Chapter 4 Political Parties Class 10th Notes Civics
Chapter 4 Political Parties Class 10th Notes Civics Social Science
Why Do We Need Political Parties?
Political parties are needed for democracy since they:
Offer a disciplined platform on which people having the same ideology can act collectively.
Help in election battles and the formation of governments.
Package different policies and programs into a common agenda.
Help shape laws and make the government function well.
Act as a link between the government and the people.
Play the key role in the shaping of public opinion and the solution of public issues.
What If There Were No Political Parties?
There would be no elections, since all the candidates would contest individually.
No definite policy direction for ruling.
It would be hard to constitute a government and provide political stability.
Functions of Political Parties
Political parties are a crucial component of democratic systems.
Their primary functions are:
| Function | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Contesting Elections | Political parties nominate candidates to compete in elections. |
| Policy Formulation | They frame policies and programs for national development. |
| Formation of Government | The winning party forms the government and runs the country. |
| Opposition Role | Losing parties form the opposition, keeping the ruling government accountable. |
| Public Opinion | They help shape public opinion through debates, campaigns, and rallies. |
| Access to Government | Citizens can connect with the government through party representatives. |
How Many Political Parties Does a Country Need?
Political systems vary across countries, leading to different party systems:
| Party System | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One-Party System | Only one political party is allowed to exist, eliminating opposition. | China (Communist Party) |
| Two-Party System | Power alternates between two major parties; other parties have minimal influence. | USA (Democrats and Republicans), UK (Labour and Conservative) |
| Multi-Party System | Multiple parties contest elections and form coalition governments. | India, France, Brazil |
India has a multi-party system, with various national and regional parties contesting elections.
Coalition governments are the norm when no single party achieves a majority.
National & State Political Parties
A. National Political Parties
They are present in the entire country.
Shared agenda in all states.
Sanctioned by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as a national party.
Conditions to be a National Party:
A party is a national party if:
1. It receives 6% of the votes in four or more states.
2. It receives a minimum of 4 Lok Sabha seats.
B. State Political Parties:
These parties are present only in a specific state or area.
They control state administration and policies.
Declared a state party by the Election Commission.
Parameters to be ranked as a state party:
The party is rated a state party when:
1. It captures 6% of the vote share in an assembly election.
2. It manages to capture more than 2 seats within the assembly.
Examples of state parties:
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) – Odisha
Shiv Sena – Maharashtra
DMK & AIADMK – Tamil Nadu
Samajwadi Party (SP) – Uttar Pradesh
Regional parties make an occasional foray into national politics by joining alliances (e.g., UPA, NDA).
Challenges Faced by Political Parties
Political parties in India face many structural and ethical issues:
| Challenge | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Lack of Internal Democracy | Party leaders make all decisions without consulting members. |
| Dynastic Succession | Leadership passes within families, reducing merit-based promotions. |
| Use of Money and Muscle Power | Elections often involve illegal funding and criminal candidates. |
| Lack of Meaningful Choice | Most parties have similar agendas, offering little real choice to voters. |
How Political Parties Can Be Strengthened
Some reforms have been instituted to democratize and open up the parties:
| Reform | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Anti-Defection Law (1985) | MPs/MLAs switching parties after elections lose their seats. |
| Supreme Court Ruling | Candidates must disclose criminal records and assets before elections. |
| Election Commission Guidelines | Parties must hold internal elections and file income tax returns. |
| Public Funding of Elections | Proposal to reduce money power by state funding of elections. |
Additional Reforms Proposed
More transparency in party funding to check corruption.
Stricter laws against criminal candidates.
Internal democracy within parties to provide input for ordinary members on leadership.