Get ready for the AP Comparative Government Exam

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AP Comp Gov Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart

Use our (not actually cheating) cheat sheet to help you study for your AP exam! This study guide covers the most important parts and topics from AP Comparative Government. 

AP Comparative Government

Learn all about AP Comparative Government unit 1. We cover the important political systems, the role of political institutions, comparisons of government types and the importance of political stability. Check out these helpful resources and study guides to help you understand everything there is to know about unit 1 of Comparative Government!

Unit 1 – Political Systems, Regimes, & Governments

These resources cover everything you need to know about unit 2 of AP Comparative Government. These resources cover political institutions more in depth, the semi-presidential and parlimentary presidential systems, legisature systems, executive systems and judicial systems, as well as study guides and vocab terms to help you study!

Unit 2 – Political Institutions

Make sure to check out these resources to help you better understand unit 3 of AP Comparative Government. We have helpful study guides and reviews on political participation, political ideologies, political cleavage, social cleavage, and characteristics for political culture along with so much more!

Unit 3 – Political Culture & Participation

All of unit 4 of AP Comparative Government can be understood with these resources. We cover all the important topics including election rules, political parties, social movements, interest groups, neo-corporatism, pluralism and so much more. With helpful study guides and vocab terms these resources will make sure you understand unit 4!

Unit 4 – Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations

Learn about everything in AP Comparative Government unit 5 using these resources. With study guides that cover important topics and key vocabularly terms about political changes, market forces, technological forces, and the importance of social policy adaptation that will make sure you understand unit 5!

Unit 5 – Political & Economic Changes & Development

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out these resources to help you prepare for your AP Comparative Government exam and develop all the important exam skills. With resources on free response questions and the multiple choice sections you will be able to see example responses and the techniques that will help you ace your test!

Exam Skills

Free Reviews

AP Cram Sessions 2021

Unit 1 Overview: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

Core Course Countries

Unit 2 - The Practice of Political Scientists 

Topic 1.1 Terms

Topic 1.1 Essential Knowledge 🧠

The Practice of Political Scientists

Factors that Impact Political Stability

Factor #1

Factor #2

Factor #3

Unit 1 Recap

Political Stability

Multiple Choice Practice for Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

Multiple Choice Questions

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

MC Answers and Review

Unit 1 - Defining Political Institutions  

Topic 1.2 Terms

👸 Institution Examples

Defining Political Institutions

Unit 1 - Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

Key Characteristics

🙋🏾‍♀️ Democratic characteristics

👑 Authoritarian characteristics

Types of Authoritarian Regimes

Types of Democratic Regimes 

Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

Unit 1 - Democratization 

Characteristics of Democracy🙋🏾‍♀️

Applying them to each Country of Study

Overview of Topics 1.3-1.4

Democracy: advancements and regression

Democratization

Brief History of Each Course Country

The Different Sources of Power 💪

Changes in Source of Power

Overview of Changes

Sources of and Changes in Power and Authority

Unit 1 - Federal and Unitary Systems 


Federal Systems

Mexico, Russia, and Nigeria

Unitary Systems


China, Iran, and the UK

Federal and Unitary Systems

Unit 1 - Political Legitimacy 

Legitimacy

Sources of Legitimacy

Political Legitimacy

Unit 1 - Sustaining Legitimacy 

Maintaining Legitimacy

Losing Legitimacy 

Breaking down Unit 2

Key Terms: 🔎 

Unit 2 Overview: Political Institutions

Parliamentary System



Presidental System


Semi-Presidental System 

Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

Multiple Choice Practice on Political Institutions

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Political Institutions

Comparison of Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems


In a parliamentary system, like in the UK 🇬🇧, there is no separation of powers. The legislature and executive branch are one 1️⃣. This is the complete opposite of a presidential system like Mexico, where the branches are separated. 

Examples of Checks and Balances in a Parliamentary System

Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

Topic 2.3 Key Terms 📇

Structure and Function of Executive Branch—Course Countries

Executive Systems

Executive Term Limits

Sample Argument FRQ ✍️ 

SAMPLE RESPONSE:

Removal of Executives

Different Legislative Systems


Key Terms 📇

Course Country Examples

Legislative Systems

What is the importance of an Independent Judiciary?


Legislative Independence and Checks on Power

Independent Legislatures

Key Terms

Comparing Judcial Systems

Judicial Systems in the UK

Judicial Systems in Russia

Judicial Systems in Iran

Judicial Systems in Mexico

Judicial Systems in China

Judicial Systems in Nigeria

Judicial Systems

Comparing the Independence of Judiciaries

Assessing the Independence of a Judiciary

Authority of the judiciary to overrule executive or legislative actions ❌

The process in which judges are appointed/how they acquire their job 👆

Length of judicial terms 🗓

The professional and academic background judges are supposed to have 🧐

The Process used to remove judges 👋

Independent Judiciaries

Unit 3 Key Topics

Civil Society

Political Culture

Political Ideology

Political Values and Beliefs

Nature and Role of Political Participation

Forces that Impact Political Participation

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Political and Social Cleavages

Unit 3 Overview: Political Culture & Participation

Key Terms 🔎

Limitations of Civil Society 

Multiple Choice Practice for Political Culture and Participation

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Political Culture and Participation 

Comparing Political Culture

Political Socialization 👩‍👧

Aspects of Political Ideologies 

Political Ideologies

Types of Political Ideologies

Comparing Political Ideologies

China 🇨🇳 (Authoritarian regime)

Mexico 🇲🇽 (Democratic regime)

UK 🇬🇧 (Democratic regime)

Iran 🇮🇷 (Authoritarian regime)

Russia 🇷🇺 (Authoritarian regime)

Nigeria 🇳🇬 (Emerging Democratic)

Political Beliefs and Values

Unit 3 - Nature and Role of Political Participation

Unit 3 - Forces that Impact Political Participation 

Political Participation

 Unit 3 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Protection of Assembly and Speech 📣 

Media 📰

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Unit 3 - Political and Social Cleavages 

3.8: Political and Social Cleavages

Unit 3 - Challenges of Political and Social Cleavages 🧩

3.9: Challenges of Political and Social Cleavages

Unit 3 - Quick Review! 🤓 

Challenges of Political and Social Cleavages

Unit 4 Overview: Party, Electoral Systems, and Citizen Organizations 💂‍♂️

Unit 4 Topics ✅

Unit 4 Overview: Party, Electoral Systems, and Citizen Organizations

Unit 4 - Electoral Systems and Rules 

Unit 4 - Objectives of Election Rules 

Regime Objectives with Electoral Rules

Highlighting Differences in Term Limits

Objectives of Election Rules 📰

Unit 4 - Political Party Systems 

Comp Gov Course Country Parties

What are Political Party Systems?

Unit 4 - Understanding the Role of Political Party Systems

China 🇨🇳

Iran 🇮🇷

Mexico 🇲🇽

Nigeria 🇳🇬

Russia 🇷🇺

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Overview of the role of parties in each Course Country 👀

Understanding the Role of Political Party Systems

Social Movements

Interest Groups

Comparing Social Movements

Russia 🇷🇺 

UK 🇬🇧 

China 🇨🇳 

Impact of Social Movement and Interest Groups on Governments

Pluralist vs. Corporatist Systems

Major Steps in Movement from Corporatism to Pluralist 🇲🇽

Review of Unit 4 🤓

Pluralist and Corporatist Interests in Government

Multiple Choice Practice for Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

Why Economic Changes and Development? 🤔

Unit 5 Overview: Political and Economic Changes and Development 

Globalization and Economic Liberalization 

How did Globalization and Liberalization occur? 

Conflicts of Globalization and Liberalization 

Impact of Global Economic and Technological Forces

Multiple Choice Practice for Political and Economic Changes and Development Concepts

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Political and Economic Changes and Development

Download AP Comparative Government Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart

AP Comparative Government 🗳️

Get ready for the AP Comparative Government Exam

Section I:

Section II:

AP Comp Gov Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart

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