Functions of parties
- Created by: rosiekennedy
- Created on: 16-12-18 17:02
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- Functions of parties
- Making policy
- Most policy in the ruling party (same as policy-making function of government) is made by ministers and their advisers
- Also involves civil servants, political leaders, advisory units & committees
- Leadership group of the opposition group has most influence on policy making
- General membership of the party can have input - occurs locally, regionally, nationally
- Most policy in the ruling party (same as policy-making function of government) is made by ministers and their advisers
- Representation
- Parties seek to ensure all groups of society have their interests at least considered by government
- Whilst still claiming to represent a specific section of society
- Populist parties
- Represent people who feel they've been ignored by conventional parties
- Emotional / visceral appeal, plays on people's fears and dissatisfactions
- Often emerge rapidly and disappear quickly
- Issue parties represent a particular cause, while still claiming to represent national interest
- Parties seek to ensure all groups of society have their interests at least considered by government
- Selecting candidates
- Find local councillors, elected mayors, members of devolved assemblies, candidates for EU and UK parliament
- Done at local and regional level through party committees staffed by activists
- National party leaderships have some say in which candidates are chosen but local constituency parties have the most say
- Identifying leaders
- For ruling party, PM completely controls the appointment of minsters
- Opposition leader chooses a smaller group of frontbench spokespeople who form the leadership
- Some party members can become 'trained' as leaders in internal party organisations and committees
- Organising elections
- Party organisations persuade voters and inform them about candidates
- Political education
- Media has taken over supplying information to a certain extent
- Growth of social media and pressure groups can marginalise parties
- Reinforcing consent
- Parties must support parliamentary democracy
- If they were to challenge the nature of the political system in any way it would create political conflict within society
- Parties must support parliamentary democracy
- Making policy
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