AP Comparative Government and Politics Flashcards: Political Legitimacy
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the relationship between legitimacy, authority, and power?
Legitimacy confers authority on a government, which in turn can increase its power.
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What is the relationship between legitimacy, authority, and power?
Legitimacy confers authority on a government, which in turn can increase its power.
If a country experiences a long period of prosperity and rising living standards, which source of legitimacy is being strengthened?
This strengthens legitimacy through governmental effectiveness and economic growth.
Identify two sources of legitimacy that can be found in BOTH democratic and authoritarian regimes.
Sources of legitimacy for both democratic and authoritarian regimes can include popular elections and constitutional provisions.
A monarch's right to rule is passed down through generations and is accepted by the people. What source of legitimacy does this represent?
This represents tradition as a source of political legitimacy.
List two economic sources of political legitimacy.
Governmental effectiveness and economic growth are two economic-related sources of political legitimacy.
What is political legitimacy?
Legitimacy refers to whether a government's constituents believe their government has the right to use power in the way they do.
What is the primary effect of a government having high political legitimacy?
Legitimacy confers authority on and can increase the power of a regime and government.
Identify a source of legitimacy related to a country's belief system or shared values.
Ideology and religious heritage are sources of legitimacy related to a country's belief systems and shared values.
Besides elections and constitutions, name three other sources of political legitimacy.
Other sources of legitimacy include nationalism, tradition, and ideology.
How can a dominant political party affect a regime's legitimacy?
A dominant political party's endorsement can serve as a source of legitimacy for a regime.