AP Comparative Government and Politics / Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments
Lesson
Authority, legitimacy, and how power is arranged
People obey for different reasons. Maps of power are federal, unitary, or something in between.
Learning goals
- Name sources of political legitimacy used in the course countries.
- Compare federal and unitary arrangements with a concrete case.
Explanation
Legitimacy is the belief that a government’s authority is appropriate. It can rest on elections, tradition, revolution, economic performance, religion, or nationalism. Losing wars, economic collapse, or blatant election fraud can erode it. Legitimacy is a description of acceptance, not a trophy.
Federal systems, such as Mexico and Nigeria, divide authority between national and regional governments. A unitary system, such as the United Kingdom or China, concentrates formal authority at the center, even if local offices exist. Devolution in the UK loans power downward without turning the state into a federation.
Key terms
- Legitimacy. The recognized right to rule, based on acceptance rather than force alone.
- Federal system. A system that divides constitutional authority between national and regional governments.
Common mistakes
- Calling a country democratic only because it holds a vote.
- Assuming local offices prove a system is federal.
Practice
Original Marlow Works items. Check the answer explanation after you try.
Which comparison of regime type is most accurate for the AP Comparative course countries?
Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.
Take your time—this is practice, not a test.
Answer explanation
Why is the United Kingdom usually described as unitary even though Scotland has a parliament?
Answer. Westminster can grant or reshape devolved powers; sovereignty is not constitutionally split as in a federation.
Devolution is a loan of authority, not a second sovereign constitution.
Related resources
External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.
Official / link only
AP Comparative Government and Politics course page
Official five-unit framework and country comparison scope.
College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01
Open sourceCC BY — attribution required
Introduction to Political Science
Open political science background for institutions and behavior.
Open Textbook Library listing · CC BY · accessed 2026-10-01
Open source