What are the functions of political parties?
Every society has different beliefs, values and ideologies of communities living in it. They all grant different demands of political parties, and the parties function is to represent these different interests. There are different demands on government such as ; the poor want greater welfare, the rich demand lower tax, industry demands government aid and unions want better employment protection.
Ambitious MP’s who wish to rise through the ranks of a party, must take part in lots of community work, campaigning themselves creating a following and support. They can only find this support if they have the right characteristics and what it takes to rise. Here the party serves the function of filtering those who are able and those who aren’t to rise higher in government. Parties assign members to various public services for example someone to sit on school governing boards, or hospital trusts. This function helps to support the public service and protects public interest.
Parties serve the interest to sustain the system, although they exercise their opposition to other parties, they defend the system of politics in various ways; the monarch- although has no political power- is respected, after a general election losing parties confirm the authority of the new ruling party as to install respect and public support of the system and new government. In times of war, opposition and hostility between parties is deferred to unite in favour of national security; this was the case in both world wars and in the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Parties play a key part in the mechanics of political activities. They have to create a manifesto before they are elected into power, this gives direction and organisation to the administration who implement policy. Without a manifesto or clear thoughts of what the party wants or stands for, policies can become contradictory and confused. Parties perform the function of organising the formation of policy. Parties also recruit candidates and filter them into places of their ability- this creates a reliable hierarchy of positions of power and influence, and a stable government.
They play a significant part in running the elections; by making sure people can get to the polls, and providing information about the party. Although they will be doing this to encourage people to vote for them, they are still encouraging more people to vote, which make a more representative government. Party members make up the committees who organise legislative and scrutinising functions of government. These informed, able and committed people are vital to the running of government.
Parties inform the public on general issues of the day, e.g. world affairs, the state of the economy, transport systems etc. They also provide solutions for problems, and encourage public debate on the issues. Without this source of information, the public would be unaware of many issues occurring in the country.
Party manifesto’s are a set of policies a party state they will put through if they are elected into power. They give the electorate a basis to choose between parties and holds the government to a set of rules (policies) that they must abide by and act upon. It gives them a clear choice to which party to choose. E.g. labour support the Euro , Conservative is against it for the foreseeable future. Parties also articulate basic values e.g. equality, freedom and justice, to ensure the basic human rights aren’t lsot through party policies.