American Politics and Government Structure Functionalism

Structure Functionalism Provides a framework with which to examine and describe political systems Necessary conditions for a healthy political system Researchers: Sidney Verba Gabriel Almond

Overview Input functions (5) Output functions (3) Things the system takes from the people Things the people use in the system Output functions (3) Things the system gives to the people Results of the system

Structure Functionalism Input Functions Interest Aggregation Interest Articulation Political Socialization Political Recruitment Political Communication Output Functions Rule Making Rule Application Rule Adjudicating

Activity Now, looking at the needs of a healthy political system, think about the US political system, not just the government, but the entire political system In groups, find something in the US system that addresses each of the five input functions and three output functions

Structure Functionalism (Outputs) Rule Making Rule Executing Rule Adjudicating

Structure Functionalism (Inputs) Interest Aggregation Interest Articulation Political Socialization Political Recruitment Political Communication