I. Meaning of Political Institutions:

(i) We include different types of elements such as leadership, power and authority, party activities and voting behaviour etc. in political institutions. These elements are influenced greatly by social factors like caste, class, race, religion and regions; and how state corresponds to the growing complexities of society.

(ii) Political institutions form and run the political system in a society. In fact, the political system is a sub-system of society. It has always existed ever since the emergence of society.

(iii) Society is a system of rules and regulations by which the behaviour of the people is controlled. Society has to have this control mechanism if it has to continue to exist. The absence of rules and regulations in society would prove chaotic leading to the collapse of social systems.

(iv) In civilized societies like ours, most of the means of control are formal such as written laws. However, the customary laws are not completely absent, either. The institutions, which have the authority to ensure the observance of the rule of law in primitive societies are the family, kinship and community, whereas in the civilized societies it is done by the state. These agencies are endowed with legitimate power to use force to ensure the observance of law by the people.

II. Definition of Political Institutions: 

(a) Martindale and Monanchesi's Definition: Martindale and Monachesi have defined political institutions as those holding monopoly in the exercise of legitimate force.

III. Significance of the elements of Power in Political System:

(i) Legitimate power is the most important element of political institutions. 

(ii) The power cannot be unlimited and unqualified.

(iii) The unqualified power cannot last long. 

(iv) A person, however strong, may not be permitted to exercise the use of force or violence for an indefinite period of time.

(v) The influence of power cannot remain intact, if the force is frequently used to exercise power. Therefore, the threat of force is more important than the real use of force in maintaining the effectiveness of power to control. Imperativeness of frequent use of force indicates erosion of the power.

(vi) The political system in the remote past was such that the political power of rulers (feudal lords, kings, emperors and despots) was relatively unqualified but the state, which developed after enlightenment and industrial revolution, was endowed with qualified power.

(vii) The constitution of a state / country defines the limits of power of the state and its different organs.

(viii) The power is legitimate so long as it presents the general will of the people and is voluntarily accepted by them.