What are political institutions?
Answer:
The bodies which make up the whole mechanisms of modern Governments such as heads of state, legislatures and parties are known as political institutions.
Political institutions are concerned with the distribution of power in society. Authority and power are critical to understanding political institutions. Power is not held in isolation but they are held in relation to others. Power is the ability to influence or carry out the will of a group or an individual even while they face opposition from others.
Political activities or politics are concerned with ‘power’. With the help of authority, power is exercised. The form of power which is accepted as just, right and legitimate is known as authority. As it is based on legitimacy, it is institutionalized. As their control is justified and considered to be fair, the power of people is accepted by the people.