Political Parties Flashcards
Define democracy
A government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly or by a representative under a free electoral system
Give two strengths of a direct democracy
More active participation
Everyone can vote
enables you to have a direct say
Give two weaknesses of direct democracy
Chaos in large society
Takes longer
Give two strengths of a representative democracy
Good large population
Quicker
Give 4 voting considerations for MPs
Media
Constituency
Party/whips
own morals
What is a pluralist democracy?
A System of government which encourages participation and allows for free and fair competition between competing educational background
What is an elitist democracy?
Dominated by elites who are from a particular social class or educational background
What is a mainstream party?
The three main political issues which include Labour, Lib Dems and the conservatives
What is a two party system?
Two fairly equal matched parties compete for power at elections/ others have little realistic chance of winning
What are the five functions of political parties?
Political Formula internal discussion on manifesto ect Stable government there would be chaos without it/ all individual Participation encourages participation Representation
Political Recruitment
recruites candidiates
Why do we have a two party system in the UK?
Tendency for opinion on issues to divide into for and against/
electoral system- FPTP- discourages other parties
Problems for small parties.
Absence of deep ethnic linguistic and sectional differences
What is an ideology?
A set of beliefs or values that guides a person through their choices
Give 4 left wing beliefs
Internationalisation
Shared wealth and ownership
More just society
Identify with interest of masses
Give 4 right wing beliefs
Interests of the established
more emphasis on P.R
Favours traditions
Lower levels of taxation
Give three reasons for that Britain is a two party system
2010- 86.8% of seats were lab/con
The third party- Lib Dems are still a long way behind the two main parties
Lab/Con only partiers that are likely to win
Give three reasons against that Britain is a two party system
34.9% of voters voted for lab/con in 2010
There is a four way competition in Scotland- can be different in different places
Second to Labour in the north and the west
Give 5 beliefs of socialism
Social evil- capitalism Community Equality Justice Government intervention
Give 5 beliefs of Liberalism
Individualism Liberty Rationalism Legal+political equality Min gov. intervention
Give 4 beliefs of Conservatism
Established interests
Traditional values
P.R
Lower levels of taxation
What is ethical socialism?
To improve the quality of life for people
What is Christian socialism?
Jesus’ messages should be in socialism and everyone is equal
Give 5 features that the old clause IV had in 1918
Nationalisation socialism 'A sacred cow' equality of outcome re.of wealth
Give 5 features that the new clause IV had under Blair
Equality of opportunity large private sector p.r third way free market
Give 6 features of old labour
Public sector Eurosceptic quality of outcome working class social justice trade unions
Give 6 features of new labour
Catch-all p.r social inclusion tough on welfare benefits more central
Give 7 features of one nation conservatives
Pragmatism/gradual improvements/paternalist/pluralism/mixed economy/ internationalism
/accepted NHS
Give 7 features of Thatcherism
Libertarian conservatism (economically)/monetarism (controlling money to stop inflation)/ free ,arrest/ adversial policies/ privatisation/ deregulation/ anti trade union power/ self reliance
Give 5 reasons why the conservatives lost the 2005 election
Did not increase their share of the vote (35.7%)
Talked to mainly long term party supporters
Different views in party
Iraq war- approved
No ‘big idea’
Give five campaigns/changes that David Cameron brought to the Conservative party in 2010
'Vote blue, go green'- went more environmental 'Broken Britain' wanted to fix it Wanted to detoxify the party Talked of replacing human rights act The conservative brand
Give 4 roles and values of third and minor parties
1-take up paticular causes that are ignored by the other parties e.g pro life alliance/
2- they air certain grievances not being taken up by traditional parties e.g SNP/
3- Act as protest vote e.g lib dems/
4- can effect outcome of elections
Give 6 features of liberalism
Individual freedom/ equality of opportunity/ promoting social justice/ encouraging political participation/ protection of indiuval rights/ dispersion of power
Give 5 features of classical liberalism (neo)
Minimal state intervention/ freedom and equality/ self reliance/ adopted by new right/ free market
Give 5 features of progressive liberalism
Some regulation of the market/ reform/ mixed economy/ welfare state/ state action
Give 4 evidences for the end of ideology
Parties seem to be more central and ‘catch all’/ able to enter into a coalition government/ increased emphasis on presentation/ ideological wings of each of the three main parties have been marginalised
Give 4 evidences against the end of ideology
Ideological dividing come apparent in the financial crisis/ still have distinct ideological traditions/ single issue parties are more popular
What is internal party democracy?
How MPs in the party are elected to be leader, it is also how MPs can be electives and how much power members have within a political party.
How are Labour leaders chosen?
A third of voters are made by the parliamentary Labour Party (backbenchers)
A third is made by organisations like trade unions
A third is made by ordinary party members
Must be more than half of votes
How are parliamentary candidates selected?
12.5% of MPs have to nominate a candidate who wants to elected
There is a national executive commitee’s approval lost
Electoral college makes a short list
How is party policy formulated in labour?
Make them in a conference
Two thirds majority in order for it to be in the manifesto
There is a two year policy cycle
National policy forum appointed
Policy commissions to make proposal which are formalised in the national executive committee- passes to party conference for approval
How are the liberal democrat Leaders chosen?
There is a postal ballot of all party members. Candidates needed to secure 10% of all lib dem MPs as well as 200 party members drawn from at least 20 local parties for their nomination
50% of votes in ballot
How are parliamentary candidates selected in the lib dems?
Must apply to their national party/ those who become approved can apply to individual constituencies/ these are short listed by the constituency / these are short listed by the constituency party go to a ballot of all parties members
How are party policies formulated in the lib dem party?
Combing English, Scottish and organisations below each national party,
Scotland policies- Scottish party
Federal conference twice a year
National conference spent considering proposals from the federal conference
Give three reasons why political parties still matter
Recruiting representatives- the choice of those who served in government/ best way of ensuring competitive elections/ educating the electorate
Give 4 reasons why political parties no longer matter
Single issue parties seem more popular and relevant/ the politicians who represent the parties are unable to make their performance match up to the promises they make/ the media adds to the distrust / countries are more difficult to govern today
Give three evidence points of consensus between 1951-1979 (just after the war)
Portrayed elections as a contest to decide which politicians would bring policies that everyone agreed on/ Tories accepted welfare and mixed economy
Give three evidence points of there not being consensus between 1951-1979 (just after the war)
There was disagreement on private/ public ownership/ social equality/ role of state/ the role on state was disagreed on
Give three points of evidence for consensus between 1979-97 (Thatcher and Kinnock)
There was new labour by 97 who were similar to the Tories, they embraced conservative policies/ both moved central, less extreme of eachother
Give three points of evidence against consensus between 1979-97 (Thatcher and Kinnock)
Conservatives under leadership of MT changed opinions to be more radical, new right/ Labour moved to the left lead to polarised contest
Give three points of evidence against consensus between 1997+
Still differences in party/ 2010 different views on global crisis/ Corbyn new party leader/ disagree on public services
Give three points of evidence for consensus between 1997+
Tong Blair removes ideology from the debate/ more central/ Cameron is moderate
What is political culture?
Is the idea, beliefs and attitude that shape political
Why is party membership declining?
Catch all parties/ less enthusiasm for and interest in politics/ growth in pressure group activity/ less time spent on recruiting members/ more emphasis on party leaders
What is party finance needed for?
Maintaining party headquarters e.g pamphlets/ maintaining a reserve fund e,g new roof/ campaign costs/ local constituencies expense/
Where do parties receive funding from?
Subscriptions from individual party members/ donations from indiuval companies/ contributions from associated bodies/ publi c subsidies/ minor parties- short money
Give four arguments for state funding
Party activity is essential to a democratic government/ allows politicians to focus on representing their constituents/ parties of the centre left suffer a disadvantage/ it would also help reduce part dependence on unions/ lib dems could compete equally
Give four arguments against state funding
Politics is a voluntarily activity/ we need to spend money on other more important things p/ public cannot be exoteted to bail pit parties/ may not support party
What is state funding?
State funding is when the government pay for the public services through our taxes
What is short money?
Money paid to opposition parties in order to help them cover their administrative costs and scrutinise the govebrment / is available to opposition that win over 150,00 votes
