A polarimeter includes a receiver that is configured to receive a first polarization (P1) of the signal and to split the first polarization of the signal into the in-phase (I.sub.P1) and quadrature (Q.sub.P1) components and to receive a second polarization (P2) of the signal and to split the second polarization of the signal into the in-phase (I.sub.P2) and quadrature (Q.sub.P2) components. The polarimeter may also include a processor that is configured to receive each of the in-phase and quadrature components ((I.sub.P1), (Q.sub.P1), (I.sub.P2), and (Q.sub.P2)) of the first and second polarizations and to determine the Stokes polarization vector components (s.sub.0, s.sub.1, s.sub.2, and s.sub.3) of the signal.