Political Parties Flashcards
Define a political party
A political party is a group of people that seek to exercise political influence by winning political office. They typically have a broad focus of issues. Members of a party are united by a common ideology and political preference.
What are the functions of political parties?
- Representation
- Policy Forumulation
- Recruitment of Leaders
- Organisation of government
- Participation of the electorate.
Explain representation as a function of Political Parties
It is the Primary function. Parties link government to the people by responding and articulating public opinion . They do this by developing policies that appeal to the mass of the electorate.
What are the limitations of parties in fulfilling their representative role?
- FPTP means only 35% of votes are needed to take office
Explain the limitations of parties fulfilling the role of policy formulation
- Parties nowadays are too interested in following public opinion rather than taking clear ideological stances
- Parties now are too distanced from traditional ideology and don’t have any ambitious ideas
What are the limitations of parties in the recruitment of leaders?
- Electioneering and other party activities are poor training for running a government
How do parties organise government ?
- Facilitate cooperation between Executive and Parliament
- Provide a source of opposition and criticism to current government
- Give governments stability (Only under FPTP)
- Forms governments
How do parties facilitate participation and mobilisation?
- allows people to join parties
- educate the public through canvassing etc.
Who are the main actors who have power in a party?
- Party Leaders
- Parliamentary Parties
- Members and Constituency Parties
- Party Backers
What arguments are there, for and against, that Party leaders have the most power in a party?
- Personalisation of politics
- Trend toward ‘Presidentialism’
BUT - Personalisation is a weakness as well due to increased pressure. If a leader ‘fails’ he is expected to step down
What are the arguments that Parliamentary Parties have the most power?
- Since 1970s, MPs are more independently minded
- Decline in unity, increase of factions weakens the authority of the leader. E.g. Removal of Thatcher
What are the arguments against, that Members and Constituency Parties have the most power?
- Declining Party Membership
- Increase of Policy Committees strengthens leaders, don’t need members.
BUT - Have control over election of party leaders
What are the arguments that party backers have the most power in a party?
- Trade unions fund much of Labour and people think they have too much influence
- Big business fund much of Conservatives, people think they have too much influence
- electoral commission put a cap on undisclosed donations of £5000
How has the political system in the UK changed from a two party system to a multi party system in recent times?
- Devolution turning nationalist into my prominent figures of authority
- PR Systems used in all bodies created since 1997 has improved representation for all other minor parties like UKIP, Green, etc.
- New issues that cut across traditional party lines like the environment and the EU have allowed for emergence of UKIP, Green, etc.
What’s the difference between Left Wing and Right Wing Politics?
- The right are typically pessimistic about human nature, oppose change, favour order and authority and oppose state intervention
- The left are typically optimistic about human nature, support Liberty, equality and state intervention
