Functions & Features of Political Parties (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

Features of political parties

• Political parties are central to how representative democracy operates in the UK

• They organise political competition, provide choice for voters, and help form governments

• This topic breaks down what political parties are (features) and what they do (functions)

Features

• Shared ideology or broad policy goals

  • Parties unite around a general political philosophy (e.g., Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat)

• Organisation at local, regional and national levels

  • Includes local constituency branches, regional structures, and national leadership

• Candidates for public office

  • Parties select and endorse candidates for elections

• A desire to gain and exercise political power

  • Their main aim is to win elections or influence government policy

• Formal membership and rules

  • Parties have constitutions, leadership election rules and a membership system

• Manifestos and policy programmes

  • They publish policy commitments for voters to judge

Functions of political parties

• Below are the key functions political parties perform in UK democracy, with short explanations and examples

Key functions