Role of Political Parties Flashcards
roles/functions of political parties in the UK
Providing representation
Encouraging political engagement And facilitating political participation
Formulating policy
Providing stable government
Engaging in political recruitment
providing representation
Representing the views of its members is the main function of a party
they represent the views of people with a certain set of beliefs
vital in representative democracy
for example, those with a broadly right-wing outlook tend to be drawn to the Conservative Party while those with a left-wing outlook tend to favour Labour
The main function is to represent the views of people who share their beliefs e.g. the Conservative party tends to represent those with right wing beliefs while labour represents those with left-wing beliefs
Parties bring order to the political system and ensure that the people are heard, therefore they are vital in representative democracy
Traditionally parties were said to represent the views of their members this was certainly true in an age of mass membership parties when parties and voters were clearly divided along class lines
Partisan and class dealignment accompanied by The rise of centrist ’catch-all’ parties can be said to have undermined this primary role
encouraging political engagement and participation
Making people aware of issues and educating them on the issues they wish to tackle
Encouraging people to engage with the democratic process and express their views in general elections
Encourage people to participate in politics by voting joining a party supporting parties through funding et cetera so they can gain more power and influence
All the main UK parties have procedures that involve members in selecting candidates to stand for local and national elections and in choosing a party leader
For example the Labour Party increased its membership by allowing supporters to join for an annual subscription of £3 pounds, which was later raised to £25
This development played a part in the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2015 — he has been associated with the rise in grassroots party membership
By making the wider citizenry aware of the issues of the day parties perform an educative function that by its very nature encourages political engagement
Parties further promote political participation by encouraging citizens to engage with the democratic process and giving them the opportunity to exercise power within their chosen party
The quality of participation afforded to members is shaped largely by the extent to which political parties are themselves internally democratic
formulating policy
Discuss and develop policy proposals before presenting them to voters in their manifestoes
Parties generate policies that embody the ideas that they stand for and at a general election they present these policy proposals to the electorate in the manifesto and if they win the election they have the mandate to implement those policies
For example in the 2015 election the NHS was a key battleground — Labour pledged that patients would be given an appointment within 48 hours while the Conservatives promised access to GPs seven days a week
By communicating and explaining their ideas to the public they also have an educative function — Although they do this to win popular support so are likely to distort their opponents policies in their own interests
Parties discuss and develop policy Proposals before presenting them to voters in a single coherent program known as a manifesto
It is argued that this process is likely to result in a more considered joined up style of government than that which might emerge in the absence of political parties
providing stable government
otherwise the House of Commons would just be a gathering of individuals driven by their personal goals and ambitions — parties bring order to the political system
The winning party at an election can form a government they then control the business of Parliament and implement the policies set out in its manifesto
The prime minister is the leader of the largest party rather than being directly elected by the people
Prime ministers that lose the confidence of their party are vulnerable
for example, in 1990 Thatcher lost the support of a large number of Tory MPs and failed to win a leadership contest outright, she then resigned and was replaced by John Major (who was regarded as better placed to unite the party and lead it to renewed electoral success)
Without parties it is argued that the House of Commons would simply be a gathering of individuals driven by their personal goals and political ambitions
Parties present the photos with a clear choice while also providing order following the general election by allowing a single party to form a government and secure the safe passage of its legislative proposals through the Commons
recruiting office holders / political recruitment
Party membership can lead to recruitment as candidates for public office and participation in the U.K.’s representative democracy
Candidates can learn political skills as campaigners and organisers
parties can also reject or deselect candidates who fail to live up to their expectations to stop them from standing for the party in an election
For example before the 2015 election Tory activists did not allow the sitting MPs in South Suffolk and other constituencies to stand again as candidates
Parties assess the qualities of those seeking election to public office casting aside those who are for whatever reason considered unsuitable
Parties also give those who will ultimately become the nations leaders an opportunity to serve a form of political apprenticeship at a local level before graduating to high office
strengths of the electoral mandate
Each party’s manifesto is readily available to voters ahead of polling day, Both in print and electronic form
summaries of the main policies of each party are disseminated by the mainstream media and televised leaders debates at the last two general elections have seen the leaders of the parties questioned on their main policies
First past the post system usually results in a single party government, so it follows that the victors should have the right to implement their stated policies
The franchise is widely held and there is a high level of individual voter registration
weaknesses of the electoral mandate
Low turnout at recent general elections means that the winning party can hardly claim to have secured a convincing mandate
Most voters pay little attention to party manifestos, whether in full or digested form, voting behaviour is less about policy detail and more about long-term factors or personalities
Coalition governments such as that seen in the wake of the 2010 general election mean that two or more parties must agree a compromise program for which no single party has a mandate
The concept of the mandate is flawed because it is impossible for voters to cast a ballot for or against a given party on the basis of a single policy
how are parties different from pressure groups?
parties are different from pressure groups because pressure groups….
- usually represent a single sectional interest or cause
- influence parties to adopt their ideas
- do not wish to win elections or form a government themselves
political parties v pressure groups: policies
Political parties tend to offer a broad portfolio of policies informed by a guiding ideology
Pressure groups generally pursue a narrower cause or sectional interest
political parties v pressure groups: membership
The main UK political parties have open membership structures and are therefore inclusive
Many pressure groups particularly sectional groups are more exclusive in their membership
political parties v pressure groups: elections
Political parties contest elections with a view to securing control of governmental power
Pressure groups do not tend to seek to be elected to office
But those pressure groups that do field candidates in elections generally do so simply as a means of raising their own profile or to encourage candidates representing the mainstream parties to adjust their policies for fear of losing votes
political parties v pressure groups: democracy
The main UK parties are highly organised and offer their members an input into key decisions through formalised rules and procedures
Even the larger more established pressure groups are often dominated by a small leading clique, few pressure groups display high levels of internal democracy
