What is the purpose of a political party?

[CTLawGuy]

Check the answer that corresponds with the explanations here. Tell me which one, in your view, best represents what the purpose of parties is.

#1. A political party exists as an organization that represents the views and preferences of its base, the people who are knowledgeable, aware and passionate about politics and who have strong ideological views. The purpose of the party is to represent those feelings and draw moderates and independents toward it through outreach and persuasion. This party system provides elections with two or more clear choices which may seem radical. The party that rules is the party that can both articulate its views the best and convince the most independent voters that those views are best for them.

#2. A political party exists as a mechanism to encompass the views of the majority of citizens. The base is not the central focus of the party, but they are important as they drive the party's machinery (donate money, volunteer time, etc). The party competes with the other parties to grab the majority of voters by going towards the views of moderates and independents. Elections tend to be between two or more reasonable, yet not horribly distinct or specific choices. The party that rules is the one that can be broad enough to encompass the majority of voters under their umbrella.

#3. A political party exists to check the power of the adverse political force or party. This is only applicable in a plurality-wins, two party system. A party is less a cohesive ideological force and more a group of diverse factions with a common enemy. The party is necessary to defeat the dominant adverse party or faction - that need is the glue that holds the party together. Nominations tend to be contentious between the strong factions. Elections are often between two compromise candidates. The party that rules is the one that can best unify the various factions while rallying the support of independents.

[HuckleB]

1. Alas, for most people, in this day and age...

political parties are like sports teams that they root for, identifying with for vague notions that they stick to themselves with super glue, for some strange reason.

I know this isn't the reality for most people at DU, but, in the general populace, I think it is far closer to the uncomfortable truth than most of want to know.

[hopeisaplace]

2. to provide real life entertainment thus replacing the need for reality tv

..following politics is like watching 24/7 reality tv (which I hate - reality tv that is)
sort of like that movie "ED TV". I'm not kidding you, if more people got into the characters (*ahem
that's putting it mildly*), the money, who's connected to who, who owns who, who's a criminal,
who's connected to what corporations, etc...they would never need a tv set again. Just a
computer. Pure but disgusting entertainment and shameful reality.

[Nutmegger]

3. I posed this question with no reply

Didn't one of the federalists papers warn against political parties? I thought it was 10 or 24...:shrug:

Just asking in case someone has this info at their fingertips.

[CTLawGuy]

10. federalist 10

Madison said that a large, representative government which would encompass many different interests would prevent a tyrannical faction from taking power because of the detachment of the representatives, and the sheer number of interests would be so high that no one interest could command a majority at any one time.

Is that what you mean? I'm not familiar with Federalist 24.

[Nutmegger]

16. Yes! That's it!

Thanks a bunch.:bounce:

[RoyGBiv]

4. Pooling resources ...

The basic idea behind a political party revolves around the idea of strength in numbers. Two people working separately toward a goal are not as efficient as those same two people working together. It's the same idea as the one behind labor unions.

The goal is often the tricky part and where definitions of what a political party is become clouded. Most broadly stated, in modern politics, the goal is expressed in the party platform.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I vote for this one

[Katherine Brengle]

5. political parties exist because otherwise it would be too difficult for

voters to know where politicians stood on the issues. By marking party designations (in theory), we eliminate the need to explain everything we believe in because some things can be assumed.

Also, we live in a winner-take-all society--strength in numbers.

[David__77]

6. To attract politically advanced elements, and mobilize them.

It should not be a thing about a majority or whatever. A party need only attract a pole of politically conscious individuals who can act as a nucleus for a political movement.

[LWolf]

7. To exclude.

To exclude all but the elite powers-that-be from holding power.

[stray cat]

8. To please DU?

[Jai4WKC08]

11. I vote other

Altho I suppose there are elements of all your points that are true to one extent or another.

But mostly, a political party exists to provide the means for a group of like-minded people to band together in a strength-in-numbers sort of way, to gain power and influence policy. In that way, it's not unlike a union, or a PAC, or even a businessman's association like a Chamber of Commerce. It does so by concentrating funds, educating the public, recruiting members, and overall focusing the effort of many individuals toward common goals.

In a two-party system like ours, the party must encompass the "like-mindedness" of a much broader membership than would be necessary in a multi-party system where coalitions are built by people who recognize they have different interests and opinions. That broader membership means the base and the middle, and as many of the unaffiliated or undecided as the party can reach. It's not about activist vs. majority, and it's not about left vs. right. It's about trying to wield the most power and influence by attracting the greatest number of people and energizing them to act in way (vote, campaign, contribute) that will further the common good of all involved.

[Skinner]

13. What Jai4WKC08 said.

Exactly.

[Sammy Pepys]

12. Other

Political parties primarily provide a means of organization, funding and mesage promotion for candidates. Running as a candidate aligned with a party opens up lots of avenues for funding, campaign staffing, publicity, strategy and things like that...whereas someone running as a true independent would have to rely on their own efforts.

It also provides voters with a general idea of what a candidate stands for at first glance, though as we know this is not always truly correct. Nothing forbids someone joining a party that has nothing common with that persons actual beliefs or platform.

[wyldwolf]

14. other - the purpose is to win elections

[ieoeja]

15. Other

1. Permits people with common cause to combine their resources in both elections and governance.
2. A coalition.