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AS Politics > Political Parties facts > Flashcards

Political Parties facts Flashcards

1
Q

Functions of a political party

A
  • Representation
  • Policy formulation
  • Recruitment of leaders
  • Organisation of government
  • Participation and mobilisation of electorate
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2
Q

Functions of a PP: Representation

A
  • Often seen as the primary function of parties
  • Link government to the people by responding to public opinion
  • Winning party can therefore claim a popular mandate to carry out its policies

BUT

  • Electorate is not always well informed and rational when choosing parties to vote for
  • Because of FPTP electoral system parties may only need 35-40% of votes to win GE
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3
Q

Functions of a PP: Policy formulation

A

• Parties develop programmes of government when seeking government
• Parties initiate and formulate sets of policies for the electorate
BUT
• In recent years, parties have distanced from traditional ideologies (become less interested in formulating larger goals for society)
• Have become more interested in following public opinion vs trying to shape it by adopting clear ideological stances.

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4
Q

Functions of a PP: Recruitment of leaders

A

• As a party member, future politicians gain experience of canvassing, debating issues and helping to run a constituency party
• Parties recruit and train future political leaders
BUT
• Governments are appointed from majority party, rely on a relatively small pool of talent
• Electioneering and other party activities are poor training for running large government department

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5
Q

Functions of a PP: organisation of government

A

• Operation of government relies on parties
• Parties help form government
• Give government stability and coherence
• Facilitate cooperation between legislative and executive
• Provide opposition and criticism – help scrutinise government
BUT
• There has been a decline in party unity since 1970s -> weakens party’s control of commons

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6
Q

Functions of a PP: representation and mobilisation

A

• Provide opportunities for citizens to join political parties
• Help educate and mobilise electorate through canvassing, public meetings, advertising, poster campaigns, party broadcasts, etc.
BUT
• Voters’ loyalty and identification with parties has declined. In 1964, 44% of electorate had a ‘very strong’ attachment to party. In 2005, only 10% said this
• Turnout in GE has fallen since 1997, only 59% turnout in 2001, 65% turnout in 2010
• Membership of parties has fallen – Now, fewer than 1% of people in the UK belong to a political party, whereas it was 7% in the mid-1900s

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7
Q

What is a single-party system?

A

One party puts up candidates for election, other parties banned, undemocratic & authoritarian. e.g. Nazi Germany or Communist Soviet Union.

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8
Q

What is a two-party system?

A

• Two-party system – Two parties compete for power on an equal or near equal basis. Other parties win few seats and exercise little power. e.g. Britain 1945-79, USA.

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9
Q

What is a multi-party system?

A

More than two parties compete for power. Power may alternate between various parties or be shared in coalitions. e.g. Italy produces continuous multi-party coalitions.

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10
Q

Advantages of a two-party system

A

+provides voters with a clear choice between rivals
+provides a strong and stable government due to a clear majority being created
+if the government fails, there is another party ready to take over (e.g. shadow cabinet)
+government is clearly accountable

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11
Q

Disadvantages of a two-party system

A
  • adversarial politics may not be desirable
  • encourages polarisation rather than consensus
  • inefficient because huge swing in policies if government changes
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12
Q

What is Keynesian economics?

A

State should manage the economy

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13
Q

What is mixed economy?

A

Economy including both privately owned businesses and nationalised industries

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14
Q

Definition of absolute equality

A

when people have the same material wealth or in which the general economic conditions of their lives are the same

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15
Q

Definition of relative equality

A

When people have the same opportunities to succeed, unhampered by artificial barriers or prejudices or preferences

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16
Q

Differences between the left and right wings? (5)

A 
Left:
-Stress the importance of equality and community	
-Support for progressive taxation	
-Support for redistribution of wealth	
-Support for greater welfarism	
-Support for more government spending	
Right:
-Stress the importance of freedom and the individual
-Support for lower taxation
-Support for individuals looking after themselves
-Opposition to redistribution of wealth
-Opposition to more government spending
17
Q

Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (economy)

A

Old Labour:
• Regulation of economy
• Nationalization
• Keynesian approach to stimulating economic growth
• state intervention to ensure full employment

New Labour:
• Public sector borrowing acceptable for investing in public services
• Mostly free markets
• State role in enforcing competition/fair trade
• Partnerships between state and private sector in public services

18
Q

Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (trade unions)

A

Old Labour: Strong trade unions needed to protect workers

New Labour:
There should be a limited role for trade unions

19
Q

Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (Welfare state)

A

Old Labour:
• The welfare state is a way of compensating for disadvantage and redistributing income
• All welfare services should fall under the control of the state •

New Labour:
• Benefits should be used to empower people to get into work; not for redistribution of income
• Private sector should be involved in providing services if it could improve quality

20
Q

Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (law and order)

A

Old Labour:
Tackle the causes of crime, especially economic causes (e.g. poverty)
New Labour:
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime – a clear mixture of both aspects but became increasingly authoritarian

21
Q

Differences between Old Labour and New Labour (EU)

A

Old Labour:
Largely anti-European, Britain should be free to protect domestic industries
New Labour:
Britain to play a full part in the EU whilst maintaining own independence; cautious support for the Euro

22
Q

Difference between Old Labour and New Labour (general)

A

New Labour is more right wing - after Thatcher, Labour tried to build on certain aspects, such as tougher law and order and freer markets, rather than completely reversing it.

23
Q

Is Miliband more Old Labour or New Labour?

A

Old Labour evidence:
• -opposes cut in top rate of income tax to 45%
• Won leadership due to Trade Union support (lost amongst MPs and MEPs)
• Opposes predator capitalism
• In 2014, (at Labour Conference) proposed 36,000 new staff for the NHS (echoes Old Labour)
• -government mandated freeze in energy prices
New Labour evidence:
• Supports “Blue Labour”
• Supports a “living wage” not just a minimum wage
• Opposes abolition of Educational Maintenance Allowance
• Supports government’s freeze on public sector pay – criticized public sector strikes in 2011 and 2012

(More left version of New Labour)

24
Q

What is One Nation Conservatism?

A
  • Originated with Benjamin Disraeli- he supported measures to improve lives of people to provide social support and protect working classes
  • Believes in organic society in which different classes have natural obligations to one another.
  • Society is naturally hierarchal, the people at the top have an obligation to the people at the bottom – noblesse oblige.
  • A sense of pragmatism: if the ruling class was indifferent to the suffering of people, society would become unstable
  • It is not individualistic
  • Tradition is important in developing a sense of community
  • The state has a role to play – but ONC emphases role of churches, voluntary bodies, etc (Disraeli legalised trade unions)
25
Q

What is traditional conservatism?

A
  • organic society
  • natural hierarchy
  • private property
  • human imperfection
  • “change in order to conserve”
26
Q

What is Thatcherism?

A
  • Atomistic individualism
  • Social authoritarianism
  • Neo-Liberalism
  • Neo-Conservatism
  • “The free economy and the strong state” - Andrew Gamble
27
Q

What is Cameron’s conservatism? ONC vs Thatcherism

A

One Nation Conservatism evidence:
• “There is such thing as society, it is just not the same thing as the state”
• Supports the ‘nudge’ theory in which government ‘encourages’ people to make better choices for themselves
• Champions a concept known as the ‘Big Society’ (government do less, charities do more)
• Pledges to heal the “broken society” through “compassionate conservatism”
• Pledges to protect the NHS from government austerity measures
Thatcherism evidence:
• Reduces the top rate of income tax from 50 to 45%
• Pledges tax break for married couples
• On the 2011 riots: “this is criminality pure and simple… we will do whatever it takes to restore law and order” -> tough law and order very authoritarian
• Insists there is no economic plan B: austerity measures continue despite missing deficit reduction
• Supports reducing the scope of government with reductions in spending
• Raising tax threshold to £12,500 (2014 Con Conference)
• Raise the 40% income tax threshold to £50,000 from £41,900
• Introducing EXDOs (Theresa May did this) banning ‘disruptive’ individuals from making speeches and the Data Act

28
Q

Classical Liberalism vs Progressive Liberalism

A

Classical
• Individual should be free to pursue their own economic self-interest
• Emphasis on protecting the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government and state
• “small government, economic liberty, free market economics”
Progressive
• For people to be truly free, state needs to play a greater role through some economic intervention and welfare state
• Had foundations for welfare state
• “Tolerance and equal treatment, intervention to help the poor”
• Key liberals: Keynes, Beveridge

29
Q

How are Labour party leaders elected?

A
  • Candidates are nominated by 12.5% of Labour MPs of 20% if they wish to challenge current leader
  • Winners must have over 50% of the vote
  • Electorate: 1/3 MPs and MEPs, 1/3 party members, 1/3 affiliated organisations
  • AV electoral system used
  • Someone could, in theory, vote multiple times (as member of party and affiliated organisation)
30
Q

How are Conservative party leaders elected?

A
  • Candidates must be nominated by two MPs
  • Elimination rounds until two MPs remain
  • Party members can’t vote until after MPs have decided on two candidates
31
Q

How are Liberal Democrat party leaders elected?

A
  • Candidates must be supported by 10% of party, plus 200 party members drawn from at least 20 constituencies
  • Election is decided by individual members of Lib Dems in postal ballot
  • AV electoral system is used

AS Politics (11 decks)

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