POLITICAL PARTIESAND

PARTY SYSTEMS

What is a Political Party? 

A group of people that is organized for the purpose of winning government power, by electoral or other means.

A political organization which nominates candidates for election to a legislature.

Characteristics of a Political Party:

Has an organized structure with lines of authority and power distribution.

Seek to attract popular support in the form of votes.

Party Membershipmeans formal attachment to a political party,

usually involving the assumption of obligations to the party and receiving privileges from the party.

Usually require a person to apply formally for membership, and party officials can accept or reject the application (though in fact they are usually accepted).

The person must at least pay annual dues and sometimes take an oath to support the party’s principles and candidates.

 

Party Membership Rules:

Principal Activities of Parties

Selecting CandidatesParties virtually monopolize nominations,

which give them tremendous power to shape governments and policies.

Election CampaigningThose professionals, hired by the candidates

for substantial fees, organize high-tech campaigns that feature such up-to-date (and costly) techniques and raising money by computerized direct mail advertising.

The Functions of Political Parties

Leadership RecruitmentThe political party is still likely to be a

structure that identifies potential leaders, brings them to public attention, and secures them the support necessary for taking public office.

Interest AggregationThe most effective way for parties

to attract a wide base of support is to set up internal party procedures that permit different points of view-different interests-to be presented, discussed, compromised and aggregated.

Policy Formulation

The successful party finds out what people want and finds way to combine and address those demands. Specific policies inevitably begin to emerge in this process.

 Campaigning

In today’s world of mass media, political consultants, and direct mail advertising, the parties still play a part in ensuring that voters are registered, that they know the differences among the candidates, and that they know when and where to vote on election day.

Governing

The leader of the party winning the most votes takes the top leadership role (be it president or prime minister), works with the advice of a cabinet formed of his own party.

Differences among Parties

In the Nature and Role of IdeologyThe platforms of other parties

say relatively little about ideologies and focus mainly on the parties’ proposed solutions to specific problems that especially concern voters at the time of the election.a) Missionary Parties

Parties whose principal aim is to win converts for their ideologies, not to maximize their votes so as to win elections.

b) Broker PartiesParties whose main goal is to win

elections, and who therefore appeal to as broad a spectrum of interests and ideologies as possible.

In CentralizationIn Discipline

Leader’s control of the members achieved by

dispensing rewards & imposing sanctions.

In CohesionThe extent to w/c party members

holding public office act together on policy issues.

Party Systems The system of interactions resulting

from inter-party competition.

Single-party systemPolitical system in which only

one political power is allowed.Hegemonic party system

A system in which there is more than a single party.

a)One-Party System

Two-Party SystemA state in which just two parties

dominate. Other parties might exist but they have no political importance. 

Multi-Party SystemA system where more than two

parties have some impact in a state’s political life.

Some Philippine Political Parties

MAJORITY

Nacionalista Party

Liberal PartyPartido Liberal

ng Pilipinas

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino

Force of the Filipino Masses

Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian

MuslimDemocrats

Lakas Kampi - CMD

MINORITY

Gabriela Party

Anak mindanao Party

AnakPawis Party

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