Functions of Political Parties

 

Recruiting and nominating candidates

       Sorting out the good from the bad

 

Presenting Candidates to the public

       Via campaigns and platforms  

 

Educating the public about important issues via speeches,              newspapers etc

      

       Party shows its “solution” to these issues which gives

              voters the opportunity to choose alternate

              approaches to important issues

 

Simplifying Political Choice:

       By allowing people to vote for a member of the party

              you support, you assume that that person will hold

              many similar views to yours (allows the

              uneducated voter to choose someone that should

              be palatable

 

Operating The Government:

       Choosing staff for government positions

       Legislatures are organized around party affiliation

       Party leaders try to get members to support party

              legislation

       Acts as a bond between the chief executive and        

              legislature

 

Acting as a “loyal opposition”

       Useful as a watchdog against abuses and missteps by

              the party in power

       Makes the party in power more responsible to the

              people

 

Promoting Stability and Unity

       Both parties support basic principles and the outcome

              of elections

       Transition from one party to the other is peaceful

       Allow people of varied interests and backgrounds to

              work together for compromise and to achieve

              goals

       Encourages moderate policies for the operation of

              government