(a) Examine the role of political parties in a democracy.

(i) Parties contest elections. In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties.

(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.

(iii) Political parties reduce a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which they support.

(iv) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.

(v) Parties form and run governments. Big policy decisions are taken by political executives that come from the political parties.

(vi) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticizing government for its failures or wrong policies.

(vii) Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues.

(viii) Parties sometimes also launch movements for the resolution of problems faced by people. Often opinions in the society crystallise on the lines parties take.

(ix) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. For an ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.

OR Examine the need of the political parties in a democratic government. 27.(b)

(i) In a large and complex societies political parties are needed to gather different views on various issues to present them to government.

(ii) Political parties are needed to bring together representatives to form a responsible government.

(iii) In the absence of political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent. So, no one will be able to make any promise to the people about any major policy change.

(iv) In absence of political parties government will be formed but its utility will remain uncertain.

(v) Political parties are needed to support or restrain the government.

(vi) Political parties are crucial in making policies, justifying them or oppose them.

(vii) Political parties are needed to provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes because they are easily accessible.