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AP Comparative Government and Politics Flashcards: Change In Power And Authority

Study Change In Power And Authority in AP Comparative Government and Politics with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.

QUESTION

Define devolution.

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ANSWER

The transfer of power from central to regional governments. Creates more autonomous regional governance without full independence.

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AP Comparative Government and Politics: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

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This deck focuses on Change In Power And Authority, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Comparative Government and Politics.

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

Practice questions

1 of 31Practice questions for this set
According to the passage, which factor most significantly contributed to the change in power discussed in the passage? Passage (Regime Change through Elections: India 1977)

Political System and Authority Structure

India's constitutional democracy typically disperses authority through federalism, parliament, and an independent judiciary. During the 1975–1977 Emergency, however, executive authority expanded, and opposition leaders faced constraints that weakened competitive accountability. Even so, electoral institutions and party competition were not abolished outright, leaving a channel for political reversal once elections returned.

Shift in Power: Congress Defeat and Coalition Ascendancy

The 1977 election produced a transfer of governing authority from Congress to the Janata Party coalition. This was not a revolution or a coup; it was a constitutional alternation in power that demonstrated the electorate's capacity to sanction incumbents.

Mechanisms and Events Leading to Change

The passage attributes the shift to a convergence of forces: public resentment toward civil-liberty restrictions, opposition coordination to avoid vote-splitting, and a campaign that framed the election as a referendum on executive overreach. The Emergency's legacy shaped voter perceptions, while coalition negotiations converted dispersed discontent into a viable parliamentary majority.

Implications for Governance and Society

After the election, leaders prioritized restoring civil liberties and reasserting parliamentary scrutiny. Yet the coalition's internal divisions complicated governance, highlighting that electoral accountability can correct concentrated authority while still producing fragmented mandates.​
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