Politics

Politics encompasses the activities involved in acquiring, using, and distributing power within a group or society. It concerns how collective decisions are made when people have conflicting interests and limited resources. The term derives from the Greek word "polis," meaning city-state.

Politics is not confined to government. It appears in labor unions, universities, corporations, and even families—anywhere power is divided. However, most scholarly attention focuses on government, because it alone possesses the authority to enforce law and coerce compliance across an entire territory.

Power and legitimacy

Two concepts underpin politics: power and legitimacy. Power is the capacity to make others act in a certain way. Legitimacy is the belief held by people that a ruler has the right to command. A system resting on force alone requires heavy expenditure on enforcement; a system with legitimacy functions because most people respect its rules. Scholars typically distinguish three sources of legitimacy: tradition, personal charisma, and law.

Institutions and the separation of powers

Modern states are usually divided into three branches: the legislature, which makes laws; the executive, which administers them; and the judiciary, which interprets them. The purpose of this separation is for each branch to check the power of the others. Power is also divided between central and local levels, giving rise to unitary and federal systems.

Participation by the public

People engage in politics through elections, political parties, civil society organizations, media, and demonstrations. Parties nominate candidates and platforms, making it easier for voters to cast ballots. The voting system—whether plurality rule in each district or proportional representation—significantly affects the number of competitive parties.