LETS PARTAY A Look Into Political Party Systems

LET’S PARTAY!!! A Look Into Political Party Systems

Roles of Political Parties n n n n The goal of a party is electoral success It is the mechanism by which candidates are chosen to run for office and leaders are selected Influences and educates voters Puts forth legislative ideas Serve as intermediaries b/w public and gov’t Training ground for politicians Reconciles conflicting demands of public

One Party System n n Also called single party system or one partydominant system No political or legal alternatives…one united goal or ideology Single party system ex = the former Communist Party of the USSR One party dominant system ex = PRI party in Mexico …ex 2 Liberals in Canada? ? ?

Two Party System n n n When two credible party option exist Gives two clear choices for electorate and politicians and no vote splitting Britain (Conservatives and Labour) US (Democrats and Republicans) Canada from 1867 -1921 Two party plus? ? ?

Multiple Party System n n Three or more political parties have a realistic chance of winning Sweden has 7 parties in parliament Difficult to attain majority gov’t might mean unstable parliament – strong coalitions can overcome this Better chance of electorate and politicians identifying with a political party

Types of Political Parties n n n 1. Pragmatic Party 2. Ideological Party 3. Interest Party 4. Personal Party 5. Movement Party

Pragmatic Party n n Concerned primarily with programs that the public views as solutions to problems Pragmatic parties often flip flop on ideas and even steal each other’s proposal n Ex Chretien opposed Free Trade and the GST ex 2 Bennett opposed King’s new deal then adopted it in office

Ideological Party n Party doctrine is more important than electoral success – ex Communist Party…NDP too? ? ?

Interest Party n n Converts an interest group into a full fledge party Ex – The Green Party or Marijuana Party

Personal Parties n n Based on a single influential party leader Ex – Castro, Mao, Peronistas (Argentina), Mugabe (Zimbabwe)

Movement Party n n A political movement that evolves into a party (a union of people for profound social change) Ex The Congress Party of India …. The Bloc Quebecois