Political Parties: Functions, Importance, Party System, Solved Examples (2025)

Introduction to Political Party

A political party basically, is a group of people. These people come together to contest elections in order to holdpower in the government. It is a way to mobilize voters tosupport common sets of interests, concerns, and goals. The primary role of the political party is to fix thepolitical agenda and policies. So, each party tries topersuade people by claiming their policies are better than those of other parties.

In a broader perspective, a political party is a means via which the peoplecan speak to the government and have a say in the governance of any country. So, every political party must have three key components:

• Leaders
• Active Members
• Followers

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Functions of a Political Party

Every political party has a number of functions to perform. Here we have listed some of them.

• A political party contests elections by putting up candidates.
• In countries like the USA, thecandidates are selected by members and supporters of a party.
• On the other hand, in countries like India, thecandidates are chosen by top party leaders.
• Every party has different policies and programmes. Voters make a choice in accordance with thepolicies and programmes liked by them.
• In a democratic country, a large group of people that has certainsimilar opinions group together and form a party. Then then, give a direction to the policies adopted by the government.
• Those parties whichlose elections form the opposition. Theyvoice different views and criticise the government for their failures andmobilize opposition to the government.
• Political parties shapepublic opinion. With the help of the pressure groups, the partieslaunch movements for solving problems faced by the people.
• Parties even offeraccess to government machinery and welfare schemes. Thelocal partyleader serves as alink between the citizen and the government officer.

What is the concept of Federalism?.

Importance of Political Parties

A democracy cannot exist without the presence of a political party. This is clear from the function performed by the political parties. In case, there are no political parties then:

• Every candidate in the election would be anindependent candidate. Any individual candidate does not have the efficiency topromise any major policy change to the people. In such a scenario, no one will be responsible for how the country is run.
• In the long run, only arepresentative democracy can survive. Political parties are the agencies that gatherdifferent views on various issues and present them to the government.

Party System

There are three types of party systems:

• One-Party System
• Two-Party System
• Multi-Party System

One-Party System

In a one-party system, there is nocompetition in this system. Here, the lone partynominates the candidates and the voters have only two choices i.e.

• Not to vote at all or
• write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ against the name of the candidates nominated by the party

Such a political system has been prominent inauthoritarian regimes and communist countries such asChina, North Korea, and Cuba. Before the collapse of communism, this system wasalso prevalent in USSR.

What are the Outcomes of Democracy?

Two-Party System

In a two-party system, the power shifts betweentwo major, dominant parties. So, for winning the elections, the winner will have to get the maximum number of votes. However, please know that maximum number of votes is not equivalent toa majority of votes.

So, the smaller parties tend tomerge with the bigger parties or they drop out of elections. Such aparliamentary system prevails inCanada andGreat Britain, in which there aretwo parties holding the maximumnumbers of seats.

Multi-Party System

The third and the most common form of government is themulti-party system. In such a system, there arethree or more parties which have the capacity togain control of the government separately or in a coalition.

In case, no party achieves a clear majority of thelegislative seats, thenseveral parties join forces and form a coalition government. Countries like India, follow a multi-party system. Some people are of the view, that a multi-party system often leads to political instability in a country.

Solved Example for you

Q1: Who among the following is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?

1. Kanshi Ram
2. Sahu Maharaj
3. B.R. Ambedkar
4. Jotiba Phule

Sol:The correct answer is the option ”a”. Kanshi Ram is the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party