Functions of Political Parties

Introduction

A democratic society is one in which people have the right to vote and elect their country's leadership and to hold those leaders accountable for their actions and decisions. This society is people driven and ownership and control of organizations is by the people and for the people. I a democratic society everyone has the right to have a say in the running of the government, but since there are a lot of people in these societies to run the government together they form political parties with a limited group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office and representing the views of the people. In this paper I am going to explain what political parties are, there functions and roles of these political parties, the African view of political parties, were I am going to talk about why people view political parties as instruments of state capture for controlling resources and also as a way of personnel enrichment by the political party members.

What are political parties?

Political parties are nongovernmental institutions that organize and give direction to mass political desires. In a democracy, political parties are the crucial link between the citizens and the government. Parties only developed as the idea of political equality took hold in the late eighteenth century. They were specifically designed to allow groups to be heard that otherwise might be frozen out of the system for example local village people how are illiterate by means of representation by party members. As a result, political parties are an essential element of democratic processes

Functions of Political Parties

Political parties serve four essential functions which are------ the first and most important function to organize elections by nominating candidates and seeking office. The second function of a party is to build coalitions by attracting group support, pulling groups into the democratic process. Third, parties work to simplify political choices. Finally, they organize government and policy making, attempting to use the institutions of government to reflect the will of the voters.

Roles of political parties

Political parties perform key tasks in a democratic society, such as they aggregate and articulate needs and problems as identified by members and supporters of the people in that country.

They socialize and educate voters and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral system and the generation of general political values.

They balance opposing demands and converting