Table of Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
About the Author xiii
Introduction: The Five-Step Preparation Program xv
Step 1 Set Up Your Study Program
1 What You Need to Know About the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam 3
Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam 3
2 How to Plan Your Time 9
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam 9
Step 2 Determine Your Test Readiness
3 Diagnostic Test 15
AP Comparative Government and Politics Diagnostic Test 19
Answers and Explanations 29
Scoring Conversion 34
Assessing Your Performance and Then Prioritizing 35
Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success
4 Strategies to Approach the Multiple-Choice Questions 39
The Multiple-Choice Section of the Exam (Section I) 39
Strategies for Answering the Multiple-Choice Questions 40
5 Strategies to Approach the Free-Response Questions 43
Introduction to the Free-Response Section of the Exam (Section II) 43
Frequently Asked Questions 44
Types of Free-Response Essay Prompts 45
Strategy for Developing the Free-Response Essay 48
Some Final Helpful Tips 49
Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
6 Political Systems, Regimes and Governments 53
The Comparative Method 54
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 55
Review Questions 60
Answers and Explanations 62
Rapid Review 64
7 Political Institutions 67
Government Institutions 68
Review Questions 70
Answers and Explanations 72
Rapid Review 75
8 Political Culture and Participation 77
Compare Social Cleavages in Civil Society 78
Compare Political Culture and Socialization 79
Compare Types of Political Ideologies 79
Compare Types of Media Roles 80
Review Questions 81
Answers and Explanations 83
Rapid Review 85
9 Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations 87
Compare Election Systems 88
Compare Types of Elections 88
Compare Party Systems 89
Compare Types of Political Parties 90
Compare Types of Interest-Group Systems 91
Review Questions 92
Answers and Explanations 94
Rapid Review 97
10 Political and Economic Changes and Development 99
Political and Economic Change 100
Public Policy 101
Review Questions 104
Answers and Explanations 106
Rapid Review 108
11 United Kingdom 109
The United Kingdom as a Case Study 110
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 110
Government Institutions 111
Linkage Institutions 117
Citizens, Society, and the State 122
Political and Economic Change 124
Public Policy 125
Review Questions 127
Answers and Explanations 129
Rapid Review 131
12 Iran 133
Iran as a Case Study 134
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 134
Government Institutions 136
Linkage Institutions 139
Citizens, Society, and the State 141
Political and Economic Change 143
Public Policy 144
Review Questions 146
Answers and Explanations 148
Rapid Review 150
13 Russia 151
Russia as a Case Study 152
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 152
Government Institutions 154
Linkage Institutions 159
Citizens, Society, and the State 162
Political and Economic Change 164
Public Policy 166
Review Questions 167
Answers and Explanations 169
Rapid Review 172
14 China 173
China as a Case Study 174
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 174
Economic System 176
Political Institutions 177
Linkage Institutions 182
Citizens, Society, and the State 184
Political and Economic Change 188
Public Policy, 191
Review Questions, 193
Answers and Explanations 195
Rapid Review 198
15 Mexico 199
Mexico as a Case Study 200
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 200
Political Institutions 202
Linkage Institutions 205
Citizens, Society, and the State 211
Political and Economic Change 214
Public Policy 217
Review Questions 220
Answers and Explanations 222
Rapid Review 225
16 Nigeria 227
Nigeria as a Case Study 228
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 228
Government Institutions 231
Linkage Institutions 234
Citizens, Society, and the State 238
Political and Economic Change 240
Public Policy 242
Review Questions 244
Answers and Explanations 246
Rapid Review 250
Step 5 Build Your Test-Taking Confidence
AP Comparative Government and Politics Practice Exam 1 255
Answers and Explanations 265
Scoring Conversion 273
AP Comparative Government and Politics Practice Exam 2 277
Answers and Explanations 288
Scoring Conversion 296
