CBSE Class 10 Social Science Political Parties Notes Set B

A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in govt and make public opinion among the people of country.

The role of Political Parties to Shape Public Opinion :

– They raise and highlight issues.
– The parties clear the policies of govt. to people.
– The parties clear the policies of govt. to people.
– Political parties give their ideas in favour and against the govt.
– Political parties give their ideas about the new laws made by the govt.
– In this way the political parties help to create public opinion in people. So it is necessary for people if they want to establish democratic govt. they have to analyze for and against democracy.

Challenges to Political Parties

Parties are for the working of democracy parties are the most visible face of democracy. It is natural that people blame parties, criticise them. Parties have to face many challenges :-

Lack of Internal democracy :-

1. Concentration of powers in one hand.
2. Parties do not conduct internal election.
3. Leaders assume greater power to make decision in name of party.
– The second challenge of dynastic succession is related to the first one. Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members.

Growing role of money and muscle power in parties :

The parties tend to nominate those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. In some cases parties support criminals.
– The fourth challenge is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice. In order to offer meaningful choice, parties must be significantly different.
– There has been a decline in the ideological differences among parties.
– The difference among all the major parties on the economic policies have reduced.
– Those who want really different policies have no option available to them.
– Lack of good leaders.

Reforming the Political Parties

– The constitution was amended to prevent elected members from changing parties.
– The supreme court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals.
– Now it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property.
– The election commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns.
– A law is made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties.
– The govt. should give money to parties for election so that every one who wants to participate in elections can do the same.

Political party – a group of people who come together to contest elections hold and power in the government.

Characteristics :-

agree on some policies and programmes for the society for collective good
Persuade people why their policies are better.
Thus implement it by winning popular support elections involve partisanship (part of the society)
reflects fundamental political division in a society.

Three components of political party–

The leaders
The active membersa
The followers

Functions of political parties –

Parties contest elections
Parties put forward different policies and programmers and voters choose from them-A govt. puts its policies based on the line taken by ruling party.
Makes laws for the country – abide to the leader of the party. Parties form and run govt.
Opposition parties – voice their views and criticize the govt. for its failures. Parties shape public opinion(from pressure group, organization)
They provide people access to govt. Machinery and welfare schemes – ( it easy to approach local party leader than a govt. officer)

Why do we need a party?

If every candidate in election will be independent.
Cannot make promises to the people about any major policy changes.
Even if formed – its utility will remain uncertain.
Will be accountable to their constituency – no one will be responsible as to how the country run.
National political parties – They are wide parties- have their units in various state- all follow the same policies and programmes decided at national level. (mainly seen in federal system)

Criteria For a party to become –

National party – secure at least six percent of total votes in LokSabha elections or Assembly election in four states and wins at least four seats in Loksabha.

State party - Regional parties-Secures at least 6 percent of the total votes in an election to legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two DMK, Kerala Congress seats, is recognized as a state party. Eg. -Telugu Desam , AIADMK Rashtria Janta Dal

Challenges to political parties –

- Lack of internal democracy within parties – Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings and do not conduct internal meetings.
- Dynastic succession- an ordinary worker may rise in top in a party people who do not have adequate experience or support came to power – with various close people.
- Money and muscle power – Rich people and companies influence on party decisions.
- Do not offer meaningful choice to the voters – leaders shift from one party to another?
- Not much difference in their policies.

Efforts taken to reform political parties and its leaders –
- Prevented defection (changing party after elected) – if they do so they will lose the seat
- Order by Supreme Court to reduce the influence of money and criminals – candidate, must file affidavit giving details of criminal cases pending.
- Political parties should file their income tax returns.

Suggestion offered to make more reforms – Yet to be accepted –
- Law to regulate the internal affairs to political parties (to maintain a register of its members,judge party disputes)
- Quota for women (at least 1/3)
- Govt. should give parties money to support election expense.
- Pressure from people on political (through petitions, agitations, publicity).
- Increase the degree of public participation

SHORT ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS

Question. What are the characteristics of a political party?
Answer.

It is a group of people coming together to contest elections and share power.
It agrees on some policies and programmers for the society with a view to promote collective good.
It seeks to implement these policies by viewing popular support through elections.
It is known by which part it stands for, which policies it supports and whose interest it uphol.

Question. When does a political party get recognition as a “National party” and “State party”?
Answer. A party that secures at least 6% of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four states and wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party.
A party that secures at least 6% of total in an election to the legislative Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognized as a state party.

Question. Why do we need political parties?
Answer.
- Political parties are one of the most visible institutions in a democracy.
- For most ordinary citizens, political parties are equal to democracy.
- Political parties helped in making public opinion and forming the govt.

Question. Explain some measures to strengthen the election system of India.
Answer.
- Many people are of the opinion that with the purpose to check the misuse of money power, provision of state funding of elements should be made.
- Laws should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties to maintain a register of its members to follow its own constitution, to have an independent authority and to hold open election to the highest post.
- Effort should be made to discourage inefficient candidates from contesting elections.

Question. Describe the merits of a multi-party system.
Answer.
- More than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others.
- This system allows a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation.
- In India we have multi-party system and the coalition govt. for last 15 years which benefits all sections of the population.

Question. How can an ordinary citizen contribute in reforming the political parties?
Answer.
- Ordinary citizens can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitations.
- Pressure groups and movements and the media can play an important role in it.
- Educated people should join the political parties because the quality of democracy depends on the degree of public participation.
- It is difficult to reform politics without taking part in it and simply criticizing it from outside.

Question. What is the role of opposition party in democracy?
Answer.
- Constructive criticism of govt.
- Restriction of arbitrariness of ruling party
- Safeguard, liberty and rights of the people
- Well prepared to form govt.
- Expression of public opinion

LONG ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS

Question. What are the challenges faced by political parties in India?
Answer. Following points can be given with explanation as the challenges of political parties in India—
- Lack of internal democracy
- Lack of transparency
- Use of money and muscle power
- Not providing meaningful choice to the voter

Question. What are the main functions of a political party?
Answer.
- To contest election
- Forming policies and programmes
- Making laws
- Parties form and run govt.
- To play an active role of opposition
- Shaping public opinion
- Access to govt. machinery and welfare schemes

Question. What is the role of opposition party in democracy?
Answer.
- Constructive criticism of govt.
- Restriction of arbitrariness of ruling party
- Safeguard, liberty and rights of the people
- Well prepared to form govt.
- Expression of public opinion

Question. Explain the different forms of party systems existing in various countries.
Answer. There are three forms of party systems existing in the world-
- Single party system: under this system only one party is allowed to function. This system cannot be considered a good option because this is not a democratic option.
Eg-Communist party of China.
- Two/Bi-party system: under this system only two parties are allowed to function.One in organization and other in opposition. This system is a better option to single party system but cannot be considered perfect.
E.g- USA &UK.
- Multi party system: If several parties compete for power and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or in alliance with others it is called multi party system. This system leads to political instability at the same time this system allows a variety of interest, opinions to enjoy political representation. E.g-India.