In sociological research, functional prerequisites are the basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, and money) that an individual requires to live above the poverty line.
[1] Functional prerequisites may also refer to the factors that allow a society to maintain social order.
On the other hand, Parsons argued any successful social system has four functional prerequisites: Adaptation – To survive, any society needs the basics of food and shelter.
To facilitate meeting such goals, governments provide resources, laws, and other institutional mechanisms.
Pattern maintenance – Institutions like education and the family reaffirm the essential values needed for society to function.