Political System

Introduction:
A system is a structural functional organization of two or more separate but interdependent parts,
which form an integrated whole to achieve some objectives. Each system has two or more subsystem
within it, while it is it self a sub system of a larger system, which forms its environment. For example
a family is a subsystem of the Society or a political party is a subsystem of a State, which it self a
political system.

Definition Political System:

A political system means a network of individuals, groups and organizations whose interactions, and
relationships help to determine enforce and interpret the rules and policies governing the behavior
of the society. It includes not only the governmental institutions, such as legislature, courts, or
administrative agencies but also all structures in their political aspects.

Two well-Known Political System Analysts:

David Easton was the first American political scientist to apply systems analysis to politics in his book,
The Political System, which he Wrote in 1953. He continued to discuss the systems approach in his
later books: A Framework for Political Analysis and A System Analysis of Political Life both written in
1965. He claimed that his systemic theory embraced all the social systems as well as the whole
political process. Since 1953, David Easton became one of the prominent exponents of the "general
systems" approach to Political Science.

Gabriel Almond is another prominent American political scientist who has adopted the method of
systems analysis in Comparative Politics. He presented it in a number of articles, first of which was
written in 1956, and later in a number of books, viz. The Politics of the Developing Areas written in
1960 and Comparative Politics: A Development Approach written in 1966. Almond's theory was more
sociological than that of Easton.

Characteristics of Political System:

There are following characteristics of political system:

(1) Interactions:

Almond in his book, “The Policies of Developing Areas”, writes:

“Political system is that system of interactions to be found in all independent societies which perform
the functions of integration and adaptation by means of the employment or threat of employment or
more or less legitimate physical compulsion”.

The political system not only includes governmental institutions such as legislatures, executives,
courts, administrative agencies but all structures in their political aspect.

Among these are included formal organizations like parties, interest groups, and media of
communication; traditional structures such as kinship ties, caste groupings anomic phenomena such
as associations, riots and demonstrations.
Consequently, the political system includes interaction between all the formal and informal
institutions. The process of interaction is divided into three phases – input, conversion and output.
The Indian Constitution reflects the various interactions as many amendments were brought about
to bring out Zamindari abolition and socialism and remove poverty.

(2) Interdependence of Parts:

It means that functioning of a system depends on a proper functioning of each one of its component
parts. In other words, the properties of a component part are affected by the properties of the other
component parts.

So Interdependence means that when the properties of one component in a system change, all the
other components and the system as a whole are affected. In political system the political parties
having a wider base and mass media (Television, radio and newspapers) change the performance of
all other structures of the system and affect the general working of the system.

(3) Comprehensiveness:

Political System is comprehensive because it includes all the interactions from the formal as well as
informal institutions in the society. For example, it includes the interaction of regionalism, religious
upheavals, inflation, party-politics, tactics of pressure groups and social changes brought about by
modernization.

(4) Change of Boundary:

Yet another aspect of the concept of the system is the change of boundary. The political system
consists of interacting roles of nationals, subjects, voters, the legislators, bureaucrats and judges. The
same individuals who perform role in social and economic system also play their notable role in
political systems. When the individuals form interest groups, vote or pay taxes, they change their role
from non-political to political ones.

For example, on the Election Day, the citizens leave their farms, plants and offices to go to the polling
stations. In this way they are crossing the boundary from economy to politics. Similarly, during the
war time the large fluctuations in the boundaries of political system take place. Therefore the
boundaries of political system frequently change.

(5) Use or threat of use of legal force:

It possesses legitimate and heavy sanctions and rightful power to punish. Consequently, we have to
agree with Max Weber that legitimate use of force is a distinct feature of political system, giving it a
special quality and importance, and its unity as a system. When the state or governments extends
certain facilities then at the same time it possesses power to impose taxes upon the people and
punish those who violate those orders.

Characteristics of Political System by Gabriel Almond:

Almond has given yet another set of characteristics of a political system. These are:

(1) There is universality of political system. It means that political system exists everywhere.

(2) Every political system performs the same functions, though there may be differences in the
different political systems and their structures.
(3) Every political system has some structures. It is possible that there may be some specialized
structures which may perform more functions than the less specialized structures.

(4) Every political system is mixed in the sense of culture because the system can be more advanced
or less advanced.

(5) Every political system is multi-functional and performs a number of functions irrespective of the
degree of specialization.

Functions of the Political System:

A political system performs two types of functions also known as conversion function;

(1) Input functions (political functions); and

(2) Output functions (Governmental Functions)

1. Input Functions:
David Easton classifies input functions into two types of demands and supports.

Almonds and Powell classify Demands into:

(1) Allocation of goods and services such as demands for more wages and fixation of working hours,
opening of educational institutions, provision of recreational facilities, roads and transportation;

(2) Participation in the political system, such as the right to vote, to hold office, to petition
Government bodies and officials, and to organize political associations such as pressure groups and
political parties.

(3) Regulation of behaviour such as provision for public safety, control over markets and rules
pertaining to marriage, health and sanitation.

(4) Communication and information, such as demands for the affirmation of norms ,the
communication of policy intent from policy elites or the display of majesty and power of the political
system in time of threats or on ceremonial occasion.

Similarly, the examples of supports which the people get in the political system are:

(1) Material support such as the payment of taxes or other levies and rendering services as labour on
public works or military services;

(2) Attention paid to Government communications and the manifestation of respect to public
authority, symbols and ceremonials.

(3) Obedience to laws and regulations.

(4) Participatory supports such as voting political discussion, and other forms of political activity:

According to Almond the input functions are the following:

(1) Political Socialization:

Political Socialization refers to the process of recruiting individuals into political roles and to give
them training in citizenship, political Socialization acts through various agencies such as family,
church, schools, work groups, voluntary associations and media of communications. It is a process of
inducting individuals into political culture.
All political systems not only continue but also make their permanent cultures and structures
through political socialization. Due to political socialization the members of society begin to possess
a particular attitude.

(2) Political Recruitment:

Political recruitment starts where political socialization’s role ends. It recruits members of the society
out of particular sub- cultures-religious, status, class and the like-and introduces them into
specialized roles of political system, trains them in appropriate skills, gives them political values,
expectations and effects. So its main concern is to recruit the citizens to enable them to play their
special role.

(4) Interest Articulations:

Almond has defined interest articulation as “the process by which individuals and groups make
demands upon the political decision-makers. It is the first functional set-up in the conversion
process.”

If certain groups within the society do not find sufficient democratic means to ventilate their
grievances and satisfy their demands, then their dissatisfaction and utter discontent may erupt into
violence. Under such circumstances the government which is the runner of the political system may
satisfy their demands or curb their violent activities by force.

(5) Interest Aggregation:

It means that interests, claims and demands of various groups in the society are aggregated or
combined. Interest aggregation or combination is achieved by the recruitment of political personnel
who are more or less committed to particular pattern of society.

In some systems the legislature, the executive, the bureaucracy, the media of communication, the
various political parties and interest groups form the interest aggregation because they reconcile the
various interests.

(6) Political Communication:

“Political Communication”, according to Almond, “Is the crucial boundary maintenance function,”
autonomy in the media of communication can help the free flow of information from the society to
the government. It can communicate the articulation of interest emanating from political parties,
legislatures and bureaucracies which themselves can correct the actions of interest groups.

2. Output Functions:
These are the functions performed by the Government in response to the input (political functions):

(1) Rule-making: (legislative)

Rule-making was previously known as legislation. Rule-making has been preferred over legislation
because it refers to a specialized structure and explicit process as legislation. Rule-making goes on in
every type of government whether democracy, dictatorship or monarchy.

Now-a-days in a democratic set-up the rule-making power is exercised by the legislature or

parliament.
(2) Rule Application: (executive)

Rule making was previously known as the execution. The rules made by the legislature or the
Executive are enforced by the bureaucracy, therefore its role and importance have considerably
increased.

Moreover, rule application also implies that the established goal:, of the society are fulfilled. It also
sees their interaction of the laws on the society. Effective implementation of the laws can fulfill the
present laws and help in achieving new targets.

(3) Rule Adjudication: (judicial)

Rule adjudication was previously known as judicial functions, it is the duty of the judiciary to
interpret the laws and punish the guilty .judiciary also resolves the conflicts between the
government and citizens and the citizens themselves.

Feedback:
Feedback are the effects of the outcomes of a policy or law on the environment leading to new
demands for inputs. For example, as net expenditures for each pupil decline, parent group, may
articulate new demands for further increases in the education budget.