Political parties are organized groups pf people with similar ideas or ideology about the function and scope of government, with shared policy goals that work together to elect individuals to office, to create and implement policies, to further an agenda, and to gain control of the government and the policy making process.
There are different types of party system. In Parliamentary democracy, parties formulate public opinion, select candidates and seek election to secure maximum number of seats in the Parliament, so that they are in a position to form their governments. The party that fails to secure majority of seats sit in the opposition and offer constructive criticism. Two-party system is best suited for the efficient working of Parliamentary democracy e.g. Britain
In a multi-party system, no single party may secure a clear majority, but a number of parties enter into coalition to form the government. The voters have wider choice in the elections but it leads to frequent changes in coalition resulting in instability of government e.g. India, France, Italy
One party system is normally found in totalitarian states. It consist with of only one party that is often identified with the state. There is lack of opposition which makes the rulers authoritarian e.g. China
A political party performs many functions in a democracy.
They are the most significant sub-actors who participate in and regulate the political process. A political party brings together people with the same political ideas. By taking part in an election, parties hope to get as many of their members as possible into a representative body, like Parliament or a municipal council. At the same time they try to hold as many posts as possible in the government or in the municipal or provincial executive.
Political parties are point of linkage institutions available to the public, though they are not themselves government institutions. They work directly to influence public policy through nominating and officially sponsoring members who seek to win and hold public office. They shape public opinion and play a vital role in making laws for the country.
Political parties perform different functions within and outside the realm of politics. Their leadership and policies, internal practices, and the patterns of interaction with other parties and institutions can have profound consequences for the system of governance.
Parties are seen both by the members and by others, as agencies for forging links between citizens and policy-makers. Their important justification is in creating a substantive connection between the ruler and the ruled. They have contributed towards making the institutions and processes of government truly democratic.
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