Inputs

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The Inputs of the Political System

Political scientists, who take an holistic view of government and politics, have developed the concept of a political system.  David Easton's model of a political system is visually summarizes below.

   DAVID EASTON'S MODEL OF A POLITICAL SYSTEM

___________________________________________________________
|                                                          |
|               __________________                         | |               /       2.       /                         | |               /  CONVERSIOON   /                         | |               /      or        /                         |
| 1.  INPUT---> /  DECISION-     /--->---3.> OUTPUT        |
|   /  demands  /    MAKING      /          /governmental  |
|   /  supports /    STRUCTURES  /          /   policies   |
|   /          /________________ /          /   and laws   |
|   /                                       /              |
|   /                                       /              |
|   /         4.   F E E D B A C K          /              |
|   / <-----------------<-------------------/              |
|                                                          |
|             5. E N V I R O N M E N T                     |
|                  a.           domestic environment                | |                  b.           international environment           |
|                                        c.           natural environment                |
|__________________________________________________________|

The input structures include

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The formation and impact on public opinion on the political system.

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Social groupings and the formation of interest groups.

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The American Political Party System.

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Campaigns and Elections.

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Voting Behavior.

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The Media and American Politics