Political parties 2.1

Question 1

what are the 5 common features of a political party?

Answer 1

Representation - represent certain set of beliefs.
Participation - encourage voting or joining a party.
Recruiting office holders - members can be recruited for party leaders.
Formulating policy - policies in a manifesto formed by the parties beliefs.

Question 2

What is the function of a political party?

Answer 2

Political parties seek to lead the government. The members of the party share similar political views.

Question 3

What ways can a political party raise money?

Answer 3

F - fundraising events 
L - loans from wealthy individuals
D - donations from supporters
G - grants (up to 2million from the electoral commission).
S - self- financing

Question 4

What is short money?

Answer 4

funding for all opposition parties depending on how many seats they got in the last election.

Question 5

Four solutions to the undemocratic funding in the UK.

Answer 5

Restrictions on size of individual donations.
Restrictions on party spending (on fundraisers for example)
Restrict donations from individuals.
Replace funding with state grants out of taxation.

Question 6

Arguments for state funding.

Answer 6

End corrupt use of donations from wealthy individuals.
End hidden forms of influence through funding.
Large parties have less of an advantage.
Improve democracy - ensure participation of groups with no other funds.

Question 7

Arguments against state funding.

Answer 7

Taxpayers may not want to fund ‘private organisations’.
How would funding be distributed?
Organs of the state. (parties lose independence).
State regulation may become excessive.