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Political Institutions

Definition

Political institutions refer to the established structures and organizations through which political power is exercised, including systems of government, laws, and decision-making processes.

Analogy

Think of political institutions as the framework or blueprint that shapes how a country is governed. Just like the foundation and walls of a house determine its structure and functionality, political institutions provide the structure for how power is distributed and decisions are made in a society.

Related terms

Representative Democracy: A form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Constitution: A written document that outlines the basic principles and laws by which a country or state is governed.

Separation of Powers: The division of governmental powers among different branches (such as executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.