polity

Polity is a term used in political science and related fields to denote the organized political community of a society and the system of governance that regulates public life. It can refer to a wide range of political units, from city-states and kingdoms to modern nation-states, federations, or confederations. In its broad sense, a polity encompasses the structures, institutions, and norms through which authority is exercised, laws are made, and public policies are implemented. It is distinct from, but closely related to, the government that currently holds office and the state as a sovereign entity.

Key elements of a polity include sovereignty, institutional arrangements, and the mechanisms that legitimate and constrain authority. Institutions such as legislatures, courts, executive offices, and security agencies, along with constitutions or other legal frameworks and unwritten norms, define how power is distributed and exercised. A polity also involves patterns of governance, including whether authority is centralized or decentralized, unitary or federal, and whether rule-making is democratic, autocratic, or mixed. The rights and duties of citizens, the rule of law, and the process for political participation are central to its functioning.

Polities evolve through reform, reform, revolution, or gradual change and can be analyzed historically or comparatively. The term emphasizes the political organization and legitimacy of a community rather than focusing solely on the current government. In practice, the polity concept helps distinguish the broader political order from transient administrations, while highlighting how power and legitimacy are organized within a given society.