Max Weber formulated a three-component theory of stratification, with social class, status class and party class (or politics) as conceptually distinct elements.

• Social class is based on economically determined relationship to the market (owner, rentier, employee etc.)
• Status class is based on non-economical qualities like honor, prestige and religion.
• Party class refers to factors having to do with affiliations in the political domain. The capacity to influence others' decisions determines how much power an individual is granted in the political domain.