POLS 1400 Study Guide - Second Party System, Egalitarianism, Social Democracy

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 1400
• Professor: Nanita Mohan

Document Summary

A political party is an organized group that nominates candidates and contests election in order to influence the personnel and policy of government. Political parties aggregate, combine, consolidate or appeal to many different interests or demands these are collectively referred to, as issues. Political parties provide territorial representation-formal institutions of the government including electoral system and parliament. They choose what they want to address and focus on the issues, health care, jobs, education etc. Political parties recruit decision makers primarily by means of the electoral system. Political patronage refers to the appointment of certain political officeholders by the government party. They are also involved in the legislative and executive operations of the government. Canadian cabinet tradition is that all ministers are drawn from a single party so that there is agreement in policy decisions. However, policymaking role of political parties is often minimal.