functions of political parties

• what are the 6 functions of political parties?

  representation, participation, recruitment, policy, government, administration
• what is representation?

  parties represent the ideology and views of their members
• what is participation?

  parties provide opportunities for people to participate in politics
• what is recruitment?

  parties recruit and select candidates for election
• what is policy?

  parties develop policies and offer these to the electorate in their manifesto
• what is government?

  parties provide voters with a choice of potential governments if elected
• what is administration?

  parties helps to organise members and discipline MPs to support the political agenda
• what is an example of representation?

  the labour party's membership increased under Corbyn, growing nearly by 200,000 members since Dec 2015

  Political parties represent the wider public in parliament, regional parliaments and assemblies and local councils
• give an example of how political parties carry out participation

  they allow people to have a greater participation in politics by becoming members of the party
• give an example of how political parties carry out recruitment

  parties recruit those that they believe are the most suitable to stand for public office

  prospective MPs apply in writing and sit interviews for selection
• give an example of how political parties carry out creating policy

  2017 elections the conservatives promised a balanced budget by 2025 and Brexit

  Labour promised the end of austerity, tax increases and the abolition of tuition fees