Political Party
Political Party
•Political
party serves as the motive force in crystallizing public opinion and as the unifying agency
which makes democracy workable. Political party is an organized group of
citizens who held common views and acts as a political unit to seek
control of the government as well as to prepare programs and policies.
•McIver defines political party as
an “association organized in support of some principles or policies, which
by constitutional means, it endeavors to make the determinant of
government.”
•Leacock compares it to a joint
stock company to which each member contributes his share of political power.
•Carl Friedrich defines “a political
party as a group of human beings, stably organized with objectives of securing
or maintaining for its leaders the control of a government and with the further
objectives of giving to members of the party, through such control, ideal
benefits and advantages.”
•Formation
of Political party
Following are the conditions to
form
the political party:
•There must be certain measures of
agreement on fundamental principles-cooperation, devotion, surrender of
self-interest, etc.
•Organization should be permanently
cohesive and well-knit body that enables the members to acquire strength so as
to act in a concert.
•Parties should be organized with a
clear and specific programs and policies before the electorate to win their
support. Any deviation could destroy party’s stand and entity as well as
confidence of the people towards it.
•That a party should seek to
carry out its policy by constitutional means.
•All political parties must endeavor
to promote national interest being unbiased from sectarian, communal interest
and other any interest.
•Function
of Political parties
•The essential functions of
political parties, says Lowell, is bringing public opinion to a focus and
framing various issues for a public verdict.
•Political party works as a link
between government and people. It is indispensable for the working of a
democratic government. They supply the motive power which keeps the wheels
of the administration moving.
•Make candidates and programs:- It
speaks with a united voice with fixed programs instead of uttering unsuitable
babble of sound to win election after fielding the candidates. A disorganized
mass of people can neither formulate principles nor agree on a policy
•Establishment and control of
government:- They create open links of communication between governors and
governed effectively. Majority party rules in the state, opposition works as a
watchdog and the public reacts through the medium of various political parties
•Provide alternative teams to run
the government:- They prevent the same people remaining in power too long if
works wrong.
•Provide political education and
awareness from their policies, programs, campaigning processes, manifestos and
various slogans
•Produce and recruit political
leaders search charismatic leadership and train other respective party workers.
•Leads to modernization through fair
and free franchise.
•Solving burning national and
international issues.
•Work as a rebellion sometime.