POLSCI 140 Lecture 6: Study Notes at UMich
Document Summary
A political party can be thought of as a group of people that includes those who. Political parties serve four main purposes: hold office and those who help get and keep them there. Allows them to make decisions on political issues. They recruit and socialize the political elite. Party affiliation critical to hold political office in many democracies. Sanders and trump in 2016 both needed to change party affiliation. Reduce the costs of collective action by facilitating citizens to help them make political change/elect people into office. They provide a link between the rulers and the ruled. Links between elected officials and citizens often via parties. In developing democracies often to distribute selective benefits to clients. Ex - politician runs on bringing electricity to a village in india. Ex - they could pay for votes and become cilientalistic. In developed democracies often to distribute public goods and policies to constituents.
