Unit 1: Political Parties (functions and structure) Flashcards
0
Q
What are the qualities of programmatic parties? [7]
A
- ideological
- long term goals
- fixed values
- shape public opinion
- traditional policies
- class-based support
- strong activist base
1
Q
What are the functions of parties?
A
- representation
- policy formulation
- recruitment of leaders
- organisation of government
- participation and mobilisation of the electorate
2
Q
What are the qualities of a catch-all parties? [7]
A
- pragmatic
- short term popularity
- flexible values
- follow public opinion
- policy renewal
- classless support
- weak activist base
3
Q
What are the three main features of political parties?
A
- they aim to exercise government power by winning political office (however smaller parties may use elections to gain a political platform)
- they adopt a broad issue focus addressing major areas of government policy (however small parties often have a narrower issue focus)
- members share political preferences and a general ideological identity (although loose and broadly defined)
4
Q
In what two ways is the effectiveness of parties ensuring representation questionable?
A
- the electorate is not always well informed or rational in choosing parties. Image and leader may be as important as its policy
- representation issues of FPTP - may only need 35-40% of vote
5
Q
In what two ways is the effectiveness of parties formulating policies questionable?
A
- the major parties have recently distanced themselves from their traditional ideologies, less interested in formulating larger goals for society, less interested in ideas
- parties more eager to follow public opinion than to shape it by adopting clear ideological stances
6
Q
How is the effectiveness of parties recruitment of leaders questionable?
A
- governments rely on a small pool of talent as they are appointed from the majority party in the House of Commons
- electioneering and other party activities may be poor training for running a large government department
8
Q
What are the three main features of a party government?
A
- the major parties have clear ideological convictions and develop rival programmes of government
- the governing party is able to claim a popular mandate and enjoy sufficient internal unity and ideological cohesion to be able to translate its manifesto commitments into government policy
- the government is accountable to the electorate through its mandate and by the existence of a credible opposition party which acts as a balancing force
9
Q
In what ways do party leaders hold power within a party?
A
- Con leaders have greater authority than Lab leaders
- since 1980s party leaders have grown in importance
- their public profiles dominate those of senior colleagues and their parties (presidentialism)
- leaders are increasingly expected to determine their parties’ ideological direction and to deliver electoral success
- their public profile however could be detrimental to electoral success of a party
10
Q
In what ways do parliamentary parties hold power within a party?
A
- since 1970s party members have become increasingly more independently minded reflected in the decline of party unity
- this weakens the authority of the party leader
- e.g. Maggie was removed in 1990 which demonstrates the ultimate power that parliamentary parties have over their leaders
- e.g. Major’s position was seriously undermined by a series of backbench revolts, mainly over Europe.
11
Q
In what ways do party backers hold power within a party?
A
- people who fund parties (campaign and political finance)L have considerable influence
- Labour has, in effect, been controlled by the Trade Unions that provide the bulk of party’s funds (however there has been a decline in support from the TU and now they supply only a third of the party’s finance)
- Conservatives are backed up by major businesses (e.g. tobacco companies and contraction companies) who exert undue influence over the process of policy development
- essentially rich individuals can buy influence within parties.
- scandals such as ‘cash for questions’ has led to new rules on party funding (Electoral Commission) which places limits on campaign spending and require the public disclosure of donations over £5000
12
Q
In what ways has the UK had/have a two party system
A
- 1945 to 1970 an archetypal two party system did exist: Conservatives and Labour parties consistently won over 90 per cent of the vote and dominated HoC with over 90 per cent of the seats. Power alternated four times, with the average electoral gap between parties being only 4 per cent.
13
Q
In what ways is two-partyism beneficial? [2]
A
- advantage of two party politics is that it makes possible a system of party government (stability, choice and accountability)
- delivered strong and stable government; no coalitions
14
Q
Define a two party system
A
- dominated by two parties
- both have equal chance of winning
- only two parties enjoy sufficient electoral and parliamentary strength to have a realistic chance of winning government power, though there may be smaller parties
- the opposition serves as a ‘government in the wings’
15
Q
In what way is the two-party system under threat? [4]
A
- since 1974 there has been growing support for third parties e.g. Lib Dems (two and a half party system)
- shifts in electoral patterns in reflection to partisan dealignment and partisan dealignment
- but electoral success of thirds parties was masked by FPTP therefore we still have a two-party system
- most recently however in 2010, two-partyism suffered a major blow with a hung parliament and the result of a coalition
- support for Conservatives and Labour is now down to 65% in 2010
