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 EIGHT

TOPIC: PARTY SYSTEM

CONTENT

1. Meaning and Types.
2. Merits and Demerits.
3. Manifesto and Its Importance.

PARTY SYSTEM (DEFINITION) 

Party system refers to the number of political parties that contest or are allowed by law to contest elections for the purpose of forming a government in every democratic society.

TYPES OF PARTY SYSTEM

One party system: One party system may be defined as one in which only one legal and legitimate political party is constitutionally recognised in the country. No other party is recognised and therefore cannot exist. Examples of countries that adopt one party system are; North Korea, Cuba, China, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia etc.

Types of One Party System

1. True Single- Party System: It exists when the laws of the country expressly prohibit the formation of any other political party. This party system does not accept or permit opposition. This party is operated in Malawi, Zambia, etc. 
2. Hegemonic One Party System: This is a party that enjoys unchallenging authority, that is, from any opposition party but the law does not prevent such opposition.
3. Predominant One Party System: It exists where the electorates elect one party system all the time. It is common in Asia.

FEATURES OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. The legally recognized party is the only party.
2. There is only one single ideology i.e. the ideology of the one legal party.
3. No private ownership of the mass media.
4. Government policies are strictly enforced.
5. There is no legally or officially recognized opposition.
6. It has dictatorship tendencies.

ADVANTAGES OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. It promotes national unity.
2. It facilitates quick decision making.
3. It prevents economic waste.
4. It utilizes the most competent personnel.
5. It allows easy mobilization of people.
6. It ensures stability of government.
7. It reduces or eliminates electoral malpractices.
8. It avoids unhealthy rivalry.
9. It builds a strong leadership.

DISADVANTAGES OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. It is undemocratic.
2. It may lead to one party leadership.
3. It encourages violent overthrow of government.
4. It violates the rule of law principle.
5. The single ideology may not appeal to people.
6. It limits the political education of the people.
7. It has tendency to produce a life president.
8. There is absence of watchdogs to government.
9. It neglects public opinion.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What is one party system?
2. Discuss five demerits of one party system.

TWO- PARTY SYSTEM

It is the existence of two political parties that are recognised by law in a society to contest for elective posts. There is also a situation where there are more than two parties in existence but only two major ones have become dominant over the years. In the aborted third republic of Nigeria, there were two parties legally recognised i.e. the National Republican Convention (NRC), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In the USA and Great Britain, there are two dominant parties.

FEATURES OF TWO -PARTY SYSTEM

1. The two major political parties are legally and constitutionally recognized.
2. There is an official opposition that is legally recognized.
3. There are parties and candidates to choose from.
4. It is democratic and allows operation of rule of law.
5. There is press freedom.
6. Provision is made in the constitution for periodic change of government through elections.
7. Opposition provides a check on the ruling party.
8. It prevents dictatorship.
9. It provides political stability.

ADVANTAGES OF TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

1. It gives choice of party and candidates to the electorates.
2. It provides a strong opposition.
3. It enables electorates identify the strength and weakness of the party.
4. It checks the excesses of the ruling party.
5. It provides for periodic elections to change governments.
6. It is democratic.
7. It promotes political stability in the country.

DISADVANTAGES OF TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

1. It divides the country into ethnic, regional or religious groupings.
2. Decision making is slower.
3. It encourages electoral malpractices.
4. It leads to political violence and unhealthy rivalry.
5. It is more expensive than one party system.
6. It can lead into a one party state.
7. It leads to a serious marginalisation of minority interest.
8. It leads to uneven development.

MULTI PARTY SYSTEM

It is a party system in which more than two political parties exists in a country contesting for the political power with each possessing a good chance of being elected into government. This system often results in a coalition government if no party secures absolute majority. Examples include Nigeria, USA.

FEATURES OF MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM 

1. Existence of more than one political party.
2. All the political parties are recognised by law.
3. It provides a wider range of choice for electorates to choose from.
4. It enhances and broadens the scope of political education.
5. It makes wider representation of people from interest available in governance.
6. It often produces a coalition government.
7. It prevents dictatorial tendencies.
8. There is a periodic election.
9. It entrenches the principle of rule of law. 
10. It safeguards the right of individuals.

ADVANTAGES OF MULTI PARTY SYSTEM

1. It increases scope of political participation.
2. It recognizes opposition parties.
3. It is democratic.
4. It encourages the formation of coalition government.
5. It provides watchdogs to government.
6. It guarantees smooth change of government.
7. It allows the citizens to exercise their fundamental human rights.
8. It prevents the emergence of a dictator.

DISADVANTAGES OF MULTI PARTY SYSTEM

1. It is too expensive to maintain.
2. It leads to unhealthy rivalry.
3. It leads to political instability.
4. It leads to waste of resources.
5. It encourages election violence.
6.  It is prone to election rigging.
7. It encourages corruption in the parliament.
8. It leads to national disintegration. 

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What is Multi-Party system?
2. State 5 advantages of a Multi-Party system.

PARTY MANIFESTO

A party manifesto can be defined as the cardinal plans or programmes of a political party which the party intends to fulfil to the electorate if it is elected into power.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A PARTY MANIFESTO

1. Manifesto directs the party on what to do and how to do it.
2. Manifesto helps to attract more members or supporters into the party.
3. Manifesto educates the electorate to have knowledge on the aims and objectives of the political party.
4. Manifesto helps the electorate to assess the party on the basis of the contents of the manifesto.
5. It explains how the party intends to achieve its programme when it comes to power.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1.  What is a Manifesto?
2. List five features of multi party system.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. List and explain the types of one-party system.
2. Explain the term “Zero Party” System.
3. (a) What is Two Party System? (b) State 5 features of Two- Party system.
4. Define separation of powers.
5. Mention 5 merits of separation of power.

READING ASSINGMENT

Comprehensive Government pages 79-84

Essential Government pages 95-99

WEEKEND ASSINGMENT

1.  A variation of Two party system is- (a) True single party system (b) Dominant two party system (c) prima facie two party system (d) multi party system
2. Political parties seek mass appeal (a) because revolution became necessary (b) as a result of extended family (c) to overthrow existing government (d) to cause political instability
3. Coalition government is a feature of  (a) Two party system (b) A multi party system 

(c) A zero party  system (d) one party system 

1. A political party that embraces both the rich and the poor is (a) Elitist party (b) A mass party (c) A broker party (d) ideological party
2. One of the advantages of two party system is that (a) there is slow decision making 

(b) it wastes resources (c) it prevents dictatorship (d) it divides the country

THEORY

1. Discuss the features of Two party system.
2. Why is manifesto important?