AQA Government and Politics - Political
Parties Exam Study Guide
Political party - Answer>> An organisation that share common
ideologies and seek election to form government
Differ from pressure groups
Main roles of political parties - Answer>> Representation
Participation
Political recruitment
Policy formulation
Stable government provision
Political parties do promote participation - Answer>> Party
members play roles
'Primary elections' to select parliamentary candidates
Perform well at grassroots level
Still see majority win
Political parties do not promote participation - Answer>> No
longer stimulate participation
Younger people criticize institutions
Social change weakens social/political links
Decline in turnout
Why is party membership declining? - Answer>> Party
centralisation
Non-traditional participation methods
Increase of minor parties
Paying membership fees
Examples of party membership decline - Answer>> Declined
since 1952
, High Conservative membership 1940s/50s
Labour decrease 1979 - Thatcher popular
Two-party system - Answer>> 2 equally matched parties stand
a chance of winning over minor parties
Disadvantages of a two-party system - Answer>> Votes wasted
on third parties
Likely one disliked candidate will be elected
Leads to apathy
Centralisation creates extremism
Advantages of a two-party system - Answer>> Clear majority
Government = accountable due to opposition
Strong government
Parties must not be extreme to win
Other party systems - Answer>> Single party system
Dominant party system
Multiparty system
Single party system - Answer>> Only one party will win
Opposition generally opposed
Dominant party system - Answer>> Only one party realistically
wins
Opposition allowed but unlikely to win
Multiparty system - Answer>> More than 2 parties have a
chance of winning
Usually coalitions occur
Ideology - Answer>> A set of opinions or belief
Parties Exam Study Guide
Political party - Answer>> An organisation that share common
ideologies and seek election to form government
Differ from pressure groups
Main roles of political parties - Answer>> Representation
Participation
Political recruitment
Policy formulation
Stable government provision
Political parties do promote participation - Answer>> Party
members play roles
'Primary elections' to select parliamentary candidates
Perform well at grassroots level
Still see majority win
Political parties do not promote participation - Answer>> No
longer stimulate participation
Younger people criticize institutions
Social change weakens social/political links
Decline in turnout
Why is party membership declining? - Answer>> Party
centralisation
Non-traditional participation methods
Increase of minor parties
Paying membership fees
Examples of party membership decline - Answer>> Declined
since 1952
, High Conservative membership 1940s/50s
Labour decrease 1979 - Thatcher popular
Two-party system - Answer>> 2 equally matched parties stand
a chance of winning over minor parties
Disadvantages of a two-party system - Answer>> Votes wasted
on third parties
Likely one disliked candidate will be elected
Leads to apathy
Centralisation creates extremism
Advantages of a two-party system - Answer>> Clear majority
Government = accountable due to opposition
Strong government
Parties must not be extreme to win
Other party systems - Answer>> Single party system
Dominant party system
Multiparty system
Single party system - Answer>> Only one party will win
Opposition generally opposed
Dominant party system - Answer>> Only one party realistically
wins
Opposition allowed but unlikely to win
Multiparty system - Answer>> More than 2 parties have a
chance of winning
Usually coalitions occur
Ideology - Answer>> A set of opinions or belief
