Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT

CLASS:  SS1

DATE:

TERM: 3RD TERM

• REFERENCE
• Essential Government by C.C. Dibie.
• Comprehensive Government by J.U. Anyaele.

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC: POLITICAL PARTIES

CONTENT

1. Meaning, Types, Functions and Comparism between Political Party and Pressure Group.
2. Party System: Definition Types and Features.
3. Merits and Demerits of Party System, Party Manifesto and Its Importance.

MEANING OF POLITICAL PARTY

A political party can be defined as an organised group of individuals sharing a similar ideology about how to serve the national interest and seeking to acquire governmental power in order to run the affairs of a state. The aim of controlling the government machinery is the major distinguishing factor between political parties and other similar groups in the political system such as pressure groups.

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1. Mass Party: The party emphasizes large membership hence; requirements for membership are either very easy or non-existent e.g. communist party in China. It developed in response to the extension of franchise. The manifesto emphasizes people’s welfare.
2. Elite Party: It developed at a time when franchise was restricted. It comprises trained and professional party members who are expected to exhibit a high sense of political commitment and discipline. They believe it is their exclusive right to control government e.g. PDP (Nigeria)
3. Broker Party: It is a party for both the rich and the poor bridging the gap between the two. It promotes equality and welfare of the people.
4. Charismatic Party: It is formed by and evolved around a unique and enviable character that is the unit of attraction for other members e.g. UPN, PRP (2ND republic) and NCP(4TH republic)
5. Religious Party: It is a party formed along religious lines, which is dependent on the religious doctrines in a country.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What is political party?
2. List the types of political parties.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES:

1. They articulate i.e. advances the interests of the different groups in a society.
2. They aggregate i.e. collate together and advance the interests of the desperate states of opinions, views and ideas in a society.
3. They serve as agents of political socialization and education.
4. They recruit and train political leaders for the state.
5. They mobilize the people for political activities and for discharging their obligation to the state.
6. They unite people of different culture, language and religion.
7. They formulate policies and programmes that often become goals of government and societies.
8. Opposition parties serve as watchdogs and a check on the government in power.
9. They form the government upon winning an election.
10. They facilitate peaceful change of government.

COMPARISM BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND PRESSURE GROUPS

1. Political parties aim at winning elections and controlling government, while pressure groups aim at pursuing the interest of their members.
2. Political parties submit candidates that contest elections while pressure groups do not.
3. Political parties do not limit membership but pressure groups admit only qualified member.
4. Political parties address several issues; pressure groups are only concerned with issues concerning their members.
5. Political parties continue to attract more members after winning elections; pressure groups cease to agitate after achieving their goals.
6. While political parties are distinctly organised with defined leadership, pressure groups are not.
7. While good political parties are organised to reach everybody in the society, pressure groups are not.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. Mention 5 functions of political parties.
2. Compare between political parties and pressure groups.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. Explain the following terms: (i) Mass Party (ii) Broker Party (iii) Elite Party (iv) Charismatic party (v) Religious Party.
2. Highlight 6 characteristics of political parties.
3. What are the factors that can determine the electoral success of a political party?
4. Explain the concept of the rule of law.
5. Mention 5 factors that can ensure the successful operation of the rule of law.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Comprehensive Government pages 77-79

Essential Government pages 92-94

WEEKEND ASSINGMENT

1. One of the importance of political parties is- ( a) forming a trade union (b) to oppose the passage of bills into laws (c) serving as watchdogs (d) to influence government policies
2. Limited membership is an example of (a) A broker party (b) A mass party (c) An elite party (d) religious party
3. The primary objective of all political parties is to (a) act as watchdog   (b) educate the electorate (c) eradicate corruption in public life (d) control the government
4. The party that emphasises large membership is called (a) elite party (b) zero party

(c) mass party (d) broker party

1. While political parties aim at forming a government, pressure groups aim at 

(a) causing social unrest (b) influencing government decisions (c) imposing military rule (d) capturing power

THEORY

1. Explain the following: (a) mass party (b) elite part (c) broker party.
2. Discuss the functions of political parties.