Political Parties

Question 1

What is a political party

Answer 1

Group of people drawn together by a broad ideology, even if they don’t have identical views.
Most parties aspire to form a government and enact a range of policies.

represent the views of people with a certain set of common beliefs.
Encourage political participation among the public through voting, joining parties
and supporting them through funding and spreading the message.

Question 2

Functions and features of a political party

Answer 2

1. Publish manifesto- outline policy priorities and goals. Promises are scrutinised with election campaign.
2. Funding.
3. Electoral success- FPTP often benefits larger parties and makes it hard for smaller to win seats despite public support.
4. Hold the government accountable - scrutinise policies, propose alternatives, represent public concerns thru opposition.

Question 3

Why parties need funding

Answer 3

Carry out: research, develop policies and manifestos.
Hold party conferences.

Question 4

Membership subscriptions

Answer 4

Has been an overall decline.

Question 5

Trade unions (labour)

Answer 5

In return, they expect parties to represent their interests e.g on issues related to workers rights, employment laws.
Essential for representing working-class interest in politics.

Question 6

Features

Answer 6

Seek to secure election of candidates as representatives or form government at various levels.
Some are mass membership parties (many members Labour).
Others small leadership group seek supporters not members (main US parties).
Some have narrow range of values + views and stick to those views (Brexit), others broad range views + values, may be divided into fractions ( conservative).
Some focus gain power by win political office through elections (UK main parties) but others need to influence political system (green).

Question 7

Functions- making policy

Answer 7

Especially important when in opposition and seeking to replace current government.
When ruling party controls government, leadership is government: no distinction between both. Policy making is same. Involves political leaders, committees etc. Most policy made by ministers and advisers.
Opposition- propose own policies thru manifestos and debates in parliament , scrutinise government actions, hold ministers to account, suggest reforms to current policies.
Also known as aggregation. Involves identifying wide range of demands made by political system then converting them into practical policy programmes for government.
Undertaken by party leadership group.

Question 8

Functions- representation.

Answer 8

Labour in early 20th century to represent working class and trade union members.
Conservative of 19th century to protect interest of aristocracy and landed gentry.
Changed now as all main parties argue they represent national interest.
Emergence of populist parties emerge rapidly. Represent people who aren’t represented. Usually emotional and okay on people’s dissatisfaction.
E.g among the poor.

Question 9

Selecting candidates

Question 10

Identifying leaders

Answer 10

For ruling party, PM controls appointment of ministers