Introduction to political parties
A political party is a group of people who work together to achieve shared goals by standing
candidates in elections to win public o ice.
Going into an election a party produces a manifesto that sets out what they would do if elected.
They have a mandate to carry out these promises if they have the consent of the electorate by
being voted in.
The Salisbury convention holds that the house of lords should not block a bill that comes from
the manifesto of the winning party. This was seen in 1997 when Labour promised reform of the
House of Lords, so attempted to pass the House of Lords Act 1999. Although reluctant, the lord
allowed it to pass as it featured in the government’s manifesto
Roles of parties
Represent the views of members or voters
Promote engagement through making people aware of issues, educate and encourage
participation
Recruit candidates, giving them experience at lower levels, who will ultimately go on to
become ministers
Formulate policy – they discuss and develop proposals before presenting them in their
manifesto
Stable government – it is argued that without parties, the commons would be a
collection of people driven by their personal political goals.
The di erence between parties and pressure groups
Party PG
Broad range of policies, informed by a Pursue a narrower cause of sectional
guiding ideology interest
Open membership structures More exclusive in membership
Contest elections with a view of Want to influence government
securing control of government
power
Types of Parties:
Mainstream Parties like the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats who are
attempting to form a government, run candidates in all constituencies and
address all policy issues.
Minority Nationalist: Parties that stand in parts of the UK and campaign for that
nation or region’s independence (ie. Plaid Cymru, SNP, DUP, Sinn Fein,
BNP)
Single Issue: Campaign for one key issue/area (ie. UKIP and The Brexit
Party for leaving the EU, The Green Party – environment, REFORM –
opposal to immigration and net zero
, Party Systems
System Description Examples
One party system Only 1 party can win/stand in election Soviet Russia
Usually where one party has historical Chinese Communist
dominance Party
Tend to lack full voting rights
Two party system Only 2 parties have a realistic chance UK
of winning the election. There are 3rd USA
and 4th parties but rarely they have
many seats.
Usually a product of the winner-takes-
all voting systems (i.e. FPTP)
Two and a half party 2 Parties still dominate but are
system dependent on a third weaker party to
govern by coalition or assisted
government
Multi-party system There are multiple parties with a Italy (1945-93)
realistic chance of governing. Usually France
a product of proportional voting Germany
systems leading to coalitions.
Dominant Party Multiple parties exist but there is a Japan’s Lib Dem party
System party that has successively won and (1955-93)
whose future defeat seems unlikely Scotland under the
SNP
Duverger’s Law proposes that the greater amount of proportionality in a voting system, the
higher the likelihood of a multi-party system.
A political party is a group of people who work together to achieve shared goals by standing
candidates in elections to win public o ice.
Going into an election a party produces a manifesto that sets out what they would do if elected.
They have a mandate to carry out these promises if they have the consent of the electorate by
being voted in.
The Salisbury convention holds that the house of lords should not block a bill that comes from
the manifesto of the winning party. This was seen in 1997 when Labour promised reform of the
House of Lords, so attempted to pass the House of Lords Act 1999. Although reluctant, the lord
allowed it to pass as it featured in the government’s manifesto
Roles of parties
Represent the views of members or voters
Promote engagement through making people aware of issues, educate and encourage
participation
Recruit candidates, giving them experience at lower levels, who will ultimately go on to
become ministers
Formulate policy – they discuss and develop proposals before presenting them in their
manifesto
Stable government – it is argued that without parties, the commons would be a
collection of people driven by their personal political goals.
The di erence between parties and pressure groups
Party PG
Broad range of policies, informed by a Pursue a narrower cause of sectional
guiding ideology interest
Open membership structures More exclusive in membership
Contest elections with a view of Want to influence government
securing control of government
power
Types of Parties:
Mainstream Parties like the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats who are
attempting to form a government, run candidates in all constituencies and
address all policy issues.
Minority Nationalist: Parties that stand in parts of the UK and campaign for that
nation or region’s independence (ie. Plaid Cymru, SNP, DUP, Sinn Fein,
BNP)
Single Issue: Campaign for one key issue/area (ie. UKIP and The Brexit
Party for leaving the EU, The Green Party – environment, REFORM –
opposal to immigration and net zero
, Party Systems
System Description Examples
One party system Only 1 party can win/stand in election Soviet Russia
Usually where one party has historical Chinese Communist
dominance Party
Tend to lack full voting rights
Two party system Only 2 parties have a realistic chance UK
of winning the election. There are 3rd USA
and 4th parties but rarely they have
many seats.
Usually a product of the winner-takes-
all voting systems (i.e. FPTP)
Two and a half party 2 Parties still dominate but are
system dependent on a third weaker party to
govern by coalition or assisted
government
Multi-party system There are multiple parties with a Italy (1945-93)
realistic chance of governing. Usually France
a product of proportional voting Germany
systems leading to coalitions.
Dominant Party Multiple parties exist but there is a Japan’s Lib Dem party
System party that has successively won and (1955-93)
whose future defeat seems unlikely Scotland under the
SNP
Duverger’s Law proposes that the greater amount of proportionality in a voting system, the
higher the likelihood of a multi-party system.
