About This Section
This is a collection of important questions with complete model answers covering the whole of Chapter 4 - Political Parties. Use it to revise the key ideas: the meaning and functions of parties, why democracies need them, party systems, national and State parties, the challenges parties face, and how they can be reformed.
Questions and Answers
Q1. State any five functions performed by political parties in a democracy.
Answer: Political parties perform many functions. Five important ones are:
- Contesting elections by putting up candidates.
- Putting forward policies and programmes from which voters choose.
- Making laws, since members vote by the party's direction in the legislature.
- Forming and running governments by supplying the political executive.
- Acting as the opposition and shaping public opinion, while giving citizens access to government and welfare schemes.
Q2. 'Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy.' Justify.
Answer: Large societies need representative democracy, which needs an agency to gather views, form a responsible government, and support or restrain it. Only parties do this. Without them, every candidate would be independent, no policy promises could be made, and no one would be responsible for running the country. Even in non-party panchayat polls, factions and panels appear - showing parties are indispensable.
Q3. Distinguish between one-party, two-party and multiparty systems with examples.
Answer:
- One-party system: only one party is allowed to rule; not democratic. Example - China (Communist Party).
- Two-party system: power changes between two main parties. Examples - USA and UK.
- Multiparty system: several parties compete and more than two can gain power alone or in alliance. Example - India.
Q4. What are the criteria laid down by the Election Commission to recognise a State party and a national party?
Answer: A State party must secure at least six per cent of the total votes in a State Assembly election and win at least two seats. A national party must secure at least six per cent of votes in Lok Sabha elections (or Assembly elections in four States) and win at least four seats in the Lok Sabha. There are six recognised national parties (2023).
Q5. Explain any three challenges faced by political parties.
Answer: Three key challenges are:
- Lack of internal democracy - power is concentrated in a few leaders, with no registers, meetings or internal elections.
- Dynastic succession - top posts are controlled by one family, unfair to other members.
- Money and muscle power - parties nominate the wealthy or even criminals, and donors influence policy.
A fourth challenge is that parties often offer no meaningful choice to voters.
Q6. Describe any three efforts already made in India to reform political parties.
Answer: Three efforts already in force are:
- The anti-defection law - a member who changes parties loses the seat, which reduced defection.
- The Supreme Court order requiring every candidate to file an affidavit on property and criminal cases.
- The Election Commission order requiring parties to hold organisational elections and file income tax returns.
Q7. Suggest measures, other than laws, by which political parties can be reformed.
Answer: Two non-legal ways are: (i) People can pressure parties through petitions, publicity and agitations, with citizens, pressure groups, movements and the media playing a role - parties reform when they fear losing support; and (ii) People can join parties, because the quality of democracy depends on public participation. In short, the problem of bad politics is solved by more and better politics.