NCERT POLITICAL PARTIES

Department of Social Science

POLITICAL SCIENCE(X)

CHAPTER 06

POLITICAL PARTIES

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS

Q.1. State the various functions Political Parties perform in a Democracy.

(i) Political parties contest elections to win the majority and form the government. They

Choose candidates who popular personalities are known to their voters. In India, they are

Chosen by the top leaders, in most countries by members of the party.

(ii) Political parties prepare their policies and programmes and make them known to the

Public. They make every attempt to convince the public that their programme is the best.

They organise public meetings, speeches, demonstrations to gain public support. They

Even announce policy changes if once they are elected.

(iii) Political parties mobilize public opinion on major issues through pressure groups. They

Not only inform the public, they also seek its support involving problems facing the

Country.

(iv) Political parties play a major role in making laws for the country. No law can become a bill unless all parties support it. Parties follow the direction given by their party leaders.

(v) Political parties form an important link between the government and the people. It is easy

for the public to approach their local leader than a government official. The local leader

Has to listen to the public demand, otherwise he will lose the next election.

Q.2. What is a political party?

Ans. A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and form the

Government. Its members are people who have common interests, concerns and goals. They

Agree on a political agenda and policies and try to convince people that their policies are best

Suited to the country. They put up candidates to fight elections and try to win popular support

For their policies. They work for the collective interest of the society and not for a particular

Section of society.

Q.3. What are the characteristics of a political party?

 (i) A political party has members who agree on some policies and programmes for the society

      With a view to promote common good.

(ii)  It seeks to implement the policies by winning popular support through elections.

(iii) A political party has three components:

       THE LEADERS, THE ACTIVE MEMBERS AND THE FOLLOWERS.

(iv)  A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold

       Power in the government.

Q.4. What is the first thing the Election Commission does after recognizing a party? Does it

       Treat every party as equal?

Ans. It allots a ‘symbol’ to the parties. It has to treat every party as equal, but it offers some special

      Facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol and only the

      Official candidates of that party can use that symbol. For example, the Hand is the symbol of

      Only the Congress Party and the Lotus of the BJP. Parties which have these benefits are called

      Recognized national political parties.

Q.5 What are the criteria laid down by the Election Commission in order to be recognized

As a national party and a state party.

Ans. A party that secures 6% all of the total votes cast in an election to the Legislative Assembly

of a state and wins at least two seats in the state is called a State Party.

A party that wins 6% of total votes cast in the elections for Lok Sabha or Assembly Elections

in four states and wins at least four seats in the LokSabha is called a National Party.

Q.6. Explain the terms DEFECTION and AFFIDAVIT.

Ans. (i) When an elected MP or MLA changes his party, it is called Defection.

        (ii) An affidavit is a signed document submitted to an officer, where a person makes a sworn

         Statement regarding her/his personal information. In the case of politics, a candidate has

         To file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.

Q.7. Mention some of the suggestions made to reform political parties.

§                                      Laws made to regulate internal politics:

                         It should be compulsory to maintain a register of its members.

                         Hold independent inquiry in case of a party dispute.  

                     Hold open elections to top party posts.

§                                         It should be mandatory to give 1/3 party tickets to women candidates. 

                         There should be a Quota for women in decision making bodies.

§                                       The government or the state should help parties during elections by funding                                         them. Expenses for petrol, paper, telephone etc.should be given,Cash can be given on the                     basis of  votes secured by the party in the last elections.

Q.8. Mention different types of party system. Write one merit of each? Which party systems

        Do we have in India?

Ans. There are three types of party system existed all over the world.

(i) One-Party system – There is no choice or competition in this system. The party nominate

the candidate and the voters have two choices – Either not to vote or write Yes or No to

the candidate. This kind of system existed in communist countries or in authoritarian

Regimes. Example – China, North Korea and Cuba. Supporters of one-party system claim

That this system helps the government in mobilizing the talents of all citizens towards a

Common goal.

(ii) Two-Party system – In this case, two parties are dominated in the system. The winner

Required maximum number of vote. The smaller party usually merge with bigger one or

Drop out from the competition. Example – Great Britain and Canada. Supporters of this

System believe that this system help the Government to go smooth, it also prevents danger

of fragmentation.

(iii) Multi-Party system – In this system, three or more parties are in the competition to gain

Control of the government separately or in coalition. When not any single party gain

Majority votes then several parties join and form a coalition government. Example-India.

Supporters of this system point out that it allows more points of view to be presented in

the government.

Q.9. Explain any two reforms implemented in our country to improve the political parties.

Ans. (i) The constitution was amended (Anti-Defection Act 1985) to prevent elected MLAs and MPs

From changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging

in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards.

(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now,

It is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details

of his property.

Q.10.  What are the various challenges faced by political parties.

Ans. 1. Lack of Internal Democracy: (i) Every member of the party does not have a chance to

Take part in decision making process. (ii) Every member is not consulted before taking a

Decision. (iii) There is no proper organisation or registration of members. (iv)   Power

Remains in the hands of a few top leaders, who do not consult ordinary members.

(v) Ordinary members have no information about the internal working of the party.

2. Dynastic succession: With power in the hands of a few top leaders, all party positions

Go to their family members. These members may not be qualified or have the ability to

Hold their positions. People who come from weaker sections, or have no contact with the

Top leaders, cannot rise to the top positions.

3. Money and Muscle Power: Various political parties contest elections, there is

Competition and a lot of money is needed. Money is needed to organise demonstrations,

Public meetings and speeches to publicise the image of the party. Parties choose those

Candidates who can raise money for the party and win elections with their money. Money

Power is felt in older democracies like USA also.

4. Meaningful choice to others: In India, like many other countries, the fundamental issues

Raised by parties are the same. On the economic front, all parties have the same agenda

— help the weaker sections, equity and jobs for all, etc. The only difference is the priority

They will give to any problem. Voters do not have a meaningful choice. Even leaders keep

Changing parties, thus confusing the voter.

Q 11. Who  was the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party?

Ans.  Kanshi Ram

Q 12 What is the function of the Opposition party?

Ans. Opposition party is a party which does not win elections in sufficient numbers to form a

Government. But it keeps an eye on the working of the ruling party and acts as a check on their

Activities. It prevents the ruling party from misusing its powers. It keeps a check on their

Expenditures, brings their failure before the public. If also protects the rights and liberties of

The people by not allowing any law to be passed which threatens their fundamental rights.

Q.13. Explain any two reforms implemented in our country to improve the political parties.

Ans. (i) The constitution was amended (Anti-Defection Act) to prevent elected MLAs and MPs

From changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging

in defection to become ministers or for cash rewards.

(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now,

It is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details

of his property.

Q.14. What role has the Election Commission played in reforming political parties?

Ans. (i) Made it compulsory for parties to hold organisational elections.

(ii) Political parties are to file their income-tax returns.

Q.15. How many parties are registered with the Election Commission of India?

Ans More than 750 Parties.

Q. 16 Countries is the example of two-party system?

Ans USA and UK