Question

What is a political party? Explain four functions of a political party.

Answer 1

Hint: It signifies an organized group of people or bodies that seek to capture political power by conducting elections in order to run the affairs of their country. It frequently puts forward candidates for public office.

Complete answer: A political party refers to a group of individuals who share the common political ideologies and opinions. They come together for holding the elections in order to form the government. Their main role is to purport policies which they will bring into action or plan to bring into action if they are positioned to come to power. Common people according to these policies elect them to power for forming a new government.
Any four functions of a political party are -
1. A political party contests elections through putting up candidates which means that they stand up a candidate or a leader in front of the people to choose upon. This leader who stands up shares the ideas, policies, and ideologies of the party. These ideas and opinions are majorly driven by popular public opinions.
2. Those parties that uncertainty lose elections, they then form the role of opposition. After this, they tend to criticize and voice their views over government's policies which may turn to be a popular opinion but are not favored by the other sections of the society. They too criticize the government for its failures.
3. A large group of people which have certain similar opinions group together and thus form a party. Then they, give a direction to the policies that are adopted by the government
4. Any number of people can form a political party. This provides every section of the society to express their views and opinions. This safeguards the interest of the minorities sections both economically as well as socially.

Note: Political parties perform an important task in the government. They bring people of the country together in order to achieve control of the government, develop policies which are favorable to their interests or the groups that support them, and organize and persuade voters to elect their candidates to office.