Functions of a political party Flashcards
what is a political party?
collective entities who seek to realise their shared goals by fielding candidates at elections and thereby securing election to public office
what is a manifesto?
pre-election policy document from a political party which outlines a series of policies and legislative proposals that it plans to enact if voted in office
what is a mandate?
the authority to enact the promises and pledges set out in the government manifesto
what is the salisbury doctrine?
convention that the house of lords does not block or try to wreck legislation that was embedded in the governing party’s manifesto
name one function of a political party
Representation
- political parties articulate and express public opinion.
-Essentially acting as a mouthpiece for the electorate
- they develop policies to placate the public and if they win they have the right to claim a mandate
- yougov poll conducted a longitudinal study from November 2019 and found that the percentage of which the public thought that at least one of the political parties represented their own priorities and values dropped from 41% to 29% (Nov 2019 - feb 23)
name a second function of a political party
Policy formulation
- Parties come up with programmes for government
- they discuss and develop policy proposals that are
outlined in their government manifesto
- they initiate ideas and think of ways in which policies can be implemented.
name a third function of political parties
Political engagement and participation
- by making the wider citizenry aware of issues of the day - parties perform an educative function that, by its very nature encourages political engagement
name a final function of a political party
Recruitment
- parties asses the qualities of those seeking election of public office
- parties are mechanisms by which politicians enter politics, become MP’s and become apart of government
