Political Parties; IntroPolitical Parties; Intro

Know the definition of political Know the definition of political partiespartiesUnderstand the main functions of Understand the main functions of political partiespolitical parties

Name the main Name the main political parties in the political parties in the UK;UK; Labour PartyLabour Party Conservative PartyConservative Party Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats Democratic UnionistsDemocratic Unionists Scottish National PartyScottish National Party Sinn FeinSinn Fein Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru Independent Kiddiminister Hospital and Health ConcernIndependent Kiddiminister Hospital and Health Concern Social and Democratic Labour PartySocial and Democratic Labour Party Respect CoalitionRespect Coalition Ulster UnionistsUlster Unionists UK Independence PartyUK Independence Party Green PartyGreen Party BNPBNP

What is a political What is a political party?party? Political parties are organisations Political parties are organisations

of broadly like minded men and of broadly like minded men and women that seek to win elections women that seek to win elections in order that they can assume in order that they can assume responsibility for controlling the responsibility for controlling the apparatus of government with a apparatus of government with a view to implementing their own view to implementing their own policiespolicies

What is the role of What is the role of political parties?political parties?

The primary role of any The primary role of any political party is to win political party is to win elections – this is their elections – this is their main feature and main feature and distinguishes them from distinguishes them from pressure groupspressure groups

However political However political parties have several parties have several other functions; other functions;

RepresentationRepresentation Stable governmentStable government OppositionOpposition Participation and mobilisationParticipation and mobilisation Recruitment of leadersRecruitment of leaders Policy formulationPolicy formulation

RepresentationRepresentation

Parties compete for elected office Parties compete for elected office through free electionsthrough free elections

To be successful they must represent To be successful they must represent the interests and opinions of a the interests and opinions of a significant proportion of the significant proportion of the electorate.electorate.

Even if they cannot satisfy everyone Even if they cannot satisfy everyone they try to create a consensus which they try to create a consensus which appeals to as many people as appeals to as many people as possiblepossible

Stable GovernmentStable Government

Organised parties help to ensure Organised parties help to ensure a stable government. a stable government.

They exert discipline over their They exert discipline over their members who will usually vote for members who will usually vote for the partythe party

Voters can be confident that the Voters can be confident that the programme of a political party will programme of a political party will be implementedbe implemented

OppositionOpposition

In a democracy it is also important In a democracy it is also important that opposition views are that opposition views are representedrepresented

People who disagree with the People who disagree with the Government also have their voices Government also have their voices represented by opposition partiesrepresented by opposition parties

There is reassurance that another There is reassurance that another party can replace any Government party can replace any Government which looses the public confidencewhich looses the public confidence

Participation and Participation and mobilisationmobilisation Voters do not participate directly in the Voters do not participate directly in the

law making process.law making process. Main parties have local organisations Main parties have local organisations

in every constituency, providing in every constituency, providing citizens with the chance to make their citizens with the chance to make their views known.views known.

Parties are important agents of Parties are important agents of political agents in the UKpolitical agents in the UK

At election time local party members At election time local party members work hard to get as many people to work hard to get as many people to turn out to vote as possibleturn out to vote as possible

Recruitment of leadersRecruitment of leaders

Parties supply the leading politicians in Parties supply the leading politicians in a democracya democracy

In the UK political leaders have In the UK political leaders have normally devoted much of their adult normally devoted much of their adult lives to a political partylives to a political party

As members of a political party As members of a political party politicians learn important skills such as politicians learn important skills such as communicating with different groups of communicating with different groups of voters and evading difficult questions!voters and evading difficult questions!

Policy formulationPolicy formulation

Parties sift ideas and publish Parties sift ideas and publish documents called manifestosdocuments called manifestos

The document must be broadly The document must be broadly acceptable to party membersacceptable to party members

Today manifestos are extremely Today manifestos are extremely detailed and if a party wins an detailed and if a party wins an election they claim a mandate to election they claim a mandate to put those policies into practiceput those policies into practice