NAME - MITHUN MAHYAVANSHI
ROLL NO - 34
DIVISION - A
SUBJECT – FOUNDATION COURSE (internal exam)
CLASS - S.Y.B.M.S (MARKETING)
Semester - 4
Exam Type – Regular Internal
Exploring Different Forms Of Political Systems
Political Systems
Political systems are the official and informal political procedures through which decisions are made
in any particular society on resource use, production, and distribution.
The most important 3 types of political systems are totalitarianism, authoritarianism and
democracy. These can be further be divided into many categories such as:
Absolutism: The term “absolutism” refers to a political system that existed in the early modern
period and was traditionally characterized as the reign of a king whose power was tied to his person
and who ruled without the participation of state institutions.
Aristocracy: The meaning of Aristocracy is “the rule of the best”.The governance of a small group of
elites is referred to as aristocracy. This indicates that the State is managed by a limited group of
exceptionally skilled persons.
Autocracy: Autocracy combines all of the political system’s powers into a single force and excludes
any form of public involvement in state power. Autocracy means who draws their power (cracy) from
themselves (auto). Examples are monarchy and dictatorship.
Dictatorship: Dictatorship is a political system characterised by an unchecked power of a single ruler,
the dictator or a group of governors.A dictator would never claim to rule through free elections.
Monarchy: Monarchy is described as “power concentrated in one person.” It refers to a political
system or regime in which a monarch serves as the head of state.
Military regime: A military government is a political system in which the army exercises executive
control. The army’s influence in countries governed by the army can range from veto authority to
complete absorption of state power.
Republic: The republic is a political system that prioritises the common good and community.It is a
political system in which the people are the State’s foundation, providing legitimacy and they control
the majority of the state’s power.
Anarchy: Anarchy as an anti-movement and anti-political idea of monarchy and democracy was just
coined in the nineteenth century.The term “anarchy” refers to a political system in which there is no
governance.
Democracy: The word “Democracy” comes from Greek. It is the most desired one out of all the types
of political systems. To begin with, it referred to the people’s direct rule since only a restricted
number of citizens had the right to participate in politics at the time.Today, the term democracy is
mainly used to refer to political systems in which the rule is based on a wide and inclusive
understanding of the people, as well as meaningful participation for all citizens.
Forms of Democracy:
Direct Democracy: Direct Democracy is a form of democracy in which individuals have direct
conversations with one another about various topics in order to reach a conclusion according to the
majority opinion. Every person puts forth their opinion in the form of a vote to carry out or stop any
law or related action. This type of democracy only works in small-sized organizations, being
practically impossible with the immense population of a Country.
Representative Democracy: In Representative Democracy, people choose their representatives. One
of the most distinguishing characteristics of this style of democracy is that elected representatives
serve the nation on behalf of the people by taking on numerous responsibilities. This type of
democracy is far more likely to be converted into a national government. India is a representative
democracy.
Features of Democracy in India
Elections must also have complete Transparency and Impartiality in terms imparting voting rights to
each and every adult citizen of the country.
In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those who are selected by the
people.
The public’s voice, even if against the ruling party, should be allowed to be expressed openly,
allowing people to establish their own thoughts and expressions without fear of repercussions.
The law that applies to ordinary citizens of the country will also apply to celebrities or famous
people. In all circumstances, the law is the same for everyone in India.
A democratic government governs within the bounds established by constitutional law and citizen
rights.
Minority exclusion or oppression should be condemned, and the legal power of the country should
assist them in achieving equal status in life and society in all ways possible.
President, Vice President and Council of Ministers and Governor
President- He is the Chief executive of a republic. Article 53 of the Indian Constitution states that the
President may exercise his or her powers directly or through subordinate authority. However, with
few exceptions, all of the executive authority vested in the President is exercised in practise by the
Council of Ministers.
Vice President – According to Article 63 of the Indian Constitution, “there shall be a Vice President of
India.” In the event that the President is unable to serve due to death, resignation, impeachment, or
other circumstances, the Vice President assumes the role of President. He is also the Rajya Sabha’s
ex-officio Chairman.
Council of Ministers – Article 74 of the Republic of India’s Constitution establishes a Council of
Ministers to assist the President in carrying out his duties. The Council of Ministers in states is
addressed in Articles 163-164.
Governor – At the state level, the Governor of India has similar powers and functions to the
President of India at the Union level. They are in charge of enforcing state laws and overseeing the
operation of the state executive branch.
Prime Minister v/s President
The Parliament of India
Article 79 of the Constitution describes the structure of parliament. The President, the Lok Sabha,
and the Rajya Sabha make up the Parliament.
The Lower House is Lok Sabha and the Upper House is Rajya Sabha.
Even though the President is a member of the legislature, he does not sit in parliament, however, a
bill passed by the Houses cannot become law without the President’s approval.
The maximum strength of the house envisaged by the constitution is 552 which is made up of the
election of up to 530 members to represent the states, up to 20 members to represent the Union
Territories and not more than two members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be nominated by
Honourable President.
Tenure of Lok Sabha is 5 years. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body that cannot be dissolved.
However, every other year, one-third of the members retire and are substituted by newly elected
members.
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the country’s highest judicial court, according to the Indian
constitution.
It is the highest constitutional court with judicial review authority.
The Supreme Court of India has the authority to consult with the President to regulate the Court’s
practice and procedure.
The Supreme Court has 34 judges, including the Chief Justice.
It resolves disagreements between various government bodies like state governments or centers and
any state government.
Jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India:
Political Parties
A political party is a group of people who band together to gain and wield political power by
contesting in elections.
The type of political party system in India is a multi-party system in which political parties are divided
into national, state, and regional levels. The Election Commission of India grants the status of a
political party, which is reviewed on a regular basis.
The Election Commission is responsible for registering all parties. The Election Commission also
assigns a special and distinct symbol to each registered party.
India now has more than 2,500 political parties registered with the election commission.
Types of Political Party Systems:
Political party systems are different from the types of political systems in political science. There are
3 types of political party systems:
Multiparty systems:
In a multi-party system, parties across the political spectrum participate in national elections and
they all can gain control of government offices, separately or by forming alliances. Example: India and
Pakistan.
Two-party systems: In a two-party system, two major political parties dominate the political
landscape. Example: America and Britain.
Single-party systems: In a Single-party system, only one political party has the authority to form a
government.
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India directs and controls the entire process of conducting elections to
the legislators of each state, as well as the offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
Articles 324 to 329 of the constitution address the commission’s and member’s powers, functions,
tenure, eligibility, and so on.
It was established on 25th January 1950.
Functions of Election Commission of India
The commission’s most important function is to set schedules for periodic and timely elections.
To determine the territorial areas of electoral constituencies across the country in accordance with
the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.
It creates the electoral roll and issues the Electronic Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
EC organises and updates electoral rolls frequently and registers all qualified voters.
It registers political parties and assigns election symbols to them and resolves election-related
disputes.
It issues the Model Code of Conduct for every election for political parties and candidates in order to
maintain the dignity of democracy.
Political entities are essentially governmental power structures arranged as systems of ruling
authority. Political entities include empires, nation-states, city-states, and kingdoms, to name a few.
Types of Political Entities
Nations- Nations are vast groups of people that share cultural traits such as language and ethnicity,
as well as a similar history.
Nation-State- a country whose area matches to that of a certain nation
Ungoverned Territory - a country without a government
Multi-state country - a state in which two or more cultural groups with self-determination traditions
agree to live in peace by recognising each other as different nationalities.
Regions with Autonomy/Semi-Autonomy - a specified territory inside a state with significant
autonomy and independence from its parent state
Multinational Government- A state that is home to more than one nation.
Political Systems
A political system is a sort of political structure that a state can acknowledge, observe, or proclaim in
some other way. It specifies how official government decisions are made. It generally includes the
legal and economic systems of government, as well as social and cultural systems and other state and
government-specific systems. However, this is a highly simplified perspective of a far more
complicated system of categories addressing concerns such as who should have authority and how
much impact the government should have on its citizens and economy.
Types of Political Systems
Democracy
Democracy is a system of governance in which citizens elect their leaders. The main objective is to
rule through fair representation and avoid power abuses. As a result, a system that demands
conversation, discussion, and compromise in order to fulfil the greatest number of public interests
feasible, leading to majority rule, has emerged. Fair and free elections, civic involvement, human
rights safeguards, and law and order are all values that democracies promote.
Example- Following its establishment in 874 AD, Iceland experienced a variety of governments. For
thousands of years, the island was ruled by an autonomous commonwealth, kings, and colonial
administrations. Iceland became a completely independent and sovereign state after signing a
contract with Denmark in 1918. The country established its republic in 1944 and has since developed
to become one of the world’s most democratic countries because of social welfare, universal health
care, and higher education systems.
Communism
Communism is a centralised government ruled by a single party that is frequently autocratic. Public
ownership and communal management of economic output, such as labour, capital goods, and
natural resources, are replaced by public ownership and communal control in communist nations,
which are inspired by German philosopher Karl Marx. Citizens live in a classless society where
commodities and services are distributed as required.
Example- From 1922 until 1991, the Soviet Union was a one-party communist state in Northern
Eurasia. Marxism-Leninism is a communist philosophy founded on the theories of Karl Marx and
Vladimir Lenin, a Russian revolutionary and politician. Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and the People’s
Republic of China are among the countries that still have a single-party Marxist-Leninist government.
Socialism
Socialism is a political system in which citizens are encouraged to collaborate rather than compete.
Citizens collectively own and control the means of production and distribution of goods and services,
which are managed by a centralised government. According to their needs and abilities, each person
receives from and contributes to the system.
Example- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are all socialist nations in the
Scandinavian region.. All of them support socialist policies that combine free-market capitalism with
large public works, such as free healthcare, free education, a robust welfare state, and high
unionisation rates. This strategy effectively blends communism’s social character with capitalism’s
private ownership and competition.
Monarchy
Monarchy is a type of administration in which the head of state is appointed for life or until he or she
abdicates. Within the governing royal family, authority is generally passed down through a
succession line based on lineage and birth order, frequently limited by gender. Constitutional
monarchy and absolute monarchs are the two sorts of monarchies. Constitutional monarchy places
limits on the monarch’s power, whereas absolute monarchies grant the monarch unfettered power.
Example- Today, 45 countries have some sort of monarchy, albeit the term has grown progressively
diluted as democratic values have gained traction. Queen Elizabeth II’s function as queen in the
United Kingdom is mostly symbolic. However, kings in other nations, such as Morocco, Oman, and
Saudi Arabia, retain significant political power.
Theocracy
A theocracy is a kind of government in which the leadership, rules, and practices are all determined
by a certain religious doctrine. There is little to no distinction between scripture laws and legal
regulations in many cases. Religious clergy will frequently hold positions of leadership, even the
highest office in the country.
Example- Iran is currently the world’s most important and strong theocratic state. The country is
ruled by ayatollahs, Shiite religious authorities. A “supreme leader” is one of them, who acts as the
country’s head of state, delegated authority to other religious leaders, and presided over the elected
president. The country’s legal, judiciary, and administrative rules are all based on the Sharia, the
Islamic faith’s basic legal concept.
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a kind of authoritarianism in which the governing party sees no limits to its
authority, even in the lives and rights of its population. Surveillance, control of the media, frightening
shows of paramilitary or police force, and the repression of protest, activism, or political opposition
are all common ways for a single individual to keep power and sustain authority.
Example- Despite the fact that it calls itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea is
a totalitarian regime. Kim Jong-un, the country’s third “supreme leader,” leads with absolute and
unquestioned authority, commanding his people without political opposition. Criticizing the supreme
leader or protesting his policies are both punishable by death, as are a slew of other offences for
which no due process is provided.
Conclusion
Various nations and governments may be found all throughout the world. The term “state” refers to
the political unit that houses power and authority. This unit might be an entire country or a section
of one. As a result, the nations of the globe, as well as subdivisions within a nation, such as
California, New York, and Texas in the United States, are frequently referred to as states (or nation-
states). Government can refer to a group of people who direct a state’s political activities, as well as
the sort of governance that governs that state. Political system is another phrase for this second
meaning of government, which we shall use here in conjunction with government. People’s freedom,
welfare, and even life are all affected by the sort of government they live under.
What is Political Economy
Political economy is a social science that focuses on the relationships between the state, society,
individuals, and its markets. Political economy utilizes resources and methods from various fields,
such as sociology, political science, and economics. The definition of the political economy stems
from studying a nation's governance or management in terms of economic and political factors.
Therefore, political economy can be defined as the study of a nation's governance of its people and
markets. Political economy has a significant impact on domestic and international markets, since the
respective fields of politics and economics crucially impact and influence each other. They are
consequently perceived as equally significant, since they both contribute to governance. Like the
political economy, both politics and economics significantly impact the real world. Political economy
is important in determining how societies and individuals are affected by public policy. While political
economy focuses on the study of markets politically and socially, economics does not involve social
or political factors.
Political System: Meaning and Characteristics of a Political System
Use or threat of use of legal force:
The first characteristic of political system is that it allows the legal authority to use force. If David
Easton speaks of “authoritative allocation of values”, Dahl of “Power, “rule” and authority”. All these
definitions imply that legal authority can use force to compel anybody to obey its orders.
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.
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 (both internally and vis-a-vis other societies) by means of the employment or threat of
employment or more or less legitimate physical compulsion”. Thus 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 organisations like parties, interest groups, and media of
communication; traditional structures such as kinship ties, caste groupings anomic phenomena such
as associations, riots an 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.
Interdependence of Parts:
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.
Not only that but the emergence of trade unions and pressure groups affect the working of the
political parties, the electoral process, the legislature, the bureaucracy and the judicial system. For
example, if the government is unable to check the ever rising prices or inflation, then the labourers
are bound to demand more wages.
In case the demand is not met by the employers, then the labourers may resort to strike which may
become violent in the long run. In that case the employers may call the police and the police may
resort to firing in order to quell the disturbances.
In such cases the mill-owners will close the mills. In order to solve this problem the government will
have to intervene by appointing a tribunal consisting of the representatives of the labour, the
management and the State.
If the dispute is not solved out by the tribunal, then the government will have to pass the legislation
fixing the minimum wages and increase the dearness allowance according to the corresponding
increase in the price index. The government will fix the bonus etc. All this amply demonstrates how a
happening of a great magnitude affects the entire political system.
(4) 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
modernisation.
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.
