1. Political Parties:
Introduction

2. Summary Slide
Between state and society

3. Between state and society
The state
Legislature, executive, judiciary
Political parties, Interest groups, social movements
Society:
Families, individuals, informal groups

4. Political Parties
One of several organizations or structures between state and society
Parties are virtually ubiquitous in mass-based polities: found in
liberal democratic
semi-democratic,
authoritarian systems

5. Linkage: Parties are organizations linking citizens and government
Present in legislative assemblies
But more than a faction or grouping within the political elite.
Parties typically organize to contest power via elections or other means
Doing so typically requires organization not only during, but also in between elections

6. Development of parties reflects
Need of elites (or elements within the elite) to organize in order to ensure support
Need of citizens to organize if they are to exercise influence

7. The electoral connection:
Close relationship between suffrage extension and the development of parties:
In some instances, parties appear after extension of the vote:
In other instances, parties organize in order to demand the vote – e.g. Socialist and other working class parties, late 19th & early 20th centuries

8. Party formation in Britain:
First Reform Bill (1832) leads to formation of local election societies
Second Reform Bill (1867) followed by the establishment of national party organizations:
National Union of Conservative and Unionist Constituency Organizations (1869)
National Liberal Federation (1877)

9. Functions or tasks of parties: what do parties do?
Structuring elections: providing alternatives
Recruiting candidates
Organizing the legislative assembly
Linking legislatures and executives
Providing points of reference for citizens