Introduction

To Politics And
Government
PA-1102
LECTURE NO-01
 Politics and Government

Power & Authority, Typology

CONTENT
Organs of the Government
Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary
 At the end of the session, Learners will be able to

Understand Politics and government.

LESSON Visualize the nature of Politics in Bangladesh

OUTCOME
Perceive difference between Power and
Authority

Identify functions of the organs of the

government.
 Class
Videos
Lecture,
LEARNING
Q/A
STRATEGY
self-
answer
study.
&
The word “politics” comes from the Greek
word “polis” which means “city-state.”

In the ancient world, city-states are small

countries regarded as centers of culture and
civilization.
POLITICS
Politics is the science of government that
deals with the government and regulation,
maintenance and development, and defense
and augmentation of the state. 
 • R.G. Getlel defined,
“Political Science as a study of state in the past,
present and future and of Political institutions
and Political theories”.
SCHOLAR • J.W. Garner States,
DEFINITION “Political Science begins and ends with the
state”
• Aristotle said
“Man by nature is a political animal,” 
 • A group of people who runs the country and
controls all the activities of the state.
• Political System by which a country
or community is regulated by laws.
• Major Functions:
1. Managing government, i.e. running the state
(and its affairs);
GOVERNMENT
2. Ruling and regulating public affairs
according to the Law
3. Making decisions as regards the direction of
policy-formation
4. Exerting (political) leadership, both to
mobilize popular support as to gain
‘Legitimacy’
POWER AND
TYPOLOGY
• Power means ability to do and
willingness to do
• Types:
1. Legitimate power
2. Reward power
3. Coercive Power
4. Expert Power
5. Referent Power ( comes from the
leader's capacity to influence the
followers.)
 1. Legitimate power:
2. Reward power:
EXAMPLE: 3. Coercive Power:
EXERCISE 4. Expert Power:
5. Referent Power:
 Authority:
Legitimate Power is
Legitimacy + Power
called Authority
= Legitimate Power
AUTHORITY &
TYPOLOGY Types:
• Legal Rational Authority
• Traditional Authority
• Charismatic Authority
 Legal Rational Authority :

EXAMPLE: Traditional Authority :

EXERCISE

Charismatic Authority:
 A. Executive
ORGANS OF
THE B. Legislative
GOVERNMENT

C. Judiciary
 • Dictionary Meaning: “The power to put
important decisions into effect”
• Executive is the implementing decision of the
government.
• It is the executive which helps in policy
formulation and then implements various
A. EXECUTIVE policies.
• Composition:
(a) the political executive: i.e. President, Prime
Minister, Cabinet or Council of Ministers;
and
(b) the permanent executive or the bureaucracy
which remains in office for a fixed
FUNCTIONS: SELF
STUDY
• Reference:
Organs of Government: Executive,
Legislature and Judiciary, IGNOU, The
People’s University
B. LEGISLATIVE

Legislature in the Body of the

field of comparative government that has
politics is technically power to formulate
known as rule and approve law,
making department. rules and policies.
 • Reference:
FUNCTIONS: Organs of Government: Executive, Legislature and
SELF STUDY Judiciary, IGNOU, The People’s University
 Judiciary, also known as the rule-
adjudication department of the
government.

Branch of the government that

ensures justice, equity, rules of
C. JUDICIARY law and protection of fundamental
rights of the citizen.

Judiciary acts as Watchdog

FUNCTIONS: SELF
STUDY
• Reference:
Organs of Government: Executive,
Legislature and Judiciary, IGNOU, The
People’s University
Difference between Power and
Authority with example.

Organs of the government, READING

Structure and Function.
QUESTION

Relation between Politics and

Government.
REFERENCE

• Reading Articles/ Report etc.:

Organs of Government: Executive, Legislature and Judiciary,
IGNOU, The People’s University
Q/A