Functions of political parties -- policy formulation and hidden

Policy formulation of the ruling party and 6 groups involved

• Policy formulation of ruling party = that of the govt (duh)

• Includes

  • Political leaders - ministers

  • Civil servants

  • Advisory units and committees

  • Private advisors

  • (Backbench MPs)

  • (Peers)

Policy formation of the opposition

• Very important as they’re trying to replace the govt of the day

• Includes

  • Leader

  • Leadership of the group

  • General membership of the party through conferences and party committees on a local/regional/national level

Aggregation (= policy-formulating function) and those who undertake it

• Process undertaken by political parties of converting policies, demands and ideas into practical policy programmes for govt

• Includes

  • Identifying range of demands from party members, society and other groups

  • Converting demands into consistent and compatible actions

• Involves

  • Removal of contradictions

  • Making compromises

• Undertaken by

  • Party leadership as will be the ones to eventually put it into practice in govt

Policy formulation’s role in supporting democracy: accountability

• Govts can be held responsible for their performance in govt using their manifesto promises

Policy formulation’s role in supporting democracy: choice

• Clarity of choice: allows electorate a clear choice between potential govts by enabling the presentation of distinct policy options and ideologies

• Breadth of choice: increasing numbers of parties post-WW2 gives more electoral choice

Breadth of choice - number of candidates put forward and number of seats won by 8 largest parties in 2019 election

Number of C candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 635 candidates

• 365 seats

Number of L candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 631 candidates

• 203 seats

Number of LD candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 611 candidates

• 11 seats

Number of Green candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 476 candidates

• 1 seat

Number of Brexit Party candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 276 candidates

• 0 seats

Number of SNP candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 59 candidates

• 48 seats

Number of UKIP candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 44 candidates

• 0 seats

Number of PC candidates put forward and number of seats won in 2019 election

• 36 candidates

• 4 seats

Lack of efficacy of policy formulation: personalities over ideology

• Parties have become less interested in long-term good for society and their ideological foundation

  • More interested in the technocratic choice of who will run the country better/which leader is more personable

• They follow public opinion as opposed to shaping it

Lack of efficacy of policy formulation: lack of choice

• C and L dominate seats in GEs, so there is no real choice for voters between potential govts

Lack of efficacy of policy formulation: apathy

• Lack of clear ideology and voter choice leads to apathy and low turnout

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 2015

• 66% turnout

• 27% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 2010

• 65% turnout

• 23% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 2005

• 61% turnout

• 13% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 2001

• 59% turnout

• 17% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 1997

• 71% turnout

• 33% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 1992

• 78% turnout

• 56% great difference

% turnout and % of voters who percieved a large difference betwen parties - 1987

• 75% turnout

• 85% great difference

Explanation of hidden function

• All main parties support the political system of Plmtary democracy

  • Therefore, they are part of the process that ensures the general population consents to the system

Parties that fundamentally challenge the nature of the poltical system

• Seen as extremist

• Are only marginal elements of the system

Events that would occur if parties fundamentally challenged the nature of the political system

• Political conflict within society at large