Final answer:
The question pertains to the system by which power is allocated and exercised in society, entailing roles, laws, and cultural norms. This includes a consideration of power elites, rational-legal authority, and social stratification in societal organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a system of roles and norms that dictate the distribution of power within society. This is a broad concept that encompasses various aspects of social order, including politics, legal systems, and cultural practices. Such systems can range from informal, consensus-based methods to highly formalized legal structures.
In some cases, a small group of people, known as the power elite, can exercise significant control over societal resources and decisions, reflecting a possible imbalance in the distribution of power. The legitimacy of power can be derived from different sources, such as rational-legal authority, where power is legitimized by laws and regulations, or traditional authority that rests on longstanding customs.
Society is often stratified into hierarchical layers based on wealth, power, and prestige, creating varying levels of access to resources and influence. The organization of these layers and the distribution of power within them play an essential role in how a nation's or group's social norms and values are reflected and maintained through political structures and practices.