qau1t3

=Questions and Answers - Unit 1, Theme 1=

Political Parties
Home Politics

Questions
5 Point Questions
 * 1) Outline two functions of political parties? (SU1, S2004) *
 * 2) Outline two features of a political party. (S2003, S2005//)*//
 * 3) What is a political party? (S2002, W 2003, W2004, W2006) *

15 Point Questions
 * 1) Explain the main functions of a political party. (W2004,W2006//)*//
 * 2) How do political parties achieve their aims? (S2005//)*//
 * 3) Distinguish between consensus politics and adversary politics. (S2004//)*//
 * 4) In what ways do political parties promote democracy? (S2003//)*//
 * 5) Describe __three__issues over which Labour and Conservative parties disagree? (SU1)
 * 6) What are the main policy areas that divide the Labour and Conservative parties? (S2002)
 * 7) Outline the major ideas of the modern Conservative Party. (W 2003) *

30 Point Questions
 * 1) How effective are political parties in promoting democracy in the UK? (S2003//)*//
 * 2) How effective are political parties in promoting political participation? (S2005//)*//
 * 3) To what extent are political parties declining in importance in UK politics? (W2006//)*//
 * 4) How different is 'new' Labour from 'old’ Labour? (SU1)
 * 5) To what extent has ‘new’ Labour broken with the party’s traditional ideas and values? (S2002)
 * 6) In what ways have the ideas of the Labour Party changed in recent years? (W2004) *
 * 7) To what extent has the Labour Party abandoned its traditional principles? (W 2003) *
 * 8) To what extent do the policies and ideas of the Labour and Conservative parties overlap? (S2004//)*//

****Indicative Content - A Guide to Answering****

 * 5 Point Questions**

1a) //Outline two functions of a political party.//

The functions of political parties include: offering coherent ideological programmes; providing the electorate with choice; representing opinion once elected; elite formation and recruitment; policy formulation; and political participation.


 * (4-5)** will identify and clearly outline two functions.
 * (2-3)** will identify and clearly explain one of the functions.
 * (0-1)** will offer a more limited response which may not be well explained.

//2a) Outline two features of a political party.// Political parties are organisations whose members have broadly shared political or ideological beliefs, although, as ‘broad churches’ the parties encompass divergent views as well. They often have a formal structure, i.e. a leader and a governing body. Parties are electoral machines that attempt to win or retain power by broadening their public support. They are thus organised to enable their messages to be communicated with electorate. Parties have a party membership and activists who undertake most of the activities. Parties also develop policy programmes, usually across the full range of government policies, which they then publicise or campaign on, for example, through election manifestoes. Even if they don’t achieve power, they may well still get a degree of leverage – especially in a ‘hung’ parliament.


 * (4-5)** should clearly identify two features of political parties, citing examples.
 * (2-3)** should show an awareness of two features.
 * (0-1)** may be thin or unfocused responses.

//3a)What is a political party?// A political party is an organised body that seeks to win government power by putting candidates up for election and mobilising popular support. Their members typically show common ideological beliefs and values. Parties also attempt to offer policy positions across a range of issues. However, small parties may not exhibit some of these features.

(4-5 ) should describe three characteristics, with examples. (2-3 ) should describe two characteristics. (0-1) should describe one characteristic.


 * 15 Point Questions**

//1b) What are the main functions of a political party?//

Political parties have a number of main functions. These include: representation, participation, choice, recruitment, government functions. Political parties are important for the recruitment of the political elite. They help maintain a dynamic political system and attempt to cope with political change. Political parties provide voters with choice and can provide the electorate with informed views on political issues. Political parties are essential at parliamentary level to ensure stable and durable government. Political parties are also essential vehicles for differing levels of political participation e.g. political party membership, activism and representation.
 * (11-15)** briefly describe at least three functions of political parties.
 * (6-10)** identify at least two functions.
 * (0-5)** identify one function of political parties.

2b) //How do political parties achieve their aims?// Political parties achieve their aims in a number of ways. These methods include: offering a coherent ideological programme of policy providing the electorate with choice, representing opinion and recruiting members and winning elections. This implies that political parties win the policy debate with their rivals, unsuccessful parties may respond by reassessing their policy position.


 * (11-15)** will identify and clearly explain a range of methods with some examples.
 * (6-10)** will either explain fewer methods with some examples or offer a wider range of points, but without explanation.
 * (0-5)** will identify one methods or will offer a thinner response which may not be well explained.

3b) //Distinguish between consensus politics and adversary politics.// Adversary politics is where there is ideological disagreement between the major political parties over key public policies. In such situation, governments may spend much time undoing the work of previous administrations. In the early 1980s, the Thatcher government rejected much of the policy of the previous government, with the Labour opposition promising to undo her legacy completely if it came to power. Consensus politics is where, despite differences on detailed policy matters, there appears to be broad agreement over issues such as the overall management of the economy. It is argued that in the 1950s and 1960s, both Labour and the Conservatives pursued policies based on a desire for full employment and strong regulation of the economy.
 * (11-15)** should be able to define both terms and offer an example of at least one of them.
 * (6-10)** should be able to define either of the terms and offer an example of at least one of them.
 * (0-5)** may be either partial or able only to offer brief definitions without examples.

//4b) In what ways do political parties promote democracy?// Political parties seek to promote democracy though a variety of activities. They provide voters with a choice in the run up to elections, thus helping to make electoral choice clearer and more coherent. They are agents of popular participation, in that they allow the public to engage in political activism, stand for election and even hold public office. They help to educate and inform the electorate by publishing manifestoes and campaigning on issues. Most importantly, they facilitate representation by serving as a channel of communication between government and the people carrying out, for example, a popular mandate, when in power. 7b) //Outline the major ideas of the modern Conservative Party.// The Conservative Party is currently undergoing a series of policy reviews. These reflect a change in a number of the ideas of the party. The Conservatives are now keen to be seen as a party of decentralisation, tough on crime, but also concerned with under- privilege and the quality of public service provision. Enduring themes about trying to reduce the role of the state in the running of public services and opening up a greater role for the voluntary sector combined with a continuing distrust of the European Union and hostility to further European integration, show there are still some aspects of Conservative thinking that are the same. (11-15) should be able to offer some up-to-date analysis of the ideas of the Conservative Party and contain at least three aspects of Conservative thinking. (6-10 ) responses should offer two aspects of these ideas. (0-5) may only identify one aspect of Conservative Party ideas.
 * (11-15)** should clearly explain three ways that political parties promote democracy.
 * (6-10)** will explain two ways.
 * (0-5)** will be thin responses.


 * 30 Point Questions**

//1c)How effective are political parties in promoting democracy in the UK?// Political parties have been regarded as essential to the democratic system for many years, but criticisms and recent developments do indicate weaknesses. Political parties are connecting with fewer people; party membership has been in long term decline (in the case of the Conservatives, their membership is ageing at an alarming rate). Turnout in elections is also falling, also suggesting that faith in political parties is less pronounced. The two-party system also restricts electoral choice and distorts representation. In these circumstances, parties are finding it harder to fulfill some of their key roles. It may be argued that pressure groups rather than political parties are more likely to achieve change. Despite recent improvements, political parties still fail to reflect the society they seek to represent, with women and minority groups remaining under-represented at the grassroots and in leadership positions. The party machines are often seen as a democratic hindrance, especially in Parliament when the influence of party whips is often seen as too great. Arguments that political parties do promote democracy to be included. 2c) //How effective are political parties in promoting political participation?// Parties are effective to the extent that traditionally, during election times, the great majority turns out to vote. In the run up to the 1997 general election, Labour achieved a rise in its membership. The devolution campaigns sparked great debate in Scotland and Wales and moved a huge majority in the former to support the measures. Political participation may occur at a number of levels. By putting candidates up for election the political parties are inviting citizens to do the very minimum and turn out to vote. Parties also enable more - active participation by recruiting members. Party membership offers a broad measure of political activities including: canvassing and leafleting; local representation through to standing for parliamentary office. Political parties help mobilise opinion and may encourage political debate among citizens. Some political parties favour devices such as referendums, that encourage voter input on specific policy issues (e.g. Labour and devolution). Against this must be cited the fatting turnout in recent general elections, 71% in 1997, 59% in 2001. Party membership is also falling, with the Conservatives doing particularly badly in recruiting younger members. Many public opinion polls cite evidence of party politics being a ‘switch off’ to many voters, issues to do with trust, sleaze and the perceived tack of choice have damaged the reputation of political parties. This phenomenon is - particularly noticeable among younger citizens.
 * (21-30)** should develop a clear evaluation of the links between parties and democracy, examining three key factors.
 * (11-20)** should show ability to explain two links between parties and democracy.
 * (0-10)** will offer one argument or be a very thin response.


 * (21-30)** should discuss a range of arguments from both sides of the debate with examples.
 * (11-20)** either offer a partial response with examples or a balanced response lacking examples.
 * (0-10)** will offer one argument or be a very thin response.

3c) //To what extent are political parties declining in importance in UK?// There is some evidence that political parties are declining in importance. The falling party membership and the rise in popularity of single-issue pressure groups is an example. The public seem less - inclined to connect strongly with political parties and this may be connected with the decrease in voter turnout and the decline in popularity of politicians. Parties such as the Conservatives have been encountering problems as the age profile of the party increases. However, the evidence is far from clear. It may be that as the main political parties have been encountering difficulties, other parties have seen their positions improve. The Liberal Democrats, the Greens - and the United Kingdom Independence Party have all seen a revival of fortunes. Even the Conservatives have begun to recruit more, younger members. More generally, it is hard to see what would take the place of political parties, given their centrality to the workings of the UK political process.

//6c) In what ways have the ideas of the Labour Party changed in recent years?// Labour claims to have come to terms with the economic and social changes of the past twenty years. There is less attachment to ‘old’ preoccupations such as “Clause 4 socialism”, preferring instead wealth creation and private sector partnerships. Traditionally, Labour placed great faith in the state to deliver both economic and social progress. It talked with the language of equality, more recently the party prefers ideas associated with opportunity. Labour still stresses the importance of welfare services but it supports welfare reform and particularly welfare to work. It rejects punitive taxation to pay for this investment, instead relying on the so-called ‘third way’ combining social compassion and economic efficiency. Labour in power has however redistributed wealth from richer to poorer families in the last five years, which means there are still some similarities. The party also favours constitutional reform and is broadly pro-European.
 * (21-30)** should offer a balanced argument using a range of points with examples.
 * (11-20)** should explain fewer points with examples or be a one-sided response.
 * (0-10)** will offer one argument or be a very thin response.
 * (21-30)** explain at least three areas where changes have occurred.
 * (11-20)** explain at least two areas where changes have occurred.
 * (0-10)** offer a more limited answer.

7c) //To what extent has the Labour Party abandoned its traditional// //principles?// Labour’s traditional principles reflected a belief in revisionist socialism or Keynesian social democracy. The party wishes to reform capitalism through economic and social intervention in line with the principles of equality, redistribution and social justice. So-called ‘new’ Labour’s ‘third way’ principles are those of opportunity, responsibility and community. The party now accepts market economics, and therefore accepts Thatcherite or neo-liberal ideas such as enterprise, incentives and self-striving. However, its communitarianism stresses the link between right and responsibilities. Its commitment to public services and redistribution has been more prominent since 2001. (21-30) should fully explain the principles of both ‘old’ Labour and ‘new’ Labour, high level three responses should also offer evaluation. (11-20) should identify key shifts that have occurred in recent years. (0-10) may pay little attention to principles and show only limited understanding of policy changes. 8c) //To what extent do the policies and ideas of the Labour and Conservative parties overlap?// It can be argued that the ideas of the parties have converged in recent years. It may be argued that the major economic ideological debates of the past are now over and that both parties share a broadly free-market approach to economic management. The abandoning of Clause IV was an important symbol of this change for Labour. In other policy areas too, similarities of thought may be discerned. In social security, both parties seek an end to state benefit dependency, in law and order, they both share the view of robust response to crime. Old differences on education seem to be gone with a shared view on standards and even on the issue of selection. There is an obverse to the above arguments. Labour reject Conservative views on funding state healthcare and the Labour party has been avowedly redistributionist in its taxation and spending policies. Fundamental differences of ideas also exist on the issue of Europe.
 * (21-30)** should offer a balanced answer, explaining a range of arguments on both sides of the debate with examples. Level three achieved by being very good on policies.
 * (11-20)** outline a range of arguments or explain fewer arguments with examples.
 * (0-10)** will offer either a few undeveloped points or highlight issues not fully relevant to the question.