Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Politics > Political Parties: Structure > Flashcards

Political Parties: Structure Flashcards

1
Q

What is a political party?

A

Groups of like-minded individuals who seek to realise their shared goals by fielding candidates at elections and thereby securing election to public office

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the types of minority or “niche” parties?

A
  • Nationalist parties

- Single-issue parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Examples of nationalist parties

A

SNP, Plaid Cymru, Mebyon Kernow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Differences between political parties and pressure groups

A

Political Parties:
- Broad portfolio of policies guided by an ideology
- Inclusive (Open membership structures)
- Contest elections with view to securing power
- Highly organised
Pressure Groups:
- Pursue narrower cause or sectional interest
- More exclusive
- Only field candidates at election for awareness
- Internally undemocratic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a two-party system?

A

Where two fairly equally matched parties compete for power at elections and others have little realistic chance of breaking the duopoly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a single-party system?

A

One party dominates, bans other parties and exercises total control over candidacy at elections - where elections occur at all

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a dominant-party system?

A

A number of parties exist but only one holds government power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a multi-party system?

A

Many parties compete for power and the government consists of a series of coalitions formed by different combinations of parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Is Britain a two party system?

A

Yes:
- Labour and Conservatives only parties with chance of government
- Lab and Con secured 65.1% of pop vote in 2010 winning 86.8% of seats
- Lib Dems (3rd) still long way behind second place
No:
- 34.9% backed other parties
- Lib Dems come 2nd to Lab in north and west and Cons in south and east
- Potential for “two and a half party system” where Lib Dems involved in coalitions
- Different parts of UK operate under different party systems
- Any party that could mobilise non-voters could win

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the roles performed by political parties?

A
  • Representation
  • Participation
  • Political recruitment
  • Policy formulation
  • Providing stable government
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the structure of the Labour Party?

A
  • Those who join are assigned a local branch
  • Branches select candidates for local elections and send delegates to the General Committee of the Constituency Labour Party (CLP)
  • CLP organises party at constituency level
  • CLP takes lead in local and national campaigns and plays a part in selecting candidates for parliamentary elections
  • National Executive Committee (NEC) is main national organ
  • NEC enforces party discipline, ensures smooth running of party, has final say on selection of parliamentary candidates and oversees the preparation of policy proposals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the structure of the Conservative Party?

A
  • Branches correspond to local council wards
  • Conservative Associations (CA) play a key role in organising party at grassroots
  • CAs plan election campaigns and select parliamentary candidates
  • National party is organised at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) at Millbank, Westminster
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is meant by internal party democracy?

A

A measure of the extent to which rank-and-file members have genuine power within a given political party.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What three processes are commonly considered when assessing how internally democratic a party is?

A
  • How leaders are chosen
  • How candidates for parliamentary elections are selected
  • How party policy is formulated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does the Conservative Party choose it’s leaders?

A
  • Only sitting Tory MPs may stand
  • MPs must be nominated and seconded
  • A series of ballots is held amongst Tory MPs with the lowest placed eliminated after each round
  • Individual party members then choose between the final two by postal ballot
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How does the Labour Party choose it’s leaders?

A
  • Elections operate under an electoral college employing AV
  • Electoral college divided into three sections:
    • Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) + MEPs
    • Affiliated organisations
    • Ordinary party members
  • Candidates must be nominated by 12.5% of MPs if there is vacancy - 20% to issue a challenge
  • If no candidate gets over 50% on first ballot, further ballots must be held on an elimination basis, using preferences until a winner emerges
  • Operates on OMOV basis
17
Q

How does the LIberal Democrats choose it’s leaders?

A
  • Must have 10% of parliamentary party and nominated by at least 200 members from at least 20 different local parties
  • Election operates on OMOV basis under preferential STV system
  • Losing candidates eliminated and votes transferred until a candidate gets 50%
18
Q

How does the Conservative Party select parliamentary candidates?

A
  • Prospective candidates get onto an “approved” list of candidates by attending a formal panel interview
  • Approved candidates apply to local CAs and get onto a shortlist
  • Short-listed candidates garner the support of party activists by attending a constituency general meeting
  • Nominations can be vetoed by the national party’s Ethics and Integrity Committee
19
Q

How did David Cameron attempt to broaden the range of candidates selected?

A
  • A-lists
  • Hustings
  • Open Primaries
20
Q

How does the Labour Party select parliamentary candidates?

A
  • Prospective candidates must get their name onto the NEC’s approved list
  • The list is forwarded to CLPs which draw up shortlists before selecting their preferred candidate under OMOV
  • NEC can impose it’s own choice
21
Q

What is a women-only shortlist?

A

Where a constituency party is required to draw up an entirely female shortlist from which their parliamentary candidate will be chosen

22
Q

How do the Liberal Democrats select parliamentary candidates?

A
  • Prospective candidates must be vetted by national party (England, Wales, Scotland)
  • Can then apply to constituency parties for selection
  • Shortlisted candidates go forward to a ballot of all constituency party members
23
Q

How does the Conservative Party make policy?

A

Mostly by party leadership

24
Q

How does the Labour Party make policy?

A
  • National Policy Forum (NPF) appoints policy commissions to make proposals which are then formalised in the NEC
  • It then goes to the party conference for approval
25
Q

How do the Liberal Democrats make policy?

A
  • Federal in structure
  • English, Scottish and Welsh state parties
  • Each state party can create policy that only affects them. E.g. Scotland in or out?
  • Policies affecting England and the whole UK are dealt with at the main national conference (the Federal Conference)
  • Federal Conference spends most of it’s time considering proposals from Federal Policy Committee

Politics (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions