Analyse the main functions of “political parties”.
Functions of Political Parties:
- They contest elections: In most democracies elections are fought mainly among candidates put by political parties. Parties select their candidates in different ways.
- Parties put toward different policies and programmes. The voters choose from them. Each of us may have different opinions and views on what policies are suitable for the society.
- Parties play a decisive role in making law for a country. Laws are debated and passed in the Legislature.
- Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, train them and then make them ministers to run the government.
- Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising government for it’s failure on wrong policies.
- Parties shape public opinion: They raise and highlight issues.
- Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen, it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.