest turnout in a
single year.
(B) Using the data in the graph, describe voter turnout between 2007 and 2015
in Nigeria.
(C) Describe political efficacy.
(D) Using your knowledge of political efficacy and the data in the graph, explain the
pattern of Iran’s political turnout in 2009 and 2013.
(E) Explain what the data illustrate about political participation in
authoritarian regimes.

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Comparative Analysis (Free-Response Question 3 on the AP Exam)

Compare how legislative powers can be independent or constrained by other

governmental institutions in two different AP Comparative Government and Politics
course countries. In your response, you should do the following.
(A) Define legislative independence.
(B) Explain how legislative independence is used by governmental institutions in
two different AP Comparative Government and Politics course countries.
(C) Explain why each of the two AP Comparative Government and Politics course
countries described in (B) would choose to constrain legislative powers.

Argument Essay (Free-Response Question 4 on the AP Exam)

Develop an argument as to whether democratic or authoritarian regimes are better

at maintaining sovereignty in a country.
Use one or more of the following course concepts in your response:
ll Power
ll Authority
ll Legitimacy
In your response, you should do the following:
ll Respond to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of
reasoning using one or more of the provided course concepts.
ll Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence
from one or more course countries. The evidence should be relevant to one or
more of the provided course concepts.
ll Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis, using
one or more of the provided course concepts.
ll Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective, using refutation, concession,
or rebuttal.

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Answer Key and Question
Alignment to Course Framework
Multiple-Choice
Question Answer Skill Learning Objective Unit
1 B 1.B MPA-1.A 1
2 D 1.A MPA-1.A 1
3 B 2.C PAU-1.D, LEG-2.B 1
4 A 2.A PAU-3.A 2
5 D 2.A PAU-3.C 2
6 B 1.C PAU-3.B 2
7 D 1.C DEM-1.C 3
8 C 2.B IEF-1.B 3
9 A 2.C IEF-1.D 3
10 C 4.A IEF-2.A 4
11 A 4.C IEF-2.A 4
12 C 1.A PAU-4.A 4
13 C 3.B LEG-4.A 5
14 D 3.D LEG-4.A 5
15 C 1.E LEG-3.C 5

Free-Response
Question Question Type Skill Learning Objective Unit
1 Conceptual Analysis 1.A, 1.B IEF-3.C, IEF-3.D 5
2 Quantitative Analysis 1.A, 3.A, 3.B, DEM-1.B 3
3.C, 3.D
3 Comparative Analysis 1.A, 1.E, 2.A, 2.B PAU-3.F 2
4 Argument Essay 5.A, 5.B, 5.C, 5.D PAU-1.D 1

The scoring information for the questions within this course and exam description, along with further
exam resources, can be found on the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam Page on
AP Central.

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