Question

Describe the main functions of political parties.

Hint:

Cover contesting elections, offering policies and programmes, making laws, forming the government and the opposition, shaping public opinion, and providing access to welfare schemes.

Answer 1

Concept:

• A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government, agreeing on some policies and programmes for the society with a view to promote the collective good.
• Every party has three components, the leaders, the active members and the followers, and its functions flow from what these three do together.

Step 1: Parties contest elections.
Elections are fought mainly among candidates put up by political parties. In India the top leaders of a party choose its candidates, while in some countries members and supporters of a party choose them.

Step 2: Parties put forward policies and programmes.
Each party places a different set of policies before the voters, who choose the one they like. A party brings many similar opinions together and gives them a direction, so that the government can work to a plan.

Step 3: Parties play a decisive role in making laws.
Laws are debated and passed in the legislature, and members usually vote as their party directs. So in practice it is the party that decides the shape of a law.

Step 4: Parties form and run governments, and also oppose them.
The party that wins a majority forms the government, chooses the leaders, appoints ministers and takes decisions. Parties that lose form the opposition, criticise the government for its wrong policies and mobilise opposition to it.

Step 5: Parties shape opinion and give access to government.
Parties raise and highlight issues, launch movements and mould public opinion, often working through pressure groups. They also give ordinary people access to government machinery and welfare schemes, since a local party worker is easier to approach than a government officer.

Final Answer: Political parties contest elections, offer policies and programmes for voters to choose from, decide the making of laws, form the government or the opposition, shape public opinion on important issues, and give citizens access to government machinery and welfare schemes.