Political Parties

Answer the following questions:

• State the various functions political parties perform in a democracy
  Answer: Functions of political parties are as follows:
  • Political parties contest elections
  • They form and run governments
  • A party which loses the election plays the role of the opposition
  • Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by the government.
  • Parties shape public opinion, formulate laws and make policies
• What are the various challenges faced by political parties?
  Answer: The various challenges faced by political parties are as follows:
  • Lack of internal democracy
  • Dynastic succession
  • Money and muscle power
  • Being a meaningful choice
• Suggest some reforms to strengthen parties so that they perform their functions well?
  Answer: Some suggestions for future reforms of political parties are as follows:
  • A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties.
  • It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates.
  • There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses. This support could be given in kind: petrol, paper, telephone etc. Or it could be given in cash on the basis of the votes secured by the party in the last election.
• What is a political party?
  Answer: A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
• What are the characteristics of a political party?
  Answer: Parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society. Parties are about a part of the society and thus involve PARTISANSHIP. Thus a party is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interests it upholds. A political party has three components, viz. leaders, active members and followers.