Political parties

• Definition of a political party

  Group of like-minded individuals who seek to realise their shared goals by fielding candidates at elections and thereby securing election to public office
• Definition of a manifesto

  Pre election policy document in which a party sets out a series of policy pledges + legislative proposals that it plans to enact if elected
• Definition of mandate

  The right of the governing party to pursue the policies it sets out in its general election manifesto
• What is the Salisbury Doctrine?

  Convention that means the House of Lords can't block or delay legislation that was promised in the manifesto of the governing party
• Reasons why the the concept on an electoral mandate make sense

  FPTP usually results in a single-party government so it follows that the victors should have the right to implement their stated policies + each party's manifesto is readily available for voters ahead of polling day
• Reasons why the concept of an electoral mandate doesn't make sense

  Low turnout means the winning party can't claim to have a convincing mandate + coalition governments mean the 2 or more parties must agree to compromise so no single party actually has a mandate
• What are the 5 key functions of political parties?

  Provide representation, encourage political engagement + facilitate participation, engage in political recruitment, formulate policies and provide a stable government
• What is meant by political recruitment?

  Assessing the qualities of those seeking election to public office and casting aside those who are considered unsuitable
• What are the main differences between political parties vs pressure groups?

  PPs = broad range of polices, inclusive (open membership structures), take part in elections to win office, highly organised with formalised rules and procedures PGs = pursue a narrower cause, exclusive with membership, filed candidates in elections to raise their profile (not to win) and they are usually small cliques with low levels of internal democracy
• What are the 3 mainstream parties?

  Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats
• What are the 2 subcategories of minority/niche parties?

  Nationalist or single-issue parties
• Give examples of nationalist parties

  SNP and Mebyon Kernow
• Give examples of single-issue parties

  UKIP, Green and Brexit Party
• Why might UKIP have been considered a pressure group as oppose to a political party?

  They had a narrower interest (independence) and pressured David Cameron to hold the Brexit referendum
• Why hasn't Boris Johnson been able to achieve the policies of his manifesto?

  Coronavirus complications and Brexit negotiations
• What response of the Tory government in the Coronavirus outbreak may be considered as un-Conservative?

  Distribution of furlough
• What are the 4 types of party systems?

  Single-party system, dominant-party system, two-party system and multiparty system
• Give examples of a single-party state

  Russia and North Korea
• Give examples of a two-party system

  US and UK
• What factor causes a two-party system?

  FPTP
• Reasons why the UK is multiparty system

  Rise of nationalist parties EG SNP which won 56/59 available seats in 2015, partisan dealignment has brought voters to minority parties and 13.5% of voters backed other parties other than Tory and Labour in 2015
• Reasons why the UK isn't a multiparty system

  Labour and Conservative are the only parties that have a realistic chance of getting into power, FPTP doesn't allow for a multiparty system (EG UKIP getting 12.6% of vote but only one seat in 2015) and only 20 days a year are opposition days in Parliament
• Conservatism


  Loose ideology favouring a pragmatic approach to dealing with problems while seeking to preserve the status quo
• Neo-liberalism


  Stresses the importance of a free market, individual rights and limited government intervention, closely associated with Thatcherism in the UK
• Paternalist conservatism


  Where power & authority are held centrally but the state acts benevolently and cares for the neediest. Paternalism is said to be a key characteristic of traditional one-nation conservatism.
• Post-war consensus


  Broad agreement between Labour and Conservative over domestic and foreign policy that emerged after WW2, parties cooperated over the creation of the welfare state and adoption of Keynesian economic policy
• When did the post-war consensus come to an end?

  1970's
• Give an overview of beliefs of one-nation conservatives

  Centralised authority but care for those less affluent, slow gradual changes, Keynesian economy (state intervention if needed), universal welfare, internationalism and increase European integration.
• What is the Latin term for the obligation of nobles to help those less fortunate?

  'Noblesse oblige
• Give an overview of beliefs of Thatcherites


  Individual needs over society as a whole, deregulation in business, privatisation, limiting the power of trade unions, limited state intervention with economy, national sovereignty and limited state welfare provision
• What is the US equivalent to Thatcherites?

  'Reaganomics
• Give an overview of the Conservatives under David Cameron

  Hoped to 'detoxify' the Tory brand, "subtle continuation of Thatcherism, "shameless opportunism", "capitulation to New Labour", coalition with Lib Dems made it hard to achieve anything set out in the manifesto (2010) and achieved EU referendum then Cameron resigned
• What were the 2 main differences between May's polices versus Cameron's?

  Cameron wanted to focus more on the environment but May abolished Dept of Energy and Climate Change + Cameron sought to focus less on Europe but May created the Dept for International Trade and Dept for Exiting the EU
• What is socialism?


  The belief in greater equality and redistribution of wealth
• Which faction of Labour is socialist?

  Old Labour
• What is social democracy?

  Promoting capitalism but advocating some redistribution of wealth
• Which faction of Labour supports social democracy?

  New Labour
• What three things does New labour stand for?

  Targeting all voters (not just working class), social inclusion and targeted welfare
• What three things does Old Labour stand for?

  Targeting the working classes, state intervention and universal welfare
• What did Clause IV state in 1918?


  Committed to public ownership ok key industries and redistribution of wealth