POLITICAL SYSTEM

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The study of political system has been enriched through the contribution of great scholars such as David Easton (1965), Robert Dahl (1963) and Gabrielle Almond and Powell (1978). However, Olaniyi (2001) asserts that the study of political system constitute institutional approach to the study of political phenomenon.
Be that as it may, Political system maybe defined as the pattern of political relationship through which decisions are made for the society. To Robert Dahl, political system is any persistence pattern of human relationship that involves to a language extent power rule or authority. David Easton suggested that political system can be seen as system of interaction through which authoritative decisions are made for the society.
Not only that, political system tries to describe a special arrangement through which the society is made habitable and governable. Simply put, it is the instrument or mechanism through which the activities and the conduct of the affairs of the people are guided and protected. These mechanisms include political party, party system, arms of government (Legislature, Executive and Judiciary), levels of government (federal, state and local government) and traditional institution etc.
Sequel to the above explanation, it is academically important to understand the analytical diagram of David Easton Political System. This is shown below

The above diagram shows the process by which authoritative decisions are made and implement for the general well-being of the people in the society. Moreso, demand and support as illustrated above means that the people can either demand from the government or support the action taken by the government. Such demand is regulated by the gatekeeper as shown above while all the demand that find their way in the political system would converted to authoritative decision. In that instance, it shows a special arrangement through which the society is governed. 
FEATURES OF POLITICAL SYSTEM 
1. Political system must have political structure, which specifies their goals, responsibilities and position of individuals in the society. For instance, the Legislature is charged with the responsibility of law making, Executive with policies implementation and the Judiciary with law interpretation. 
2. A political system must be able to make and enforce law for the general wellbeing of the society. 
3. A political system must have conversion process through which authoritative decisions are made for the society. 
4. A political system must be marked by stress, conflict, crisis etc. which eventually bring about new formation or development. 
5. Lastly, a political system must have protective mechanism through which the state can maintain its territorial integrity. 
FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL SYSTEM 
1. A political system helps to allocate scarce resources for the general well-being of the society. 
2. A political also helps to make law and policies, which regulate the conduct of individuals in the society. 
3. Political system protects the lives and properties of the citizens both from internal and external aggression. 
4. Political system also perform the function of law adjudication. This important function is traceable to the activities of court who punish the law breakers. 
At this juncture, it is noteworthy that the function of political system could be classified into different stages base on the peculiarities of the scholars. Epitome is Almond and Powell that characterised the functions perform by political system into seven, these are:
1. Political recruitment: People must be recruit to fill political roles from voters to government leaders. 
2. Political socialization: Political system must shape the orientation of the people as well as their attitudes towards the understanding of political process. 
3. Political communication: Relevant information must disseminated. That it, the people must be aware of the policies of government, as well as communicating the need of the peoole to the government. 
4. Interest aggregation: Demand for a particular policies must be expressed. That is, the individual must be allowed to say their mind on issues at stake. 
5. Interest articulation: The demand of the people must be selected and combined into manageable number of major alternatives. 
6. Policies making: Demand must be converted into authoritative decisions and policies for the general well-being of the people in the society must be made. 
7. Policy implementation: Political system must execute the decisions and policies agreement by putting it into action. 



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