—_ POLITICAL THEORY 397 ONE-PARTY SYSTEM here are many countries in the world with one-party system. The formation tet parties is banned there. For examle. Soviet Union, China, Bulgaria, seria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Finlend one Gon fur ries and there is only one Communist Party. The Communists are of the view in pat he opposition is needed only in capitalist countries because of the existence of ee interests there. In order to represent those di ve During Hitler’s regime in Germany, where WAS only one party. Hitler's Party ty, the Fascist Party. Both Hitler an {n Spain and Portugal, too, there was Merits of one-party system. and during Mussolini's regime in Italy, was Nazi Party and Mussolini named his id Mussolini crushed all opposition parties. only one party at that time. Disadvantage or demerits of in this system, there is no freed. ditatorship emerges. (3) There interests. (4) The Government imesponsible. (5) The develop ieedoms are crushed. (6) 1 (errorism, and the opponents one-party system. (1) Since there is only one party lom of expression. (2) Democracy is eroded and is no regard for the views of different classes and becomes absolute and the administration becomes. ment of the personality is hindered because all social n this system there is an oberbearing influence of are crushed with a heavy hand. (7) The dictators make tnormous military Preparations for maintaining their honour and Position, and ‘ey adopt the policy of war and victory which is quite harmful for the country. Conclusion. There are certain advantages and disadvantages in single-party, bipany and multiple-party systems. But from the point of view of the functioning of the Government, bi-party system is the best and democracy is protected in it. Single panty System is not considered good as democracy is destroyed init, Though ~ Tultiple-party system is democratic, yet the Government is not stable in it. refore, as compared to bi-party system, this system is not considered good. No Patticular system can be fixed for any country and it“depends upon the Sreumstances of each country as to which party system should be adopted by it. SOME CET ECTEN OMFESTIONSaad POLITICAL PARTIES | BI-PARTY SYSTEM j * By-party system does not mean that 4 particular country has only tw, and there is no third party in it, It means there ote only two major partes Px a rest of the parties are less important. For example, there are more than ty, \d the in England, viz., Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Party, Fac? Communmit Party. But in politics, only two parties are important Sei ang Commune Pary. Bit pour Party. Sometimes the Conservative Pan, ie he ee ive er abour Party forms the Goverment. No seat has been aby the Communist and the Fascist Party. In the House of Commons, the Liberty has only a few seats. Pany Similarly in the U.S.A. though there are many parties like the Comm. Party, the Republican Party, and the Democratic Party, yet only Republican Democratic Parties are important and they form the Government. The Comm ang Pariy has no importance in the polities. Thus, there © bi-party systeminthegat Britain and the U.S.A. Where there is @ ‘multi-party system, there are more tha aL important parties in politics. This system prvails in France, West Germany I and certain other countries of Europe. + Maly MERITS OF BI-PARTY SYSTEM f the bi-party system: The following are the merits of 1 (1) Government becomes more stable. The Governtier is more stable in bi-party system, because the party whieh has a malorty in the legislature formsite Chemo apeat ether psy eet n apponmtion. SI Governments arene Ting party loses the majority in the legislatur, formed in a bi-party system. If the rul ee Cabjnet tenders He fesignation. In-swoh"adt eventoalityy the opposition par, oe cane Government, It becomes the ruling party andthe party which wy ietherto for the ruling party, becomes the opposition Party. (2) Direct Election of the Government. 'n the. second system, the Government is elected by the people directly, because the vorers know the pz.tyin Coeet favour they are casting their votes. Thus. the people vor for the party whon they wish to form a Government, For example. if the people in England wanta progressive Government, they cast their votes in favour of the Labour Party, andif they like the Conservative Government, they cast their votes in favour of the Conservative Party. 3) Formation of Government is easier. In this system, it becomes easy forthe Head of the State to decide which party should be invited toform the Government. Head ord of the State (President, King or Governor-General) invites the Jeader of the majority party to form the Government, In this way the majority party forns ire Gaternment, If the majority party loses the majority support in ‘he Tegistatur, the Head of the State invites the opposition party to form the Government. (4) It ensures a strong Government and continuity of Policy. Because of the stability of the Government in a bi-party system, 11 is strong and it can pursues good policy continuously. In contrast tohis, the cabinets change yery often ing aesiiiparty system. The Government becomes weak and there is no continuity in the policy. Ina bi-party system, the Government is stable and it can formulate 18 term plans for the welfare of the people. It can also ensure its ‘goodwill to forte countries. : (5) Responsibility for the failure and shortcomunge of the Government an¥® ensily located in their system. In a bi-party system, the eeovernment is in the bends of one party, and ifit functions well, it can be given credit. But if it fails to 9° {aPOLITICAL THEORY 395 will earn bad name. In this system of Government, it is easy _ asfectivel ae fie hift its responsibility to others, ios ‘bility and the ruling pany cannot a1 ohne eee napPent in a multi-party system, oe Conservative Criticism. In this system, the opposition party indulges in | (9) sve criticism of the Goverment because itis well-known to the opposition aruettiin case of the failure of the Government, it will have to take the | Gro ity of the Government. In such an eventuality, it will have to remove all j potteas for which it had criticised the ruling party. 1 Oe Commanding Position of the Prime Minister. In a bi-purty system, the () fthe Prime Minister is very important because he has t work with thoes, | palin of the other parties, as is done in a multi-party system. In a bi-party eation © prime Minister enjoys the-confidence of his own party. If the Prine | st, Mas sufficient influence on his party and if hisparty has sufficient majority Ving islature, he will have no difficulty in running the Government. askihas very aptly said, “It is the only method! by which the people canat the val period directly choose the Government. It enables the government to ets policy from the statute book. It makes known and intelligible. the resulte det railure. It brings'an alternate Government into immediate being” DISADVANTAGES OF BI-PARTY SYSTEM (1)_ Dictatorship of the Cabinet. In a bi-party system the dictatorship of the abinet is established as in the case in England, because it has the majority support inthe Parliament. In such a situation, the ruling party does not care much for the opposition. | 2) Limited choice before the voters. When there are only two parties before | heelectorate, they have to elect one out of the two parties, even if they do not like both the parties. In this way, the electorate loses its freedot of choice. In case there me more than two parties, the choice for the voters become wide. all 3) The Prestige of the legislature is lowered. In a bi-pany system, the miority party supports the cabinet. The Prime Minister has a special influence over the Parliament becausé he is the leader of the House by virtue of his position as the leader of the majority party. With the help of his majority party he can get the Bills, budget, policies and treaties passed in the way he likes. In case he is not ‘spported by the Parliament, he can recommend to the Head of the State for the solution of the Lower House, Therefore, the Parliament isa sort of puppet in the tands of the Prime Minister. (4) Dictatorship of the Majority Party. In this system the dictatorship of the majority party is established and it cares little for the opposition, because it enjoys a majority in the Parliament. ’ (8) jcilable camps. When there are only | (wo mae oe ssumer tes ee ate in their ideologies and there is | 8 controversy over the basic policies in the country. (6) AN shades of opinion are not represented in the legistature. Where abere only two parties, the voters have no freedom to express their views Wherethere | Ry parties, the voters cast their votes to the parties of their choice. In y. | “shades of opinion are given representation.” pai POLITICAL PARTIES \ MULTIPLE PARTY SYSTEM Where there are more than two political partes: there is a muntiple system, as in India, France, Italy and West Germany: Pany Advantages of merits of multiple party aystem. The following arethe merits, advantages of this system:- (1) The nation is not divided into © ‘pid discipli system, there are many types of ideologies and thereis no rigié iscipline among iy parties. If a member leaves one party or if he isturned out of the party, he can join another party whic 'y Orailar to his own views. Inthis way, becaug of the freedom of t nig not divided into two rival groups, (2). Parliament does et in the hands of the cabinet. ing multiple party system, one party Gor ot formed ie several parties form a coalition Government, and it has to depend upon the B00 will of the Parliamen, ‘Therefore, the cabinet cannot get the work done at , by the Parliament by establishing its dictatorship. (3) All shares of opinion ar6 reflect system, there is freedom of views. Because 0 representation in the Parliament ‘and views 0 (4) Wider choice before the electorate. Wh a wider choice before the electorate because they cast the like-minded parties. (5) Init the chances of Cabinet dictatorship are minimised. In a multiple party system, Coalition Governmen® fare formed. Since one-party Government is partformed, the parties inthe coalition work by adopting the policy of compromise. (6) The workers js more free in this system. If his own party does not carefor him, he can join a like-minded party. ‘S OF MULTIPLE PARTY SYSTEM wo camps. Where there is multiple pay ly sh has views almost he views, the natio not become # PUPP ernment is ed in the House. In a multiple pany {this freedom, all shades of opinion get fall the classes are heard in the House. ere there are many parties, thereis their votes in favour ef only DEMERIT! Following are the demerits of the multiple party system:~ (1) Weak Government. The Coalition Govern ments are basically weak and ihey are dissolved soon. (2) . Indefiniteness of Policy. Because of the rapid change of the Governments, there is indefiniteness of the policy. long (3) No long-term planning. Due to rapid changes in the Governments, term planning is not possible. (4) Weak position of the Prime Minister. In this system, the position of the Prime Minister,is weak, because the Government is formed not by one party but many parties form the Coalition Government. Therefore, all the parties in the Government afé to be appeased. Since the policies and programmes of these parties ee vifferent, the Prime Minister has to face a great difficulty in satisfying them an ieep them with him. If some party refuses to support the Prime Minister, the fal the Government becomes inevitable and the parties who enjoy & majority in the legislature, try to form the Cabinet. (5) Lack of administrative efficiency. In a multiple party system there is @ lack of administrative efficiency, because the Governments change very often- (6) Inthis'system trading in votes and formation of Government undermines the political morality. |