Notes: POLITICAL PARTY

 

POLITICAL PARTY

 A group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government is called a political party.

 FEATURES OF POLITICAL PARTY

Various functions performed by the political parties in a democracy are following

1. Political parties contest elections to win the majority and form the government.

2. Political parties play a very important role in the making of the laws for the country.

3. Political party that wins majority in the elections forms the government and run the government such a party is called the ruling party.

4.Political party that loses the elections forms the opposition party it keeps a check on the ruling party.

5. The political parties form the important link between the public and the government.

6. They provide access to government machinery and welfare schemes.

 WHAT IS THE NEED OF POLITICAL PARTIES?

1.  There is a need for political party so that the Welfare policies for the citizens can be made.

2.  There is a need for political party to form and run the government.

3.  There is a need for political party because they act as a link between the government & the people.

4.  The political parties present the demands and interests of the people to the government.

 THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES FACED BY A POLITICAL PARTY ARE FOLLOWING

 

1.  Generally most of the political parties lack internal democracy.

2.  The real power in any party is with a few leaders at the top positions they are generally occupied by the members of a family.

3.  The use of money and muscle power in politics is a big problem faced by the political party.

4.  Political parties are not able to present a meaningful choice to the voters.

THERE ARE VARIOUS REASONS FOR LACK OF DEMOCRACY IN POLITICAL PARTIES LIKE:

(i) Concentration of power in one or few leaders at the top

(ii) Details of membership are not registered in the parties

(iii) No organizational meetings

(iv) No internal elections for membership within the party

 (v) Top leaders have unanimous power of decision – making.

 

 SUGGEST SOME REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN PARTIES SO THAT THEY PERFORM THEIR FUNCTIONS WELL.

1. The defection law forbid the political leaders to change their party for their self-interests.

2. It should be made compulsory for the political parties to give a minimum number of tickets about one third to women candidates. More powers should be given to Election Commission.

3. A law should be established to regulate the internal affairs of parties thereby making them more transparent.

4. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow its own constitution, to have an independent authority and to hold open elections in case of disputes.

5.  People can also put pressure on political parties and this can be done through partitions publicity and agitations.

PRESSURE GROUP is a group of people who seek to promote the interest of a particular section or a society.

2. Pressure groups are of two types, i.e., sectional & public interest groups.

3. They do not contest elections.

NATIONAL PARTY

REGIONAL PARTY/STATE PARTY

* A party that secures at least 6% of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or assembly elections in four states & wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a National Party.

* A party that secures at least 6% of total votes in legislative assembly of a  state & wins at least 2 seats is recognized as a regional/state Party.

* National Parties would have influence in more than 3 states.

* State Parties would have influence in less than 3 states.

E.g. INC, BJP, BSP, CPI-M, CPI &NCP

E.g.Samajwadi Party, Samta Party,DMK, AIDMK

 

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF RULING PARTIES & OPPOSITION PARTIES?

(a) Functions of the Ruling Parties

(1) Play a decisive role in making laws for the country.

(2) They form the government and run the country.

(3) They recruit leaders, train them and then make ministers to run the government.

(b) FUNCTIONS OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES

(1) They oppose the government by voicing different views.

(2) They criticize government for its failure and wrong policies.

(3) They mobilize opposition to the government.

MULTIPARTY SYSTEM. If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power, either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it a MULTIPARTY SYSTEM.

MERITS OF MULTIPARTY SYSTEM

(1) This system allows a variety of interests & opinions

(2) People have to make a choice between several candidates.

POLITICAL PARTIES PAGE - 3

DEMERITS OF MULTIPARTY SYSTEM

1. It appears messy

2. It leads to political instability

A POLITICAL PARTY HAS THREE COMPONENTS

a-The leaders,           b- The active members,           c- The followers.

BI-PARTY SYSTEM: MEANS: -

(i) In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties.

(ii) In this system the Government is formed by one party and the other plays the role of opposition.

MERIT OF BI-PARTY – This system allows stability of government as no coalition is there.

DEMERIT OF BI-PARTY - In this system only two main parties have a serious chance of winning.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN THE WORKING OF POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FOLLOWING:-

(i) Constitution was amended to prevent MLAs and MPs from changing parties.

(ii) The Supreme Court made it mandatory for the candidates to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against them, if any.

(iii) Election Commission made it necessary for the parties to hold their annual election regularly.

(iv) Some important suggestions were also made –

(a) Parties should have a register of its members

(b) More and more tickets (1/3 rd) be given to women candidates.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT The right to information act is good example of a law that empowers people to find out what is happening in the govt. and act as watchdogs of democracy.

FOLLOWINGS ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES:

1. Political parties contest election to come in to power.

2. Political parties make their policies & programme to persuade the voters.

3. Political parties also play an important role in making laws for the country.

4. The party with a majority forms the government & other Political parties play the role of opposition.

5. Political parties play an important role in shaping the opinions of the people.

6. Political parties participate actively to implement the welfare schemes of the people.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Notes: THE RISE OF NATIONALISM IN EUROPE

    In 1848, Frederic Sorrieu, a French artist prepared a series of 4 paints visualizing his dream of a world made up of 'democratic and social Republic',as he called them. ● In the first print the artist shows the people of Europe and America- men and women of all ages and social classes- marching in a long train offering homage to  the statue of 'liberty' It was imagined as a female figure who held the Torch of Enlightenment in one hand and the Charter   of Rights of Man in the other. ●   In the foreground the        the artist   depicted the        shattered remains of     the symbols of     absolutist institutions. ● In Sourrieu's idealist      vision, the people of the    world are grouped as    distinct nations,      identified through their    flags and national     ...
Read more

Q and Ans: Print and Culture

 Chapter: Print and Culture Answer the following questions Many historians argued that the conditions within which French Revolution occurred were created by the print culture”. Support this statement with three suitable arguments. Answer: Following are the arguments which were given in support of the above statement: 1 Print popularised the ideas of enlightened thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau, and those who read these books, started Question ing everything and developed critical and rational thinking.  2 These thinkers attacked the sacred authority of the Church and despotic power of the State. All existing values, norms and institutions, which were never Question ed earlier, were revalued through debates and discussions by the public in print. 3 By 1780s, there was an outpour of literature that mocked royalty and criticised their morality. The existing social order was criticised. Through cartoons and caricatures, they made people aware that while common people were goin...
Read more

Notes: Resources and Development

Image
  Resources and Development Resource: Anything which can be used for satisfying the human needs is called a resource. Discriminate use of Resources Resources are vital for human beings. But indiscriminate use of resources is creating many problems. Examples: Accumulation of resources in only few hands leaves others unsatisfied. Indiscriminate use of resources is creating many problems around the world, such as global warming, ecological crisis, disturbance in ozone layer, etc. Thus, equal distribution of resources becomes necessary for sustainable development. Sustainable Development:  Development which takes place without damaging the environment and compromising with needs of future is called sustainable development. Keeping the view of justified use of resources and sustainable development, the Earth Summit was organized in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro in which more than 100 state heads agreed with Agenda 21 for the sustainable development and proper use of resources. Agenda 21 ...
Read more