The set of formal legal institutions that constitute a government or state, is called a “Political System”. For example; democracy, monarchy.
Types of Political System:
- Totalitarian system
- Oligarchic system
- Democratic system
Gabriel Almond the famous American Political Scientist described seven function and divided these functions into two groups, as input and output functions.
Input Functions:
- Political Socialization / Political Recruitment
- Interest Articulation
- Interest Aggregation
- Political Communication
Output Functions:
- Rule Making (Legislative)
- Rule Application (Executive)
- Rule Adjudication (Judiciary)
Political Socialization / Political Recruitment: It is the process of induction of political ideas, beliefs and information in the citizens through different mediums like family, educational institutes, work-place, friends, religious places, media and political parties. After political socialization, citizens are recruited for different political duties, to whom they are capable, especially by political parties, to train them to participate in a political system, which is called political recruitment.
Interest Articulation: It is the process to articulate interests of the citizens. As we know in pluralistic societies, different groups like ethnic, religious and civil societies exists. They articulate their interest according their suitable way. Gabriel Almond described these groups into four kinds:
- Institutional Interest Groups (Army, Bureaucracy, Cabinet)
- Non-institutional Interest Groups (Ethnic groups, Civil Society, Clergy)
- Associational Interest Groups (Commercial associations, Trade Groups)
- Anomic Groups (Rioting, Violence and demonstrations are used by this group)
Note: Interest group is an organization, raises voice for a common interest or cause before the competitive authority. In the process of demand, they follow a complete set of procedures, rules and regulations set within that group. On the other hand, Pressure Group is an interest group having an organization or not, raise voice for a cause or for the defense of their interest. It has no specific rules and regulations to follow, and use pressure tactics for their purpose.
Anomic Groups: This is not an organized group, it used violence, demonstrations and riots against a particular frustration.
Interest Aggregation: In this process, common demands from different groups are unified and consolidated at higher level in such a way, that is acceptable. Then these demands are addressed by introducing these demands in government policies or by recruiting persons belonging from these interest groups into decision making body.
Political Communication: All above functions of a political system need a medium through with political ideas are transferred. Political socialization, interest articulation and interest aggregation use the political communication. Electronic and social media, political party conferences, press conferences and propaganda is used in political communication to be benefitted in their agenda. For a positive development of political system, free mass media is necessary.
Rule Making (Legislative): In this function rules/laws are made through a rule making body (legislative). In ancient times, this authority was under kings or priests. Now most of the countries follow the democratic political system, in which people’s representatives make law in parliament and this body is called legislative body.
Rule Application (Executive): In this function, rules and policies made of public interest are implemented on public through public administration (civil servants).
Rule Adjudication (Judiciary): In this function, rules are interpreted by the judiciary, which are made in the legislature according to the interests of the people. Judges decides, whether the rules are compatible with the basic laws of the state or if there is a need to elaborate it, so that it may be implemented according to it.
Characteristics of a Political System:
- Use or threat of power/authority/force
- Interactions (legislative, executive and judiciary and all other formal/informal institutes)
- Interdependence of parts (legislative, executive and judiciary)
- Comprehensiveness (all structures developed to help the smooth running of the political system)
- Change of boundary (For example on election day, a farmer changes his boundary from economy to political by going for vote. Same at the time of war)