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Political Parties Flashcards

1
Q

Three factors that affect party success

A

-The strength of the party’s leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between different party factions
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party (valence)
-How economically responsible the party appears to be
-How trustworthy they are
-How competent the party was in the past

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2
Q

Functions of a political party in a democratic system

A

Representation
Participation
Formulating policy
Recruiting office holders
Providing government

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3
Q

Where does the funding of parties come from?

A

State funding
Voluntary subscriptions of membership
Fundraising events in the MPs constituency

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4
Q

Arguments for state funding

A

-Would curb the possibility of corruption.
-Parties play an important role in representative democracy, so deserve public funding.
-If the state matched donations by party members, it might encourage participation by the public and recruitment to parties.
-Public funding would remove the great disparity in resources available to different sized parties.

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4
Q

Arguments against state funding

A

-Increased state funding could lead to calls for greater state regulation, reducing party independence.
-Hard to decide how much support a party should have to qualify for funding.
- Public funding could isolate parties from the wishes of voters
-Taxpayers would resent compulsory contributions to parties of which they disapprove.

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5
Q

3 main policies of UKIP

A

-Supporting grammar schools
-Leaving the EU
-More control on immigration

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6
Q

What is a one party dominant system?

A

A no. of parties but only one has realistic prospect of winning

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7
Q

A two party system

A

Two parties compete for power at elections, other parties have no real chance of breaking of a smaller third party

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8
Q

A multi-party system

A

A number of parties content to form a government, coalitions become the norm.

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9
Q

Factors that affect party success

A

The strength of the party’s leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between party factions
-Party funding
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party

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10
Q

Conservative leader in 1975

A

Margaret thatcher

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11
Q

Conservative leader from 1997-2001

A

William Hague

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12
Q

Conservative leader from 1990-1997

A

John Major

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13
Q

Conservative leader from 2001-2003

A

Lain Duncan Smith

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14
Q

Conservative leader from 2003-2005

A

Micheal Howard

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15
Q

Conservative leader from 2005-2016

A

David Cameron

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16
Q

Conservative leader from 2016

A

Theresa May

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17
Q

Issue with conservative party after Thatcherism

A

-Hague, Duncan Smith and Micheal Howard failed to distance themselves from Thatcherism, which the public identified with a now discredited past
-Failed to appeal to an increasingly diverse society with ageing membership and outdate policies

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18
Q

Why did David Cameron win two elections?

A

-tolerated minority groups and different lifestyles
-showed interest in the environment
-valued public services
-Maintained that they stood on the side of the people rather than well off elite
-Moderate tone allowed him to form a coalition government in May 2010
-Won slim victory in May 2015

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19
Q

Conservative party economic policy

A

-Priority to reduce budget deficit
-Insisted on a programme of public spending cuts by 25% except for school, health and intern aid
-Blamed overspending for financial crisis

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20
Q

Conservative party welfare policy

A

-distinguished between hard-working “striver” and undeserving “shirker” whom they sought to penalise
-Universal credit system merges work benefits into one payment which simplifies the welfare system and encourages people to take up employment
-overhaul of the NHS, allowing the private sector to compete with state hospitals

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21
Q

Labour leader from 1983-1992

A

Neil Kinnock

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22
Q

Labour leader from 1994-2007

A

Tony Blair

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23
Q

Labour leader from 2007-10

A

Labour leader from 2007-10

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24
Labour leader from 2015-
Labour leader from 2015-
25
Labour under Tony Blair
Under Blair the party dropped unpopular policies and the role played by trade unions was downgraded. Party leadership also developed links with the business community. Labour become pro EU and strong emphasis placed on the media.
25
Labour under Gordon Brown
Emphasis on wealth creation and people needed to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as their rights. Responsibility in handling the national finances and enlisting the public sector to deliver public services
26
Labour under Miliband
Miliband tried to combine New Labour's support for business with the defence of the parties core-working constituency by drawing a distinction between "predatory" and "responsible" capitalism. Was dubbed "Red Ed" by media due to the nature of his proposals but eventually resigned in 2015 due to pressure to take a more radical approach
27
Labour Welfare policy under Corbyn
Strongly oppose benefit cuts, regarded with poor victims of capitalism who are entitled to public support. Opposed the use of the private sector to deliver public services
28
Labour law and order policy under Corbyn
Opposed hard-line policies of new labour such as increased powers to combat terrorism and introduction of identity cards
29
Labour foreign policy under Corbyn
Favoured withdrawal of the UK from Nato's military structure and the abolition of the Trident nuclear weapon system. Supported British membership of the EU, emphasising it's a positive role in protecting rights
30
Lib Dems leader from 1988-99
Paddy Ashdown
31
lib dems leader from 2006-07
Menzies Campbell
32
lib dems leader from 2007-15
Nick Clegg
33
lib dems leader from 2015-17
Tim Farron
34
lib dems leader from 2017
Sir Vince Cable
35
Lib dems welfare policy
Control spending on benefits but pledge to curb benefits paid to better off pensioner in order to afford more support for the low paid. They pledge increased funding into NHS
36
Lib dems law and order policy
Regard defence of civil liberties as key so opposed to conservative's snooper's charter and emphasis on rehabilitation of prisoners and use of community service instead of short prison sentences
37
Lib dems foreign policy
Most enthusiastic about EU and was reluctant to accept results of Brexit referendum
38
How do parties receive money
-Collecting membership subscriptions -Holding fundraising events -Receiving loans from wealthy individuals -The self-financing of candidates for office -Up to £2 million per party is available in grants from the electoral commission
39
4 reasons political party funding is controversial
1)Large parties = more income so higher advantage 2) Funding by donors can give them influence 3)Some parties give expectation to donor of peerage or knighthood 4)Due to decline in party membership, parties have become more reliant on donations from rich benefactors
40
About Lord Ashcroft and the conservative party
Lord Ashcroft was the conservatives party's biggest donor, having donated around £10 million but dropped his support after Cameron refusing to give him a senior role in government. He also published a book titled call me Dave where he claims David had sexual relations with a pig
41
Proposed measure to solve funding problems
-Restriction on the size individual can donate -Restriction on how much parties can spend -Outlaw donations from businesses, pressure groups and trade unions (individuals only) -Replace all funding with state grants for parties
42
Arguments for the idea that political parties should be funded by the state
-Ends opportunities for corrupt use of donations -Ends possibilities of hidden forms of influence -Reduces advantage of huge parties -Ensures wider participation from groups who have no ready source of funds
43
Conservative party income from all sources 2015
51.2 mill
44
Labour party income from all sources 2015
41.9 mill
45
Liberal party income from all sources 2015
7.9 mill
46
UKIP party income from all sources 2015
5.8 mill
47
Green party income from all sources 2015
3 mill
48
Plaid Cymru income from all sources 2015
0.7 mill
49
Arguments against the idea that political parties should be funded by the state
-Taxpayers may object -Will be difficult to know how to distribute funding -Parties may lose independence and be seen as organs of the state -State funding may lead to excessive state regulation of parties
50
What are cheque book members
Refers to those who donate to pressure groups and charities, but not take any further political action to further the group's aims
51
What are Core insiders
Pressure groups that work closely and regularly with the government across a broad range of issues
52
What is Functional representation
What is Functional representation
53
What is hyperpluralism
term based when there are so many pressure groups opposed to the government's plan that it struggles to function properly
54
What are ideological outsiders
Pressure groups with radical aims that reject the existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working within its formal procedures.
55
What are specialist insiders
pressure groups that tend to be consulted on particular issues where their expertise required
56
What is tripartism
where the government closely consults, negotiates and compromises with business leaders and trade unions to plan economic policy
57
What are umbrella groups
Organisations that represent the interests of a no. of different pressure groups that share similar interests
58
About DUP
- Promises to stand up for Ireland -Does not support independent Ireland -Opposes integration of religious schools -Wants to improve Irish infrastructure -Resists socially progressive ideas such as same sex marriage and legal abortion
59
About UKIP
-UK to leave the European single market -Strong control over immigration] -Preference for British citizens in jobs, housing welfare and education -Attack companies that evade tax -Reduce expidenture on overseas aid
60
About the Green part
-Strong controls on environmental damage and strict emission control targets -Radical redistribution of income from rich to poor -Cancellation of the trident nuclear programme -Radical constitutional reform
61
About Sinn Fein
-Refuse to take seats in Westminister as a protest -Greater funding for public services -Socially liberal policies e.g. LGBTQ rights
62
Example of the governing party using minority party reach an agreement
The conservative party and the democratic unionist party of northern Ireland made a pact in 2017
63
Example of emerging party being able to influence in the house of commons
True of the SNP since 2015 and the DUP after 2017. This brings minority voices into public view
64
What is consensus politics?
-Consensus is a widespread agreement on an issue or a general political stance -Parties may disagree on detail of policies rather than basic principle.
65
What is adversary politics
Adversary politics is when two side oppose each other. Often one of ideological nature. Such a period was in the 1980s when the Thatcherite policies were Neo-liberal and Neo-conservative, but labour preferred left wing policies
66
Example of consensus politics
Policies adopted by Ed Miliband where similar to those of 2010-15 coalition government
67
Two party system
only two parties have significant representation
68
Three party system
Three parties have significant representation
69
Multiparty system
Four or more parties have a signifiant no of representative elected
70
Example of party losing votes due to their past when last in office
Liberal democrats lost support in 2015 election. 4.4 million votes and 49 seats lost most likely due to the U-turn they took on tuition fees
71
Example of party being criticised on economical responsibility
Major critics of Labour highlight their increase in government spending as financially irresponsible
72
traits and qualities are known to attract support in a political party leader
Experience -Apparent honesty -Decisiveness -Ability to lead -Intelligence -Media image
73
Examples of media criticising political parties
-Labour party in 1983 and 2010 however managed to overcome ferocious press opposition in the 2017 election campaign. It did this party by mobilising social media in its favour
74
Positives of the role played by parties in the UK?
-Provides opportunities for people to become involved in politics. They are inclusive and make few demands of members -They make political issues understandable and help to make government accountable -They help to make elections and the operation of parliament effective and understandable to the public
75
Negatives of the role played by parties in the UK?
-Adverbial parties deny the creation of consensus and reduce issues to false simplistic choices -Parties claim legitimacy through their electoral mandate even when they are elected to power with a minority of the popular vote -Parties sometimes become over-elitist so that small leadership groups can dominate policy-making to the detriment of internal democracy
76
Labour party allowed people to become members for £3 which was later raised to _____ which contributes to their funding
£25
77
Before the 2015 general election, conservative activists in _______ , ______ and ______ did not allow sitting of MPs stand again as candidates
Thirsk Malton and south suffolk
78

Politics (11 decks)

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