Political Parties Flashcards

Politics

1
Q

electing a leader?

A

is easier

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2
Q

representation?

A

they give a wide range of options

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3
Q

education?

A

promote PP + engagement- provide ppl w/chance to be involved + educated
educate public on certain issues

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4
Q

what are they?

A

a group of ppl who work together to achieve a shared goal- standing candidates in elections to win public office

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5
Q

what do they do before an election?

A

produce a manifesto- states what they’ll do if elected

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6
Q

what does the winning party have?

A

a mandate to carry out its manifesto (have electorate’s consent)
- winning party rarely have 50% of vote

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7
Q

what can the HofL not do?

A

block a bill that comes from winning party’s manifesto (Salisbury Doctrine)

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8
Q

representation function

A

represent views of members + voters

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9
Q

political engagement/participation function

A

make ppl aware + encourage PP + education

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9
Q

political recruitment function

A

recruiting candidates + lower level experience

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9
Q

policy formation function

A

discuss + develop policy before presenting them to the public

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10
Q

stable government function

A

ensure Commons runs smoothly

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11
Q

mainstream parties

A

Conservatives/Labour/Lib Dems- parties attempting to form a govt./run candidates in all constituencies/address policy issues

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12
Q

minority/’niche’ party

A

Nationalist- SNP/Plaid Cymru: stand in parts of the UK + campaign for their nation’s/region’s independence
Single issue: UKIP + Brexit- leaving the EU; Green- the environment; some local parties concerned over a hospital closure (Kidderminster Hospital + Health Concern Party- Dr Richard Taylor)

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13
Q

single party system

A

only 1 party- e.g. Soviet Russia

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14
Q

dominant party system

A

1+ party, but 1 party holds power- e.g. Japan 1955-93 Liberal Democratic Party

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15
Q

two party system

A

two parties compete for power, there are other parties but they stand no chance- e.g. USA

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16
Q

multiparty system

A

2+ parties competing for/significantly impact power often seen in countries w/proportional voting systems (leading to coalitions) e.g. Italy 1945-93

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17
Q

Labour party funding

A

trade union + membership
-some wealthy individuals supported Blair’s New Labour

18
Q

Conservative party funding

A

wealthy individuals + businesses

19
Q

Lib Dems party funding

A

struggle

20
Q

what are the local level policy making systems for Labour?

A

-CLP takes lead in local + national election campaigns

20
Q

what is the local level structure for Cons?

A

Local Conservative Associations (CLAs)- sometimes with ward branches below them

20
Q

what are the local level policy making systems for Cons?

A

-LCAs organise grassroots of party/planning local campaigning + selecting candidates to be MPs (less autonomy than prev.)

20
Q

what is the local level structure for Labour?

A

-each constituency has a CLP (Constituency Labour Party)
-many have council ward level Branch Labour Parties (BLPs)

20
Q

what is the local level structure for Lib Dems?

A

-local branches but are organised along federal lines
-diff. national parties for Eng/Wales/Scots

21
Q

what are the local level policy making systems for Lib Dems?

A

-local branches have big role in running constituency level campaigns
-can submit motions to conference for debate

22
Q

what is the Cons national structure?

A

-CCHQ (cons. campaign HQ)- Westminster- national HQ
-coordinated from CCHQ

23
Q

what is the Labour national structure?

A

-NEC (National Executive Committee) enforces party discipline + expels members for breaking party rules
-final say over selection of parliamentary candidates
-not highly unified- diff. factions

23
Q

what is the Lib Dems national structure?

A

-FB (Federal Board)= national governing body

24
Q

National level policy making systems- Cons

A

-Conservative Party Forum- set up in 1998- advisory role, not binding
-Major wrote party manifesto- written by leader + advisors

25
Q

National level policy making systems- Labour

A

-until 90s, annual conference was sovereign policy-making body

26
Q

National level policy making systems- Lib Dems

A

-replicates party federal structure
-motions debated + passed out at conference become official national party policy
-policies which affect whole UK/England voted on by LDFC, Scottish/Welsh/regional conferences only affect own area

27
Q

candidate selection

A

-hopefuls must be on party’s central list of approved candidates (post- undergoing a selection procedure + training)
-must apply to be shortlisted as prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) by local branches
-must get adopted after vote of local party members
-Labour pioneered all women shortlist, Cons use open primaries

28
Q

leadership elections

A

-2 part process- candidates nominated by a no. of MPs/local parties then party members make the final choice

29
Q

leadership elections- Cons

A

-MPs vote to narrow candidate choice to 2 names- in 2019, 9 MPs secured enough to stand
-party members make final pick on 1 member, one vote basis

30
Q

leadership elections- Labour

A

-candidates must have backing from 10%+ Labour MP/MEPs + 5% of constituency parties
-members of parties have a PR vote (AV) on OMOV system- Starmer won 50% of the vote in 2020

31
Q

leadership elections- Lib Dems

A

-candidates must have support from 10%+ of MPs + be supported by 7,200 members from 20+ local parties
-vote on OMOV basis, AV to make final choice

32
Q

how are political parties funded?

A

-donors
-TUs
-some state funding
-charity fundraisers
-membership

33
Q

why is campaign finance regulated?

A

the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA)- 2000, and the Political Parties and Elections Act (PPEA)- 2009

34
Q

what are the regulations of PPERA?

A

-parties must register w/Election commission (EC) + provide returns/expenditure of their outcome
-can only spend £2/30,000 per constituency
-parties have to declare large donations £7,500+
-act regulates campaign expenditure for national referendums + can issue fines to parties/groups that break rules

35
Q

what are the regulations of PPEA?

A

-increase power of EC + parties need to clarify source of donations/loans only from UK residents

36
Q

how are small parties funded?

A

-donor funding- e.g. Christopher Harborne donated £2 million to Brexit Party

37
Q

membership donations

A

big no.s pay small amounts- no single donor has large influence, but there is a cost to join a party

38
Q

individual donors

A

-2- individual donors- main parties rely on individual donors- Labour benefitted from the wealthy- Ecclestone, now from TUs
-tories have donors- £5.67 million in 1st week of 2019 election
-potential for corruption- e.g. 1997 Ecclestone’s £1 mill donation to Lab
-almost 20% of elite group of Tory funders

39
Q

state funding

A

-state funding based on ‘pence-per-vote/members’
-parties can receive public funds through Party Development Grants (£2 mil in total annually)
-can also receive