PARTY SYSTEM

SS1 GOVERNMENT

3rd Term

6th & 7th Weeks

PARTY SYSTEM

Definition: it is a democratic system of government run by one or more political parties contesting under specific electoral rules. 

Types

1.       Uni-party systems: In one-party systems, one political party is legally allowed to hold effective power. Although minor parties may sometimes be allowed, they are legally required to accept the leadership of the dominant party. This party may not always be identical to the government, although sometimes positions within the party may in fact be more important than positions within the government. North Korea and China are examples; others can be found in Fascist states, such as Nazi Germany between 1934 and 1945. The one-party system is thus often equated with dictatorships and tyranny.

Merits of one-party system:

(1) It helps in the establishment of stable administration which further helps in the progress of the country. The progress of the Soviet Union is a glaring example in this regard.

(2) In this system, formation and execution of long-term planning is possible.

(3) The country achieves remarkable economic progress as the Government ends the conflicts among all the classes and it devotes its entire energy, towards the increase of production in the country.

(4) The administration becomes efficient because all the powers are concentrated in the hands of one leader and there favouritism, nepotism and blackmailing are banished altogether.

(5) There is unity and discipline in the country.

(6) Time is not wasted in unnecessary criticism and propaganda.

Demerits of one-party system:

(1) Since there is only one party in this system, there is no viable platform for expressing contrary ideas.

(2) It is undemocratic

(3) There is no regard for the views of different classes and interests.

(4) The Government becomes absolute and the administration becomes irresponsible.

(5) The development of the personality is hindered because all social freedoms are crushed.

(6) In this system there is an overbearing influence of terrorism, and the opponents are crushed with a heavy hand.

(7) It gives room to dictatorship.

(8) The dictators make enormous military preparations for maintaining their honor and position, and they adopt the policy of war and victory which is quite harmful for the country.

2.       Bi-party systems: Two-party systems are states such as Honduras, Jamaica, Malta, Ghana and the United States in which there are two political parties dominant to such an extent that electoral success under the banner of any other party is almost impossible.

Merits of two-party system

1. Stability: Two-party systems are more stable than multiparty systems

2. Moderation: The two parties must appeal to the middle to win elections, so the parties tend to be moderate.

3. Ease of choice-making: Voters have only to decide between two option. Unlike multi-party where too many options confuse electorates.

4. Existence of opposition: this makes the ruling government careful

5. Prevention of dictatorship: the irresponsive party will be voted out of power

Demerits of two-party system

1. slim choice: if the ruling party is doing badly, the public have only one other option

2. unnecessary criticism: the opposing party sometimes criticize just to paint the  ruling party bad even though they may actually be doing their sincere best

3. Unlike one-party, the administration becomes less efficient as resources ear-marked for development of the country is squandered in tussle with opposition.

4. Less democratic: A percentage of people will always feel marginalized by the system if their inclination is not adequately represented by any of the parties

3.        Multi-party systems: Multi-party systems are systems in which more than two parties are represented and elected to public office.

Merits of multi-party system

(1) The nation is not divided into two camps: there are many types of ideologies and there is no rigid discipline among the parties. If a member leaves one party or if he is turned out of the party, he can easily find another party which has views almost similar to his own views. This way, the nation is not divided into two opposite worlds as is the case of two-party system.

(2) Parliament does not become a puppet in the hands of the cabinet: A multi-party system is prone to coalition Government whose success depends much upon the goodwill of the Parliament. Therefore, the cabinet cannot afford to be indiscrete in policy making.

(3) All shades of opinion are reflected in the House: since each party represent a unique ideology, and there is no limitation to the number of parties, then all shades of opinion can be represented in the parliament.

(4) It gives the electorate a wider variety of parties to choose from

(5) In it the chances of Cabinet dictatorship are minimized: the parties in the coalition work by adopting the policy of compromise. Hence, none of the parties can impose its will dictatorially.

(6) The workers are freer in this system than in other system: the worker is free to follow his conscience in performing his duty bearing in mind that his ideas are representable in the house.

Demerits of multi-party system                                                                                                                                               

(1) Weak Government: coalition governments are known to be weak government.

(2) Inconsistency of Policy: the plenitude of parties causes constant change of government, and this causes frequent changes in policy

(3) No long-term planning: Due to rapid changes in the Governments, long- term planning is not possible.

(4) Weak position of the Prime Minister: Since all the parties in the coalition need to be appeased, the prime minister may not always have his way with all policy.

(5) Lack of administrative efficiency:In a multi-party system there is lack of administrative efficiency, because the Governments change very often.

(6) In this system trading in votes and formation of Government undermines the political morality.