Political Parties – SS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

A political party is an organised group of people who share common ideas and come together to contest elections and gain political power in a democratic state.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a political party.
2. State the aim of a political party in a democratic state.
3. List the features of a political party.
4. List and explain the functions of political parties.
5. Name and describe the three types of party system.
6. Distinguish between a political party and a pressure group.

What are the key terms in the study of political parties?

• Political power: the authority to make laws and run the affairs of a country or state.
• Election: a process in which citizens vote to choose their leaders.
• Electorate: all the citizens who are qualified to vote.
• Manifesto: a written statement of what a party promises to do if it wins an election.
• Ruling party: the party that wins an election and forms the government.
• Opposition party: a party that does not form the government but checks the ruling party.
• Candidate: a person a party presents to the voters for a political office.
• Party member: a person who joins a party freely and accepts its rules and ideas.

What is the aim of a political party?

The aim of a political party is to contest elections and win political power.

• Main aim: to contest elections and win political power.
• What it seeks to control: the government and the administrative machinery of the state.
• Setting: a party works within a democratic state, where power is gained through votes.

What are the features of a political party?

The features of a political party are the qualities that mark it out from other groups.

• Organised membership: members join freely and are led by officials.
• Common ideas: members share beliefs about how the country should be run.
• Manifesto: the party publishes its plans and promises to the electorate.
• Constitution: the party has written rules that guide its members and officers.
• Name, symbol and slogan: these help voters to identify the party.
• Contest for power: the party sponsors candidates in elections.
• Registration: in Nigeria, a party must be registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

What are the functions of political parties?

The functions of political parties are the roles they play in the political life of a democratic country.

1. Unity: a party brings together people of different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds under one set of ideas.
2. It serves as a link: a party connects the government and the people. It explains government policies to citizens and carries public opinion to the government.
3. Accountability: the ruling party must answer to the people for its actions. Opposition parties watch and question the government.
4. Machinery for recruitment: a party selects, trains and presents candidates for political offices.
5. Clarification of issues: a party explains national issues and its plans in its manifesto, so voters can understand and choose.
6. Provision of organisation: a party organises campaigns, elections and the work of the government and legislature.
7. Control of the government: the party in power runs the government. The opposition checks it and offers other policies.
8. Dramatisation of politics: rallies, songs, posters and debates make politics lively and draw citizens into it.
9. Sectional or diversified interests: a party gathers the different interests of groups, such as farmers, traders and workers, and presents them to the government.
10. Change of government: a party that wins an election takes over peacefully from the one that loses.

What is the difference between a ruling party and an opposition party?

A ruling party forms the government, while an opposition party stays outside government and checks it.

What are the types of party system?

There are three types of party system: the one-party system, the two-party system and the multi-party system.

One-party system

• Meaning: only one party is allowed to exist and rule.
• Effect: voters have no real choice and there is no organised opposition.

Two-party system

• Meaning: two major parties compete for power, and one or the other usually wins.
• Effect: voters choose between two main options.
• Example: the United States of America.

Multi-party system

• Meaning: many parties compete for power.
• Effect: voters have a wide choice, but no single party may win a clear majority in some countries.
• Example: Nigeria practises this system.

What is a pressure group?

A pressure group is an organised body of people who try to influence government policies without seeking to form the government.

• Examples in Nigeria: trade unions and professional bodies, such as teachers’ and doctors’ associations.
• Method: they use petitions, peaceful protests, meetings and press statements to press their demands.
• Membership: members share a particular interest, such as workers’ pay or students’ welfare.

How does a political party differ from a pressure group?

A political party seeks to win and hold power, while a pressure group only tries to influence those in power.

Evaluation

1. Define a political party.
2. What is the sole aim of a political party in a democratic state?
3. What does a political party seek to control?
4. List any five functions of political parties.
5. Name the three types of party system and state the one Nigeria practises.
6. State two differences between a political party and a pressure group.

Assignment

1. List all ten functions of political parties given in this lesson and explain each in one line.