State (polity)
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A state is a political entity that regulates society and the population within a territory. Government is considered to form the fundamental apparatus of contemporary states.
Painting of Roman Senators encircling Julius Caesar
The frontispiece of Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan
Politics
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Politics is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies politics and government is referred to as political science.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle criticized many of Plato's ideas as impracticable, but, like Plato, he admires balance and moderation and aims at a harmonious city under the rule of law.
Women voter outreach (1935)
Plato (left) and Aristotle (right), from a detail of The School of Athens, a fresco by Raphael. Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics secured the two Greek philosophers as two of the most influential political philosophers.
Legislatures are an important political institution. Pictured is the Parliament of Finland.