1. A Look Into Political Party Systems
LET’S PARTAY!!!
A Look Into Political Party Systems

2. Roles of Political Parties
The goal of a party is electoral success
It is the mechanism by which candidates are chosen to run for office and leaders are selected
Influences and educates voters
Puts forth legislative ideas
Serve as intermediaries b/w public and gov’t
Training ground for politicians
Reconciles conflicting demands of public

3. One Party System
Also called single party system or one party-dominant system
No political or legal alternatives…one united goal or ideology
Single party system ex = the former Communist Party of the USSR
One party dominant system ex = PRI party in Mexico …ex 2 Liberals in Canada???

4. Two Party System When two credible party option exist
Gives two clear choices for electorate and politicians and no vote splitting
Britain (Conservatives and Labour)
US (Democrats and Republicans)
Canada from
Two party plus???

5. Multiple Party System
Three or more political parties have a realistic chance of winning
Sweden has 7 parties in parliament
Difficult to attain majority gov’t might mean unstable parliament – strong coalitions can overcome this
Better chance of electorate and politicians identifying with a political party

6. Types of Political Parties
1. Pragmatic Party
2. Ideological Party
3. Interest Party
4. Personal Party
5. Movement Party

7. Pragmatic Party
Concerned primarily with programs that the public views as solutions to problems
Pragmatic parties often flip flop on ideas and even steal each other’s proposal
Ex Chretien opposed Free Trade and the GST ex2 Bennett opposed King’s new deal then adopted it in office

8. Ideological Party
Party doctrine is more important than electoral success – ex Communist Party…NDP too???

9. Interest Party Converts an interest group into a full fledge party
Ex – The Green Party or Marijuana Party

10. Personal Parties Based on a single influential party leader
Ex – Castro, Mao, Peronistas (Argentina), Mugabe (Zimbabwe)

11. Movement Party
A political movement that evolves into a party (a union of people for profound social change)
Ex The Congress Party of India …. The Bloc Quebecois