PARTYSYSTEM - WEEK FIVE

PARTYSYSTEM

ONE PARTY SYSTEM.

This is the type of government in which one political party is allowed to operate and control the machinery of government. It is possible for a state to ha\c only one officially recognize? .inant party and other mushroom parties that are not officially recognized e.g Union ot Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Kenya, Zambia, Angola.c

FEATURESOFONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. There is no official opposition party.
2. One leader rules fora longtime.
3. The economy is centrally planned by the central government.
4. There is no press freedom, the press is gagged.
5. The state has only one ideology of the central ruling government.
6. Only one party is official provided for by the constitution as no other party is recognized.

ADVANTAGES OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. Government programmes are made and executed with despatch, because of little or no opposition.
2. It promotes national unity since everybody belongs to one party,
3. Violence and thuggery, are minimized since is only one party
4. It is less expensive to run because duplication of functions are not in one party system.
5. It creates stability in government as opposition and enemies are less.
6. It leads to rapid economic development of the country.
7. Ethnicity and tribalism are highly reduced as there is one central party.

DISADVANTAGES OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM

1. One party system is undemocratic because the various interests are not often taken into consideration.
2. It may produce a dictator as there is no opposition to check its activities.
3. Theruleoflaw is not respected.
4. Public opinion is neglected as the opinion of the ruling party only is recognized.
5. It infringes on fundamental human rights of citizens e.g freedom to belong to political party of choice.
6. Absence of healthy, constructive opposition.
7. There may be absence of strict party discipline.
8. It is not suitable for a vast or large country especially with different ethnic interests/groups.
9. It limits political education.
10. There is no press freedom as the party speaks its wishes only and gives no room for criticism.

TWO PARTY SYSTEM.

This is a system where only two political parties are officially recognized eg (USA) United State of America (Republican and democrats). Others are (UK) United Kingdom, Labour and Consecutive party

CHARACTERISTICS OFTWO PARTY SYSTEM

1. Elections are contested by two majorparties
2. Official opposition party is allowed to exist e.g SDP and N RC in Nigeria.
3. There is the existence of majority and minority parties but the minority parties hardly win.
4. There is the existence of press freedom
5. It promotes political stability of a country
6. Rule of law is enhanced
7. Alternative government is provided in a two party system. The citizens can choose anyone they like.

MERITS OF TWO PARTY SYSTEM

1. Two party system promotes the political stability of a country
2. It produces very strong opposition
3. It presents two alternatives to the electorate during election
4. It makes the government in power act very responsibly knowing that if it fails, the people could reject it at the next election
5. It is difficult for the government to degenerate into dictatorship under a two party system
6. It promotes popular government by ensuring that the party or candidate that wins in an election is always the most popular candidate

DEMERITS QFTWO PARTY SYSTEM

1. Two party system 'cads to a division of the society into two opposing camp
2. It sometimes breeds irresponsible opposition
3. It may not allow the development and growth of minor parties
4. Human resources are sometimes wasted on unnecessary partisan squabbles instead of useful national issues
5. Party loyalty could be placed above national loyalty
6. It sometimes leads to victimization of political opponents
7. It may lead to unhealthy political rivalry among the two parties

MULTI - PARTY SYSTEM

Multi party system is a situation whereby more than two political parties exist and are officially recognized i.e many political parties. Here, one party rarely wins the majorityof scab in the legislature. It can also lead to coalition of political parties eg Nigeria, Israel. India. Germany, Cameroon.

FEATURES OF MULTl - PARTY SYSTEM

1. There are always several political parties to operate in the country.
2. There is possibility of a coalition government.
3. There are groups of opposition parties.
4. It reflects many shades of interests, opinions and needs of the members of the society,
5. Politics is highly competitive.
6. It encourages political education's many parties are involved.
7. It prevents the emergency of a dictator.

ADVANTAGES OF MULTl PARTY SYSTEM

1. It is democratic as it allows the voters wide range of choice to pick their representatives
2. In a homogenous country, it ensures unity in diversity as each group's opinion and interests may be represented in one of the parties like Nigeria. There about sixty registered parties under the 2010 election.
3. It prevents dictatorship as there are alternative parties who may help to change the leadership
4. Fundamental human rights are enhanced as freedom of association, speech, to vote and be voted for etc arc inherent in the constitution.
5. It distributes for one party to win and take all.
6. It permits a wide range of ideologies as there are many ideologies held by the different parties
7. It is most likely to ensure peaceful change of government
8. It discourages "winner takes all" principle.
9. It promotes the interest of the majority ethnic groups

DEMERITS OF MULTl - PARTY

1. It may lead to unstable government as too many political parties are competing for political power.
2. Ethnic and sectionally based political parties - it produces ethnic and sectionally based political partied which may not be in the national interest
3. It is an expensive party system as the cost involved in running these parties is enormousand complex
4. Political opponents - Political opponents are often victimized during elections.
5. Too many political programmes and polices - There are too many political programmesby the various political parties.
6. Coalition government - Multi - party leads to the formation of coalition party especially in parliamentary system which are often unstable and weak.'
7. It is difficult to hold any party responsible for failure or success of any government programme
8. It produces weak political parties

D.        ZERO - PARTY SYSTEM

This is the type of party system where no formally - organized political parties take part in the electoral process. Rather, individual candidates context as independent candidates and are elected on the basis of their personal character and capability.

MERITS OFAZEROPARTYSYSTEM

1. It eliminates inter - party squabble which will eventually divide the electorates
2. It tends to expose the political talents of the individual
3. Here, National interest and loyalty will be put forth than party interest
4. It is very simple to operate and less expensive
5. Decision making is quick and resources are not wasted
6. It lessens corruption and election malpractices as is elected on individual merits.

DEMERITS OFAZEROPARTYSYSTEM

1. There is absence of party manifesto which lead to poor leaders direction
2. Irresponsible leaders may be elected in to offices as their oratory can move the people sentimentally.
3. The people will not be educated because only the speeches/programmes and oral report of the individuals will be used as a determinant

C.        PARTY MANIFESTO

Is a cardinal plan of a political party which the party intends to fulfil when elected into power or the aims and objectives of the political party

IMPORTANCE OF PARTY MANIFESTO

1. It shows the plan of the political party, its direction, ideology and how to achieve them
2. U gives the party something to look on to, until it is achieved i.e a bearing or roadmap.
3. U educates the electorate on the programmes of the party before the election and is also used to monitor its implementation too.

Conditions political associations   are expected to fulfil before being registered its political parties:

1. They must have office in at least 2/3 of the states of the federation
2. All party head quarters must be at the federal headquarters
3. Leadership of parties must reflect federal character
4. Party symbols should not reflect ethnic or religious connections
5. Party funds should not be borrowed from outside the country
6. Party accounts must be audited al least once a year.

D.        FEATURES/FUNCTIONSOFABRANCH PARTY STRUCTURE

A branch party is a semi-autonomous unit of a political party

1. Abranch of a political party has membership in the branch like ward or in the local area.
2. Us membership is open to all sections of the society not only elite but the have and have nots.
3. U promotes the manifesto of the party at local government level
4. U adopts the structure of the main party, the structure of the party must be the same as the centre.
5. It mobilizes support and resources for the party through loans, donations etc.
6. Execution of the parties polices and programmes at the local level like free education etc.