Political Parties

Question 1

faction

Answer 1

a group of like-minded politicians, usually formed around a key leader or in support of a set of preffered policies

Question 2

5 functions of parties

then acf functions

Answer 2

representation
policy formulation
recruitment of leaders
organization of government
participation and mobilization of the electorate
provide a basis for political competition
public face of political stances
aggregate political opinion (parties are broad churches)
some parties act like pressure groups using elections to further their aims and profile (UKIP, Greens)

Question 3

Functions of parties: representation

Answer 3

Primary function of parties
developing policies that appeal to the mass electorate
Catch-all parties
therefore winning party at an election can claim a popular mandate to carry out its policies
so parties translate public opinion into government policiy

Question 4

catch all parties

Answer 4

a party that develops policies that will appeal to the widest range of voters, by contrast with a programmatic party

Question 5

Ineffectiveness of parties in ensuring representation

Answer 5

electorate not always well informed
party leader and image > policies
due to FPTP parties only need 35-40% of the electorate to win a general election

Question 6

Functions of parties: policy formulation

Answer 6

In the process of seeking power, parties form programmes of government
parties initiate policy
parties formulate a coherent set of policy options that gives the electorate a choice of realistic and achievable goals

Question 7

How parties form programmes of government

Answer 7

party forums
annual conferences
election manifestos

Question 8

Ineffectiveness of parties in policy formulation

Answer 8

in recent years (pre-2015) parties have distanced themselves from their traditional ideologies
less interested in formulating larger goals for society and generally less interested in ideas
parties more eager to follow public opinion
responding to opinion polls and focus groups
trying to shape ideas instead of taking an ideological stance

Question 9

Functions of parties: recruitment of leaders

Answer 9

As a party member = canvassing, debate, run a constituency party
party membership opens door to political office which opens the door to number ten
parties recruit and train leaders for the future

Question 10

Ineffectiveness of parties in recruitment of leaders

Answer 10

government is appointed for very small pool of HofC

electioneering and other party activities = poor training for running a large government department or even the country

Question 11

Functions of parties: organisation of government

Answer 11

government relies on parties to
form government (party government)
stability as government is usually drawn from a single party and therefore is united by common ideologies, sympathies and attachments
facilitates cooperation between parliament and the executive
provides a formal opposition and a government in waiting in the form of shadow ministers

Question 12

Ineffectiveness of parties in organizing government

Answer 12

decline of party unity since 1970s = weakened party control in the commons (eg JC labour)
Coalition government 2011

Question 13

Functions of parties: participation and mobilization

Answer 13

provide opportunities for citizens to join political parties and shape party policy
educate and mobilize the electorate (eg: canvasing, public meetings, advertising, poster campaigns…)
parties = electoral machine operating through building up of loyalty and identification among the electorate

Question 14

Ineffectiveness of parties in participation and mobilization

Answer 14

voters loyalty and identification has declined
1964: 44% voters claimed to have a very strong attachment to a party
2005: 10% “”
membership of 3 main parties have fallen from 3 million 1960s to 384000 beginning of 2015 (changed with JC election)

Question 15

what is a political party

Answer 15

a group of like-minded individuals who organise themselves in order to select candidates, secure election to political office and ultimately pursue their chosen policies by entering government.
in a democratic system parties do this by putting up candidates for elections in the hope of gaining representation and ultimately forming or participating in government
organisation with broad principles that it will seek to implement if given power

Question 16

3 features of political parties

Answer 16

aim to exercise government power by wining political office
broad issue focus
addressing each of the major areas of government policy
members are usually united by shared political preferences and general ideological identity (although loose and broadly defined)

Question 17

What is party government

Answer 17

a system through which single parties are able to form governments and carry through policy programmes

Question 18

features of party government

Answer 18

major parties have clear ideological convictions and develop rival programmes of government, giving the electorate a meaningful choice between potential governments
Governing party is able to claim a popular mandate which it can then translate into government policy
government is accountable to the electorate through its mandate and the existence of a credible opposition party which acts as a balance

Question 19

Who has power within parties

Answer 19

party leaders
parliamentary parties
members and constituency parties
party backers

Question 20

how party leaders have power in the party

Answer 20

parliamentary leaders dominate the rest of the party (especially when leader = PM)
Political celebrity
presidentialism
leaders increasingly expected to determine parties ideological direction & to deliver electoral success
talisman / brand image
tendancy towards failed leaders resigning (2014 election…)

Question 21

how parliamentary parties have power in the party

Answer 21

mere lobby fodder?
since 1970s MPs more independently minded (declline in party unity)
Thatcher = example where parlliamentary party overthrew her
Major = majorly undermined by backbench rebellions over europe
1922 committee = conservative backbench committee)
PLP = labour backbench committee

Question 22

how members and constituency parties have power in the party

Answer 22

difficult to evaluate
falling membership = deceased influence
major parties now develop policy through policy committees, forums and task forces
Labour = robbing the party conference
Conservatives = mps chosen by constituency party
individual party members elect their leaders (labour)

Question 23

how party backers have power in the party

Answer 23

people who provide the funding
labour controlled by trade unionists?
Conservatives controlled by major business backers
‘cash for questions’
Electoral commission set up to regulate
state funding happens in europe. best way to manage = do the same

Question 24

how the conservative party elects their leader

Answer 24

when vacancy: candidate nominated by two tory MPs
when no vacancy: parliamentary party voting a vote of no confidence in present leader (will occur if 15% tory MPs write to chairman of 1922 committee)
series of ballots until two candidates remain
then ballot of all party members(all paid up party members=eligible)

Question 25

how the labour party elects their leader

Answer 25

vacancy: 15% of labour MPs nominate (PLP) no vacancy: 20% of PLP one member one vote (OMOV) (no more elctoral colleges) AV

Question 26

how the liberal democrat party elects their leader

Answer 26

10% parliamentary party + 200 party members from >20 constituencies postal ballot using AV

Question 27

Left

Answer 27

the end of the political spectrum closely associated with socialism and the principle of wealth distribution. Those on the left tend to see the needs of society as being more important than those of the individual. Based on generally optimistic views about human nature and favor social change.

Question 28

right

Answer 28

refering to those ideologies that stress the importance of capitalism and 'small government' closely associated with policies stressing the importance of the nation, the family and law and order pessimistic about human nature

Question 29

ideology

Answer 29

a coherent set of beliefs or values that guides ones actions

Question 30

conviction politics

Answer 30

a style of politics in which the policies of parties are shaped by the ideological convictions of their leaders

Question 31

4 periods of politics since 1945

Answer 31

post-war social democracy thatcherism post-thatcherite consensus age of austerity

Question 32

socialism

Answer 32

a political ideology advocating greater equality and the redistribution of wealth suspicious of capitalism favour greater government intervention in both economic and social policy central idea: people are social creatures who are bound together by a common humanity fraternity cooperation equality fundamental : marxist, capitalism abolished revisionist: SDs capitalism should be reformed

Question 33

social democracy

Answer 33

a political ideology that accepts the basic premise of capitalism while advocating a more equal distribution of wealth only practicable form of socialism new / blue labour and labour as it is today

Question 34

conservatism

Answer 34

``` a loose ideology that favours pragmatism, while at the same time seeking to preserve the status quo tradition human imperfection hierarchy and authority 'top down' two types: one nation conservatism thatcherite conservatism ```

Question 35

one nation conservatism

Answer 35

a form of paternalistic conservatism that promotes inclusiveness , closely associated with benjamin disraeli the rich have an obligation to attend on the needs of the poor social reform to narrow but not remove social inequalities

Question 36

thatcherism

Answer 36

an ideology combining free market neo-liberal economic policy with a more orthodox consevative social policy in areas such as the family and law and order 'the free economy and the strong state'

Question 37

neo-liberalism

Answer 37

a political ideology closely linked to classic liberalism, stresses the importance of the free market, individual rights and limited government economic thatcherism self-reliant individual

Question 38

neo-conservatism

Answer 38

social thatcherism | form of authoritarian conservatism calling for restraint of order, authority and discipline in society

Question 39

differences between one nation conservatism and thatcherism

Answer 39

ONC vs Thatcherism Paternalism vs self-interest tradition vs radicalism organic society vs rugged individualism social duty vs personal advancement pragmatic intervention vs roll back the state middle way economics vs free market economics

Question 40

conviction politics

Answer 40

a style of politics in which the policies of parties are shaped by the ideological convictions of their leaders

Question 41

Post-war social democracy

Answer 41

Atlee government 1945-51 Reforms gave rise to social democracy 3 key principles - mixed economy (Atlee government nationalised coal, steel, ship building, railways, gas and electricity) - economic management by government (Keynesian economics) - comprehensive social welfare Beveridge report 1942 = attack the fiver giants (want, disease, ignorance, squalor, idleness) Progressive taxation cradle-to-grave welfare NHS

Question 42

progressive taxation

Answer 42

a system of taxation in which the rich pay proportionally more in tax than the poor

Question 43

consensus politics

Answer 43

an overlap in ideological positions between two or more political parties; an agreement about fundamental policy goals that permits disagreement on matters of detail or emphasis

Question 44

when was the consensus politics period before thatcherism

Answer 44

1950s and 1960s

Question 45

why did the consensus period arise

Answer 45

Ideological shift by conservatives to one nation thinking = sympathetic to social reform = pragmatic economy approach Harold MacMillan 'middle way' (rejection of free-market liberalism and socialism to bring balance between individualism and collectivism)

Question 46

Why did the post-war social democracy / consensus come to and end

Answer 46

Broke down during 1970s Long boom of 50s and 60s ended unemployment rose stagflation (economic stagnation and inflation)

Question 47

What came after social revolution and explain the baisics

Answer 47

Thatcherite revolution 'Roll back the frontiers of the state' Unregulated capitalism = efficiency, growth, prosperity remove 'dead hand' of government enemy = 'nanny state' which undermines hard work and initiative

Question 48

4 key features of economic Thatcherism

Answer 48

``` privatization (eg; buses, railways, gas, electricity, water, steel) reduced union power (harder to take industrial action, miners defeated in year long strike form 84-5, = growth of low-wage and low-skill economy) low taxes (shift from burden of direct taxes (income tax, corporation tax) to indirect taxes (VAT) = widened inequality) deregulation (free-market principles, exchange rate controls ended, subsidies scaled down or scrapped) ```

Question 49

Economic Thatcherism closer to traditional conservatism classic liberalism

Answer 49

classic liberal belief in minimal state

Question 50

3 central themes of social thatcherism

Answer 50

``` tough law and order (fear of prison works, tougher regimes inside prison) traditional values (traditional Christian family values over permissive liberal values) national patriotism (strengthening national identity, Eurosceptic and anti immigration) ```

Question 51

Who and when thatcherism

Answer 51

Thatcher administration 1979-1990 | Major administration 1990-1997

Question 52

adversary politics

Answer 52

a form of politics that is characterised by deep ideological conflicts between major parties; the parties offer rival ideological visions

Question 53

why did the post - Thatcherite consensus come to an end

Answer 53

``` Thatcherism drove the labour party left 1983: longest suicide note in history - unilateral nuclear disarmament - leave EC - nationalization - increased investment in the welfare state = adversary politics ```

Question 54

when did the modernisation of the labour party begin

Answer 54

``` 1987 Niel Kinnock unilateral nuclear disarmament abandoned abandoned leaving EC Blair 1994 1995 Clause 4 rewritten ```

Question 55

4 themes of new labour

Answer 55

``` Market economics (revised clause 4 abandoned nationalisation). Blairism built on Thatcherism (privatisation, reduced union power, lower taxes, deregulation) Constitutional reform (very different to old labour, enthusiasm died quickly by 2001) 'Third way' welfare (welfare-to-work / targeted instead of universal benefits) Strengthening responsibility (rights should always be balanced against responsibility, communitarianism, respect agenda -ASBOs- prison population rose steeply, anti-terrorism laws passed) ```

Question 56

Different views on the financial crisis

Answer 56

Liberal democrats and conservatives: 'reckless and irresponsible' levels of public spending by labour therefore austerity to fix Labour: little control over global financial crisis and therefore no austerity

Question 57

how coalition similar to thatcherism

Answer 57

political choice (cuts were more severe than other European countries) spending cuts rather than tax rises (for every £1 raised through higher taxes, £4 raised through public spending cuts) Growth strategy (as public sector contracts, private sector expands due to the vigour of the market economy privatization ( cut spending therefore a shift from public provision to private) welfare cuts (remove culture of dependency) Big Society similar to roll back the flagship of the state

Question 58

3 ways coalition departed from thatcherism

Answer 58

``` health spending (increase health spending in 'real' terms every year during the 2010-2015 parliament, but aimed to introduce an 'internal market' in health provision) welfare reform (universal credit very similar to Blairite 'third way') Criminal justice (Kenneth Clarke, greater emphasis on non-custodial sentences, accepting liberal view punishment should rehabilitate) ```

Question 59

Key Conservative manifesto 2015 pledges

Answer 59

eliminate deficit budget surplus by 2018-19 by cuts in public spending (£30bn by Institute of Fiscal Studies) Cut welfare spending by £12bn cut household benefit cap from £26,000 to £23,000 a year) Increased NHS spending in England by at least £8bn above inflation in the next five years Raise income tax personal allowance to £12,500 Increase 40% tax threshold to £50,000 Extend 'right to buy' in England Prevent EU migrants claiming certain benefits or social housing for four years hold and in/out referendum on uks renegotiated eu membership by the end of 2017 Scrap human rights act and replace it with British bill of rights

Question 60

Liberalism

Answer 60

Ideology defined by a commitment to the individual, reflected by the doctrine of human rights

Question 61

3 core values of liberalism

Answer 61

Individualism (rights and entitlements) Freedom Toleration

Question 62

Two types of liberals

Answer 62

Classic - minimal state and free market capitalism. Individual equals strongly self interested and self reliant Modern - social welfare and economic intervention. Help individuals help themselves

Question 63

divisions in labour (ideological)

Answer 63

syria (see bubles for more detail) trident balance budget act

Question 64

factions in labaour

Answer 64

``` momentum eft futures compass national executive committee national policy forum labour together labour for the common good progress labour first (see bubbles for information ```

Question 65

labour policies under new labour

Answer 65

national minimum wage sure start initiative (giving children the best possible start in life) electoral reform and devolution human rights act an FOI privatization blair maintained many tory policies against trade unions (threshold requiring 40% of workforce to back union recognition in a ballot)

Question 66

labour policies in 2010

Answer 66

fathers month of flexible unpaid leave energy bill discounts for pensioners half deficit by 2014 (through growth and fair taxes and cuts to lower priority spending) create 1 million skilled jobs recall mps national minimum wage increasing at least in line with average earnings teach first extension to primary schools parents power to bring in new leadership teams in schools lead eu agenda for jobs and prosperity modernize br infrastructure every young person guaranteed education or training until 18 todderler tax credit of £4 a week from 2012

Question 67

labour policies at 2014 party conference

Answer 67

mansion tax to fund NHS (3000 midwives, 5000 care workers, 20000 nurses) collectivist rhetoric but not socialist policies bank levy to fund child care increase home ownership by 200,000 homes per annum by 2020 freeze utility prices for 2 years undo wage freeze in line with economical growth improved opportunities in education forgot to mention the economy.....

Question 68

2015 election manifesto labour

Answer 68

``` cut deficit every year in order to balance the books as soon as possible in the next parliament no additional borrowing for new spending energy bill freeze until 2017 maintain trident replacement no transfer of powers to the eu without a ref national living wage abolish bedroom tax 2.5 million to NHS through mansion tax 50p tax rate for +150,000 ```

Question 69

jeremy corbyn policies

Answer 69

renationalise energy and utility companies withdraw from nato no trident anti air strikes peoples quantitative easing tighten tax loopholes national education service (NHS for education) - comprehensive only increase national insurance on +£50,000 scrap tuition fees 50% women (true 16/31 in shadow cabinet are women) fully funded NHS with no private healthcare against working tax credits

Question 70

traditional conservative ideas and principles

Answer 70

``` order organic society fear of diversity support for tradition support for private property and accumulation of wealth pragmatism ```

Question 71

main differences between traditional and new right conservatism

Answer 71

tradition see society as organic but new see society as no more than a collection of individuals T='there is no such thing as society' tradition see room for state intervention but new dont tradition favour mixed economy, new want to eliminate state control of industry tradition want some welfare state, new dont traditional = pragmatic policies,new right = fixed ideology

Question 72

main similarities between traditional and new right conservatives

Answer 72

both take authoritarian view on law and order support traditional, christian, british values instinct of free markets, low taxation private property ownership as very important national interests

Question 73

traditional conservative elements of camerons governmetn

Answer 73

pragmatic policy approach (u-turn on working tax credits) traditional institutions and values (failed at hofl reform in coalition - was a tory backbench rebellion) protect rights of property owners wealthy have responsibility to help disadvantages

Question 74

new right conservative elements of camerons government

Answer 74

free market + maximise economic competition - wont nationalise tata steel keep direct taxes low financial responsibility - stop state overspending less state provision = more competition in private target benefits (only for those who need it)

Question 75

liberal elements of camerons government

Answer 75

diversity (gay marriage act) strengthen individual rights and liberties (british bill of rights?) reduce inequality big society cautious in constitutional reform more emphasis on environmental protection

Question 76

examples of tory factions

Answer 76

``` 2020 tories - pro cameron blue collar conservatives - workers (on the right) fresh start better off out vs better off in cornerstone - UKIP no turning back - thatcher 301 group - liberals 40 group - tories in the 40 most marginal seats free enterprise group - free market deep blue - sensible right 1922 committee ```

Question 77

where the main parties are united (pretty much)..

Answer 77

constitutional reform (in their manifestos...) renewable enerhy welfare state should be protected american foreign policy pro EU immigration (needs controlling but to what extent?)

Question 78

where the main parties have conflicting views

Answer 78

``` law and order (causes of crime vs punishment) taxation education how to get rid of debt tuition fees ```