A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and grab power. It is an organized network of individuals with common goals in a political system. Parties have an ideology or set of beliefs that govern the way they view society, government, and its role in society. They are also organized bodies that research, formulate and promote policies and contest elections to gain power in government. Political parties can be based on a range of ideologies, philosophies and values. The two most common ideologies in parties today are liberalism and conservatism.
In most modern democracies, political parties are the core of the political system. They are the link between the citizens and the state and provide the vital organization necessary to translate the citizens’ wishes and demands into policy. Political parties are often the vehicles through which individuals enter government, either as representatives or even as heads of state. An understanding of the role of parties can provide a better understanding of the nature of democracy and the types of political systems that exist.
The Role of Political Parties in Different Political Systems
Political parties have an important role to play in different types of political systems. Depending on the system, parties can differently affect elections and legislation, as well as helping to formulate and implement policy. Thus, understanding how political parties function in different systems is critical to understanding each system in its entirety.
Kingdom Monarchy
In a kingdom monarchy, the role of political parties are limited mostly to the role of advisers and counselors to the monarch. The monarch is the main decision-maker and has the most authority in the decision-making process. Political parties have to accept the decisions of the monarch without objection. They are not allowed to have any role in the election of the monarch and have no authority to override the decisions of the monarch.
Parliamentary Monarchy
In a parliamentary monarchy, political parties have a more influential role as they are part of the decision-making process. Political parties can form coalitions to contest elections in this system and, if elected, can make changes to policy. The majority party in the parliament is responsible for running the government and is bound by the decisions of the monarch. A political party can even bring down the government by moving a no-confidence motion in the Parliament.
Presidential System
In a presidential system, parties have the most influence out of any of the political systems. This is because the chosen president of the country is usually the leader of a political party. Political parties are responsible for formulating policies and are the main political actors in the government. Usually, they must gain majority support in the lower house in order to pass any legislation. Their influence is also visible in elections, with each party contesting the election on its own platform and to a great extent determining the outcome.
Mixed Systems
Mixed systems are those that combine both parliamentary and presidential systems. Political parties in such systems have capabilities to both form coalitions and contest elections, as well as influencing the president’s policies and legislative decisions. In countries with a strong party system, parties are often the key drivers of policy and can have a very strong influence even if they are in the minority.
Political Parties and Ideology
Political parties are not only important in terms of government and decision-making, but also for providing a set of ideas or ideology. Political parties provide a platform for citizens to express their views on certain issues and to come together to form a unified opinion. This unified opinion is reflected in the party’s election policies, manifesto, and the party’s beliefs.
Parties provide ideas and actions through which the government and citizens can interact to promote social and economic development. They help to create policies that are in the best interest of the people and to hold the government accountable for its actions. Ideological differences between political parties can also be a powerful source of debate, allowing citizens to make informed decisions when voting in elections.
Political parties play an important role in any type of political system. In a democracy, they are a link between citizens and the state and provide the important organization necessary for translating the citizens’ wishes and demands into policy. Parties can affect elections and legislation, as well as helping to formulate and implement policy. They also offer an ideological platform through which citizens can express their views and interact with the government. Political parties are therefore the fundamental unit of a democracy and an important part of any political system.
