Political Parties; Intro Know the definition of political parties Know the definition of political parties Understand the main functions of political parties Understand the main functions of political parties

Name the main political parties in the UK; Labour Party Labour Party Conservative Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats Democratic Unionists Democratic Unionists Scottish National Party Scottish National Party Sinn Fein Sinn Fein Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru Independent Kiddiminister Hospital and Health Concern Independent Kiddiminister Hospital and Health Concern Social and Democratic Labour Party Social and Democratic Labour Party Respect Coalition Respect Coalition Ulster Unionists Ulster Unionists UK Independence Party UK Independence Party Green Party Green Party BNP BNP

What is a political party? Political parties are organisations of broadly like minded men and women that seek to win elections in order that they can assume responsibility for controlling the apparatus of government with a view to implementing their own policies Political parties are organisations of broadly like minded men and women that seek to win elections in order that they can assume responsibility for controlling the apparatus of government with a view to implementing their own policies

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

However political parties have several other functions; Representation Representation Stable government Stable government Opposition Opposition Participation and mobilisation Participation and mobilisation Recruitment of leaders Recruitment of leaders Policy formulation Policy formulation

Representation Parties compete for elected office through free elections Parties compete for elected office through free elections To be successful they must represent the interests and opinions of a significant proportion of the electorate. To be successful they must represent the interests and opinions of a significant proportion of the electorate. Even if they cannot satisfy everyone they try to create a consensus which appeals to as many people as possible Even if they cannot satisfy everyone they try to create a consensus which appeals to as many people as possible

Stable Government Organised parties help to ensure a stable government. Organised parties help to ensure a stable government. They exert discipline over their members who will usually vote for the party They exert discipline over their members who will usually vote for the party Voters can be confident that the programme of a political party will be implemented Voters can be confident that the programme of a political party will be implemented

Opposition In a democracy it is also important that opposition views are represented In a democracy it is also important that opposition views are represented People who disagree with the Government also have their voices represented by opposition parties People who disagree with the Government also have their voices represented by opposition parties There is reassurance that another party can replace any Government which looses the public confidence There is reassurance that another party can replace any Government which looses the public confidence

Participation and mobilisation Voters do not participate directly in the law making process. Voters do not participate directly in the law making process. Main parties have local organisations in every constituency, providing citizens with the chance to make their views known. Main parties have local organisations in every constituency, providing citizens with the chance to make their views known. Parties are important agents of political agents in the UK Parties are important agents of political agents in the UK At election time local party members work hard to get as many people to turn out to vote as possible At election time local party members work hard to get as many people to turn out to vote as possible

Recruitment of leaders Parties supply the leading politicians in a democracy Parties supply the leading politicians in a democracy In the UK political leaders have normally devoted much of their adult lives to a political party In the UK political leaders have normally devoted much of their adult lives to a political party As members of a political party politicians learn important skills such as communicating with different groups of voters and evading difficult questions! As members of a political party politicians learn important skills such as communicating with different groups of voters and evading difficult questions!

Policy formulation Parties sift ideas and publish documents called manifestos Parties sift ideas and publish documents called manifestos The document must be broadly acceptable to party members The document must be broadly acceptable to party members Today manifestos are extremely detailed and if a party wins an election they claim a mandate to put those policies into practice Today manifestos are extremely detailed and if a party wins an election they claim a mandate to put those policies into practice