POLITICAL

PARTIES

Aafreen Mairaj
Class: X-E
WHAT ARE POLITICAL PARTIES?
A Political Party is a group of people who come together to
contest elections and hold power in the government. They
agree on some policies and programs for the society with a
view to promote the collective good. Parties reflect
fundamental political divisions in a society. Thus, a party is
known by which part it stands for, which policies it
supports and whose interests it upholds.

A political party has three components:

• The leaders
• The active members
• The followers

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FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL
PARTIES

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Every political party has a number of functions to perform. Some of
them have been listed here:
o A political party contests elections by putting up candidates.
o In countries like the USA, the candidates are selected by members and supporters of a
party.
o On the other hand, in countries like India, the candidates are chosen by top party leaders.
o Every party has different policies and programs. Voters make a choice in accordance with
the policies and programs liked by them.
o In a democratic country, a large group of people that has certain similar opinions group
together and form a party. Then then, give a direction to the policies adopted by the
government.
o Those parties which lose elections form the opposition. They voice different views and
criticize the government for their failures and mobilize opposition to the government.
o Political parties shape public opinion. With the help of the pressure groups, the parties
launch movements for solving problems faced by the people.
o Parties even offer access to government machinery and welfare schemes. The local party
leader serves as a link between the citizen and the government officer.

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TRIVIA TIME
POP QUIZ

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MCQ TYPE:
1) Which of the following statements are true about political parties?
a. The proportion of those who said they were members of some political party
was lower in India than in many advanced countries like Canada, Japan.
b. Over the last three decades, the proportion of those who report to be members
of political parties in India has gone down steadily.
c. The proportion of those who say they feel ‘close to a political party’ has also
gone down in India.
d. None of the above.
2) Political parties are most visible institutions in a democracy
because…
(a) even less educated citizens know about political parties.
(b) for ordinary citizens democracy is equal to political parties.
(c) parties have become identified with social : and political divisions.
(d) most people in a democracy are not critical of political parties.
Which of the above statements is false?
FILL IN THE BLANKS:
1)Many of the pressure groups are the extensions of _____ among
different sections of society.
2) The ______ has officially banned wall writing by parties during
election times.
3) A government is expected to base its policies on the line taken by
the ______.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE:
1) What is Partisan?
2) What is the need for Political Parties?
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 ANSWERS
MCQ TYPE: FILL IN THE BLANKS:
1) d. None of the above. 1) political parties
2) d. most people in a 2) Election Commission
democracy are not critical of 3) ruling party
political parties.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE:

1) A person who is strongly committed to a party, group or faction. Partisanship is
marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an
issue.
2) Parties are the pillars of democracy- popular leaders are elected as rulers –
leaders are elected to serve the people – those who wanted to be elected they must
serve better – parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society.

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 YO U
HAN K
T