Final answer:
A stratified society is one where groups are ranked by wealth, power, or prestige, and it includes centralized leadership and bureaucracies that maintain social order. Factors influencing stratification vary and can include wealth, income, education, or cultural beliefs. Government institutions play a role in stabilizing and sometimes enhancing stratification through various systems of control.
Step-by-step explanation:
A stratified society is one where groups are ranked according to various factors such as wealth, power, or prestige. Such societies are often characterized by significant differences in access to resources and opportunities, whether these are economic, social, or political in nature. Key components of a stratified society in relation to government institutions and the use of force include highly centralized leadership, bureaucracies, systems of social control, and military forces. These entities work together to maintain the social order and uphold the stratification system.
Stratification permeates various aspects of society, influencing not only an individual's material resources but also their social standing and power. Factors that define stratification can include, in addition to wealth and income, elements such as education, family background, cultural beliefs, and even age. Different societies value different attributes, which can result in unique hierarchies and perceptions of prestige. Societies with higher levels of stratification tend to have greater resource inequities.
The governmental role in a stratified society is complex, and often involves both integrative pressures—such as population growth and economic development—and conflict pressures—like military threats or trading opportunities. Institutions within such societies are designed to stabilize and sometimes amplify the stratification, through mechanisms like legislation, law enforcement, and military engagement.