Political Party

Back to: CIVIC EDUCATION SS2

 

Welcome to Class !!

We are eager to have you join us !!

In today’s Civic Education class, We will be learning about Political Parties. We hope you enjoy the class!

 

 

Political Party can be defined as an association of people with similar political ideology who come together for the purpose of contesting an election in order to gain political power and control government. The primary objective of any political party is to control the Government. They usually conduct primary elections within the party to select a flag bearer or candidate that will represent them during the general election. Their membership cuts across different interest groups, class, ethnic boundaries and profession. Hence, a political party is a good example of a popular organization.

 

CHARACTERISTIC OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1. Their main objective is to win elections and control government.
2. Their membership cuts across tribe, religion, profession, ethnic and regional divide.
3. They conduct primary elections.
4. They present candidates for election.
5. They organise campaigns and rallies.
6. They ensure political education in society.

 

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1. They help to promote unity in a state by bringing people together from different interest groups.
2. They provide a platform for a peaceful change of government.
3. They provide an opportunity for people to make their choice of leaders during elections.
4. They help to promote accountability of government officials in society.
5. They provide political education for the citizens in society.
6. They help to promote good governance through their criticisms and roles as a watchdog.
7. They help to raise political leaders in the state.
8. They serve as a link between the government and the citizens.

 

EVALUATION

1. Define political party?
2. Mention five functions of political parties?

 

 

HOW POLITICAL PARTIES COMPETE FOR POWER THROUGH ELECTION

Political parties engage in strategies and activities that will enable them to achieve their objective of political leadership. Below are some of the activities they engage in when competing for election.

1. Design of Manifesto: Manifesto is a document that contains the agenda and key programmes which a political party intends to pursue or implement if voted into office. It is written in a way so as to entice people to support them during elections.
2. Campaign: This is the gathering together of political party members for the purpose of promoting their manifesto to the public. They use such gatherings to canvass for votes.
3. Primary Election: This is the election that is conducted within the political party to select the flag bearer or candidate that will represent the party at general elections either at the ward, local government, state or federal level.
4. Education of Voters: Political parties teach their followers how to thumbprint and the logo to watch out for. They do this to ensure that voters are not deceived by their opponents. It also helps to reduce nullification/cancellation of votes.
5. Selection of Credible Candidates: Political parties carefully select credible candidates that have good standing in the society in order to attract electorates. Such candidates are usually popular individuals or people from popular families that can attract followership in society.
6. Welfare: Political parties sometimes engage in the distribution of souvenirs, materials, food items and money to the poor so that they can vote for their party. The voters believe that such welfare will continue if the party succeeds and take over the control of the government.
7. Mobilization: Political party members engage in a door-to-door and one-on-one campaign to woo voters for support.

 

EVALUATION

1. Mention six ways political parties compete for power through elections.
2. Explain welfare as a strategy to win elections.

 

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. What do you understand by the term ‘Citizens’?
2. Mention seven responsibilities of citizens.
3. Define political parties and explain five of their functions.
4. State the roles of a free press in society.
5. What are the problems of elections in Nigeria?

 

READING ASSIGNMENT

Political Party: Fundamentals of Civic Education for SS Book 2, Sola Akinyemi, Pages 19-22.

 

SECTION B

1. List six importance of political parties in a state.
2. Explain the term ‘primary election’.

 

 

 

We have come to the end of this class. We do hope you enjoyed the class?

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

In our next class, we will be learning about Poverty and Its Effects. We are very much eager to meet you there.

 

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