Functions of Political Parties
Political parties have the following responsibilities:
- They nominate candidates for election campaigns. Candidates can be selected by the party’s top leaders or by party members. In some nations, such as the United States, a political party’s nominee is chosen by its members and supporters. Top party leaders in India select candidates to run in elections.
- Parties provide their policies and programmes to voters for consideration.
- Political parties play a significant influence in enacting legislation in the United States. A bill cannot become law unless it has the support of a majority of parties. The Legislature is where laws are debated and passed.
- Governments are formed and managed by political parties. Political parties influence major policy decisions made by the political executive. Parties select, train, and appoint leaders as ministers.
- Parties that lose elections serve as opponents to the ruling party. They criticize the government for its bad policies and mobilize resistance to them.
Why do we need Political Parties?
In a democracy, political parties are one of the most important institutions. For most people, democracy is synonymous with political parties. It is critical to understand the nature and operation of political parties. If we visit rural and distant places and conduct a survey, their understanding of the Constitution may be minimal, but they will undoubtedly be aware of political parties.
However, knowledge of political parties does not always imply favourable attitudes toward them among the general public a result, the topic of whether political parties are essential in a democracy naturally arises in people’s minds. One of the most visible institutions in a democracy is political parties. To form a government, political parties are required. Candidates from several political parties compete in elections at the federal, state, and local levels. Political parties use internal methods to choose the candidates who will run in elections. Political parties develop policies and programmes and influence public opinion. After political parties win elections, they form governments and execute policies based on the manifestos of the winning parties. If political parties lose elections, they sit in opposition in Parliament or the state legislature, observing or criticizing the government’s policies and activities.
Table of Content
- Meaning of Political Parties
- Functions of Political Parties
- Need for Political Parties
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