Political Institutions — Flashcards

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A political institution is the system that distributes power and authority to maintain social order. It creates and enforces laws, settles disputes, and makes policies for society. Examples include go…

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A political system is any persistent pattern of human relationships involving power, rule, and authority. It includes institutions like government, political parties, and organizations that perform ro…

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Political systems originated from the need to maintain internal order and defend against external enemies. In simple societies, decisions were made collectively, but as societies grew complex, formal …

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Power is the ability of individuals or groups to carry out their will even when opposed by others. It is relative and often unequally distributed in society. For example, a college principal has power…

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Authority is legitimate power that is accepted by people as fair and justified. It is institutionalized and based on legitimacy. For example, a judge’s decisions are respected because they hold legal …

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Power is the ability to enforce one's will, even if others resist. Authority is power that is seen as legitimate and accepted by people. All authority is power, but not all power is authority. For exa…

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A stateless society is one without a formal government. Order is maintained through kinship, marriage, alliances, and social norms rather than written laws or formal institutions. Such societies are c…

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The state is a community of people living in a defined territory, with an organized government and independence from external control. It has the legitimate power to make and enforce laws. The state i…