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Oldest Political Institutions — PoliticaHub | PoliticaHub
PoliticaHub Rankings Desk29 ranked entries
Oldest Political Institutions
Legislatures, courts, and executive bodies ranked by founding year.
Founded
The ranking
Rank, mechanism, blind spot, forecast, and political meaning. No empty scoreboard.
UK Parliament appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1707 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Supreme Court of the United States appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1789 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
U.S. House of Representatives appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1789 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
U.S. Senate appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1789 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
United States Congress appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1789 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
House of Commons appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1801 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Unelected upper house of the UK Parliament. It revises legislation, scrutinizes government, and includes life peers, bishops, and a small number of hereditary peers.
House of Lords appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1801 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
House of Representatives of the Netherlands appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1815 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Congress of Mexico appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1824 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Brazilian National Congress appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1826 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Swedish Riksdag appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1866 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
House of Commons of Canada appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1867 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Australian House of Representatives appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1901 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
The apex decision-making body of the Chinese Communist Party and effectively the most powerful political institution in China. Currently comprises seven members led by the General Secretary.
CCP Politburo Standing Committee appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1928 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Unicameral national legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 113 members elected for four-year terms. The primary law-making body with power to confirm the premier and amend the constitution.
Legislative Yuan appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1928 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
National Diet of Japan appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1947 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Italian Parliament appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1948 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Bundestag appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1949 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Lok Sabha appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1952 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
The supreme organ of state power of the People's Republic of China and the national legislature. Meets annually with nearly 3,000 delegates. In practice, it ratifies decisions made by the CCP leadership.
National People's Congress appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1954 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
French National Assembly appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1958 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Cortes Generales appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1977 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Iran's ideological military force, established in 1979 to protect the Islamic revolution, parallel to and often more powerful than the regular armed forces. The IRGC commands the Quds Force (Iran's extraterritorial operations arm), controls significant economic enterprises, and plays a major role in domestic politics. It directly oversees Iran's ballistic missile program and its network of regional proxy forces in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The IRGC is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1979 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Twelve-member body that vets all legislation and electoral candidates in Iran, comprising six Islamic jurists appointed by the Supreme Leader and six jurists elected by parliament from candidates nominated by the judiciary. The Guardian Council has systematically disqualified reformist and moderate candidates from elections, concentrating political power in conservative factions aligned with the Supreme Leader. Its vetting power makes it one of the most consequential unelected bodies in Iran's constitutional structure.
Guardian Council appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1980 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
88-member clerical body elected by popular vote (from candidates vetted by the Guardian Council) responsible for appointing, supervising, and if necessary removing the Supreme Leader. In practice the Assembly has never exercised its supervisory power against a sitting Supreme Leader. Following Khamenei's death in February 2026, the Assembly convened to select Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader — a selection that consolidated dynastic succession and drew significant criticism.
Assembly of Experts appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1982 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia. Composed of two representatives from each federal subject. Approves presidential decrees on martial law and the use of armed forces abroad.
Federation Council appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1993 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia. 450 members elected for five-year terms by a mixed system of proportional representation and single-member districts.
State Duma appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1993 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
National Assembly of South Africa appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 1994 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Highest court in the United Kingdom. It hears appeals on points of law of the greatest public and constitutional importance and is institutionally separate from Parliament.
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom appears here because the knowledge graph currently has a comparable 2009 value for this ranking.
What the ranking misses
This graph table is a data view, not a full editorial judgment. It does not yet weigh democratic accountability, institutional quality, or political consequence.
What could change
The position changes when the underlying entity metadata is updated, corrected, or expanded.
What the ranking reveals
The table exposes scale and age, but the political meaning still lives in the linked entity briefing.
Evidence trail
PoliticaHub structured entity metadata
Curated records and Wikidata-derived fields
Source transparency
This ranking is built from PoliticaHub structured data and curated editorial records.
