Comparative World Government Essentials of Comparative Politics- Chapter 2 Vocabulary

2. political power is concentrated at the national level and local authority is limited
3. is based on a system of laws and procedures that are presumed to be neutral or rational
7. a greater tendency toward decentralization
9. the fundamental rules and norms of politics
10. instead of relying on the weight of history and the continuity of certain roles or values, it is based on the power of ideas or beliefs
13. are able to fulfill basic tasks such as defending their territory, making and enforcing rules and rights, collecting taxes, and managing the economy
14. it often embodies historical myths and legends as well as the continuity between past and present
16. the ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory independent of external actors and internal rivals
17. the leadership that runs the state

1. they cannot execute such tasks very well as the strong states would
4. is the organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory
5. is the ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public or international actors
6. can be taken as shorthand for the combined political entities defined so far- state, regime, government- as well as for the people who live within the political system
8. at an extreme, the very structures of the state may become so weak that they break down
11. is the ability of the state to wield power in order to carry out the basic tasks of providing security and reconciling freedom and equality
12. powers such as taxation, lawmaking, and security are devolved to regional bodies and to local legislatures that control specific territories within the country
15. a value whereby people recognize and accept something or someone as right and proper