8 min readConcept sheetSection A MCQ (1 mark) and objective (2 marks, two parts); Section B very short answer (2 marks)

What a political party is and why democracy needs it

A political party is an organised group of like-minded people who seek political power by constitutional, peaceful means, mainly elections, to turn their policies into practice.

MeaningAn organised body of people who share common principles and goals and seek power through constitutional means

Gilchrist's definition (in brief)Citizens with the same political views, organised and acting as one political unit, who try to control the government

Gettell's definition (in brief)Citizens, more or less organised, acting as a political unit, who use their voting power to control the government and carry out their policies

IndependentsCandidates who contest elections without belonging to any party

Why do we need political parties?

In a democracy, people rule through representatives they elect. Most candidates are put up by political parties, though some stand as independents. Parties help people take part in elections and in governance. They educate voters on issues and give them clear policy choices. Where parties are banned, there is no real democracy. Your NIOS lesson names Libya, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as countries that had governments without parties. So democracy works best where parties compete freely.

Five characteristics of a political party

It is an organised group of people.
Its members believe in common principles and common goals.
Its aim is to win political power through collective effort.
It uses constitutional and peaceful methods, mainly elections, to seek control of the government.
When in power, it turns its declared aims into government policies.

Party or not a party?

A political partyLike-minded people organised around views on public matters, who contest elections to form the government. Example: a group that puts up candidates for the Lok Sabha on a common programme.

Not a political partyA group formed only to clean up a locality, a group sharing only religious views, or a crowd at an election meeting. They have no political programme, or they do not seek power.

The test: organised, common political goals, and seeking power by constitutional means.

In real life

On an electronic voting machine, each party symbol stands for an organised group offering its own programme. Choosing between them is the policy choice that parties make possible.

Exam angle

1 marks: “By what methods does a political party seek power?” By constitutional and peaceful methods, mainly by contesting elections.

2 marks: “What is a political party? State any two of its characteristics.” An organised group of like-minded people who seek political power by constitutional means to put their policies into practice. Characteristics: common principles and goals; uses peaceful methods such as elections.

2 marks: “Why are political parties considered essential in a democracy? Give two reasons.” They put up candidates and make elections possible, giving voters clear policy choices. They educate people and link them with the government.

Remember it

A party is O-C-P-P-P: Organised, Common goals, Power, Peaceful means, Policies when in power.