Principles of Political Parties Flashcards
what is a political party?
an organisation of people with similar political values and views which develops a set of goals and policies that it seeks to convert into political action by obtaining government office, or a share in government, or by influencing the government currently in power.
how may a political party pursue its goals?
by mobilising public opinion in its favour, selecting candidates for office, competing at elections and identifying suitable leaders
what are features of political parties in the UK?
-the members of parties share similar political values and views
-parties seek either to secure the election or their candidates as representatives or to form the government at various levels (local, regional, national)
-they have some kind of organisation that develops policy, recruits candidates and identifies leaders
how do the features of political parties vary?
-some are mass membership parties with many adherents (UK Labour Party) others have a small leadership group who seek supporters rather than members (main US parties)
-some may be highly organised with a formal permanent organisation (German Christian Democrats) others have a less permanent organisation (US parties that only fully organise at elections)
-some have a narrow range of values and views and intensely united around those views (left wing socialist parties) others have a broad range of views and values so they are divided into factions (UK Conservative party)
-some are focused on gaining power (Main parties in UK and US) others recognise they won’t gain power but seek to influence the political system (Green parties)
how do political parties use their manifesto?
to set out a coherent body of policies that it would seek to pass into law if elected to office, and so the party that gains power at Westminster after a general election is said to have earned an electoral mandate (the right to implement stated policies)
Whats the Salisbury Doctrine?
the salisbury doctrine holds that the unelected HoL should not, at second reading oppose any bill that was included in the elected party’s manifesto. The doctrine gives the governing party the authority to implement the programme it presented to the electorate.
what’s a mandate?
the right of the governing party to pursue the policies set out in its manifesto. The mandate gives the governing party the authority to pursue its stated policies, without needing to go back to voters for further approval. It does not require the government to deliver on its manifesto promises or prevent it from drafting proposals that were not included in its manifesto.
where do the origins of the Salisbury Doctrine lie?
in the idea of a mandate developed by the Conservative prime minister Lord Salisbury in the late 19th century. It developed in the 1940s as a constitutional convention, that the unelected HoL should not frustrate the will of the elected Commons.
what’s a manifesto?
a pre-election document in which a party sets out a series of policy pledges and legislative proposals that it plans to enact if elected.
How does the concept of an electoral mandate make sense?
-the first past the post electoral system usually results in a single party government so the victors should have the right to implement their stated policies
-the doctrine assumes the electors have full knowledge of the manifesto and can make a rational judgement. A party’s manifesto is available in print and online
-the mandate strengthens government, in that the winning party gains legitimacy for its policies
-all MPs from a winning party are ‘bound in’ by the mandate as most voters vote for a party manifesto rather than an individual.
-if a government strays from its mandate, Parliament and assemblies can feel justified in challenging the government
why does the concept of an electoral mandate not make sense?
-the low turnout at recent general elections means that the winning party can hardly claim to have secured a convincing mandate.
-the concept of the mandate is flawed because its impossible for voters to cast a ballot for or against a given party on the basis of a single policy
-voter might not necessarily agree with all its manifesto commitments
-some commitments may be vague. this makes calling the government to account on the basis of its manifesto difficult.
making a policy
most policies are made by ministers and their advisors - political leaders, civil servants, advisory units, committees. Opposition parties can also make policies. They can communicate to the leadership which ideas and demands (through conferences and party committees) they would like to see as ‘official’ policy. Policy formulating function is known as aggregation which involves identifying the wide range of demands made on the political system. this is undertaken by the party leadership.
example for aggregation
before the 2017 general election, Labour’s National Policy Forum and the elected National Executive Council worked closely with leadership and senior membership of the parliamentary party to aggregate a manifesto that represented the political opinions of the party.
what is partisan dealignment?
a process which began in the 1970s whereby voters who used to be strongly attached to one party, identified with that party, and always voted for it, detached themselves from that relationship in even greater numbers. Closely associated with class dealignment.
who did the CP Party represent in the past?
in the 19th century they protected the interests of the landed gentry and aristocracy.
who did the Labour Party represent in the past?
developed in the early 20th century to represent the interests of the working class and especially trade union members.
what is class dealignment?
a trend whereby fewer people consider themselves to be a member of a particular social class and so class has a decreasing impact on their voting behaviour.
representation today
parties argue that they represent national interest and not the interests of specific classes or groups. In reality parties tend to be biased towards the interests of one section of society or another. In the 2017 general election 82.4% of those who voted felt that their political opinions were represented by the CP:42.2% or the LP:40%
how are populist parties emerging?
They emerge rapidly and often disappear equally quickly. They typically represent people who feel they have been ignored by conventional parties (that they are not represented at all). Populist parties play on people’s fears and dissatisfactions. They generally take root among the poor who feel left behind and can be both left and right wing.
what is populism?
a political movement, often represented by a political party that appeals to people’s emotions, and which tends to find supporters among sections of the community who feel they have not been represented by conventional politics and politicians.
why are ‘issue parties’ rising?
they often represent a particular cause. e.g. green parties. many new parties are dedicated to advancing women’s rights in parts of Europe.
selecting candidates
the national party leadership have some influence over which candidates are chosen but it is in this role that the local constituency parties have the greatest part of play. In order to contest a general election, once a candidate wins a seat, they claim to have an electoral mandate to represent that seat in the HoC. Local party can also deselect them from fighting the next election if their views are too opposed to those of local activists.
identifying leaders
In the CP the parliamentary party will agree on two MPs who’s names will go forward to party members to decide between. e.g. in 2019 Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. Under the leadership of ed Miliband (2010-15) the LP adopted one member, one vote. Currently if an MP can secure a backing of 10% of the party, their name will go forward to the party membership to vote on.
organising elections
they supply approved candidates, publicise election issues, persuade people to vote, inform them about their candidates. party activists deliver leaflets, canvas voters on the doorstep and arrange hustings so their voters understand a choice between candidates. Representatives of the parties are present when votes are counted so they play a part in ensuring the elections are honest and fair.
