Political Parties Flashcards
Politics
electing a leader?
is easier
representation?
they give a wide range of options
education?
promote PP + engagement- provide ppl w/chance to be involved + educated
educate public on certain issues
what are they?
a group of ppl who work together to achieve a shared goal- standing candidates in elections to win public office
what do they do before an election?
produce a manifesto- states what they’ll do if elected
what does the winning party have?
a mandate to carry out its manifesto (have electorate’s consent)
- winning party rarely have 50% of vote
what can the HofL not do?
block a bill that comes from winning party’s manifesto (Salisbury Doctrine)
representation function
represent views of members + voters
political engagement/participation function
make ppl aware + encourage PP + education
political recruitment function
recruiting candidates + lower level experience
policy formation function
discuss + develop policy before presenting them to the public
stable government function
ensure Commons runs smoothly
mainstream parties
Conservatives/Labour/Lib Dems- parties attempting to form a govt./run candidates in all constituencies/address policy issues
minority/’niche’ party
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)
single party system
only 1 party- e.g. Soviet Russia
dominant party system
1+ party, but 1 party holds power- e.g. Japan 1955-93 Liberal Democratic Party
two party system
two parties compete for power, there are other parties but they stand no chance- e.g. USA
multiparty system
2+ parties competing for/significantly impact power often seen in countries w/proportional voting systems (leading to coalitions) e.g. Italy 1945-93
Labour party funding
trade union + membership
-some wealthy individuals supported Blair’s New Labour
Conservative party funding
wealthy individuals + businesses
Lib Dems party funding
struggle
what are the local level policy making systems for Labour?
-CLP takes lead in local + national election campaigns
what is the local level structure for Cons?
Local Conservative Associations (CLAs)- sometimes with ward branches below them
what are the local level policy making systems for Cons?
-LCAs organise grassroots of party/planning local campaigning + selecting candidates to be MPs (less autonomy than prev.)
what is the local level structure for Labour?
-each constituency has a CLP (Constituency Labour Party)
-many have council ward level Branch Labour Parties (BLPs)
what is the local level structure for Lib Dems?
-local branches but are organised along federal lines
-diff. national parties for Eng/Wales/Scots
what are the local level policy making systems for Lib Dems?
-local branches have big role in running constituency level campaigns
-can submit motions to conference for debate
what is the Cons national structure?
-CCHQ (cons. campaign HQ)- Westminster- national HQ
-coordinated from CCHQ
what is the Labour national structure?
-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
what is the Lib Dems national structure?
-FB (Federal Board)= national governing body
National level policy making systems- Cons
-Conservative Party Forum- set up in 1998- advisory role, not binding
-Major wrote party manifesto- written by leader + advisors
National level policy making systems- Labour
-until 90s, annual conference was sovereign policy-making body
National level policy making systems- Lib Dems
-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
candidate selection
-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
leadership elections
-2 part process- candidates nominated by a no. of MPs/local parties then party members make the final choice
leadership elections- Cons
-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
leadership elections- Labour
-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
leadership elections- Lib Dems
-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
how are political parties funded?
-donors
-TUs
-some state funding
-charity fundraisers
-membership
why is campaign finance regulated?
the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA)- 2000, and the Political Parties and Elections Act (PPEA)- 2009
what are the regulations of PPERA?
-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
what are the regulations of PPEA?
-increase power of EC + parties need to clarify source of donations/loans only from UK residents
how are small parties funded?
-donor funding- e.g. Christopher Harborne donated £2 million to Brexit Party
membership donations
big no.s pay small amounts- no single donor has large influence, but there is a cost to join a party
individual donors
-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
state funding
-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
