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Civics Class 10 Political Parties Notes Chapter 4 - Download FREE PDF
Vedantu’s Revision Notes for CBSE Political Parties Class 10 Notes offer a clear and simple overview of the chapter. They cover important topics such as the role and functions of political parties, and the different types of political parties in India. This aligns with the CBSE Class 10 Civics Syllabus, making it easier for students to focus on key areas.
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These Class 10 Civics Revision Notes are designed to help students understand the chapter better. They highlight important details and provide straightforward summaries, which makes studying more effective. With Vedantu’s Class 10 Political Parties Notes, students can easily understand important concepts and be well-prepared for their exams.
Political Parties Class 10 Notes: CBSE Civics Chapter 4
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Why do We Need Political Parties?
They are bodies that help in the successful implementation of the ideals and principles of democracy.
They are a group of people, sharing similar ideals, come together to contest elections and hold a powerful position in the government.
They are the fundamental political division and have leaders, active members and followers.
Functions:
In most democracies, political parties are the primary way to contest elections. The political parties put up candidates that are elected to form a government. The members of the party choose the person who needs to represent the party during elections.
Parties present their common ideologies as different policies and programs.
Parties play a primary role in making laws and policies for the country.
They are the primary units that form and run a government.
The parties that lose from the opposition government and keep a check on the government in control and power.
They also play a major role in shaping public opinion and provide access to the government machinery.
Necessity
This provides the election procedure a shape and procedure. If political parties were absent every person would be independent and no proper policy decision could be made.
The elected person would be held responsible for the local area but for the whole country, no proper government would be present.
During panchayat elections too the village gets split up na deach puts forth a panel of its candidates.
How Many Parties Should We Have?
There are basically three types of party systems: one-party system, two party and multiparty system.
In many countries, only one party is allowed to control and run the government but it’s not a democratic option since there is no fair chance provided.
In two party system the power exchanges between two parties. Other parties can be present too but they are not provided majority share in legislation. Example: United Kingdom
In multi-party system, more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to power either on their own strength or alliance with other parties. In India, there were three such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections– the National Democratic Alliance, the United Progressive Alliance and the Left Front. Example: India
National Political Parties
Democracies that follow a federal system all over the world tend to have two kinds of political parties: parties that are present in only one of the federal units and parties that are present in several or all units of the federation. This is the case in India as well. There are some countrywide parties, which are called ‘national parties’. These parties have their units in various states. But by and large, all these units follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level
Every party in the country has to register with the Election Commission. While the Commission treats all parties equally, it offers some special facilities to large and established parties. These parties are given a unique symbol – only the official candidates of that party can use that election symbol. Parties that get this privilege and some other special
Facilities are ‘recognised’ by the Election Commission for this purpose. That is why these parties are called, ‘recognised political parties’. The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party must get in order to be a recognised party. A party that secures at least six per cent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State and wins at least two seats is recognised as a State party
State Parties
Other than the six state parties, the rest of the parties are classified as ‘State parties’ by the Election Commission. They are also referred to as regional parties.
Parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have national level political organisations with units in several states. Some of these parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front and Mizo National Front are conscious about their State identity.
Since 1996, nearly every one of the State parties has got an opportunity to be a part of one or the other national level coalition government.
Challenges to Political Parties
There is a lack of internal democracy within parties and the power tends to concentrate in hands of one or few leaders within the party. There are few parties that are able to organised meetings with all the members of the party and hence ordinary members don’t get access to what’s happening within the party.
Since parties aren’t transparent with their procedures, it’s impossible for ordinary members to rise to the top. Only members who are close to the leaders or members owning authority have advantage over others.
There has also been an increase in misuse of money and muscle power which diverts the attention to just winning instead of following the principles of democracy.
The parties don’t offer a meaningful choice to the citizens. Often only famous and popular members are represented and many principles and promises are the same or presented with slight variation. For example, the difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented.
How Can Parties Be Reformed?
In a recent amendment, an elected MLA or MP cannot change party or else they would lose their seat in the legislature.
The Supreme Court has reduced the use of money and criminals in elections by making it compulsory for every candidate to file an affidavit providing details of his property and criminal cases pending against him.
It is compulsory for parties to hold organisational elections and file their income tax returns.
It should be made mandatory for political parties to provide tickets to a minimum reservation of oppressed classes.
The elections should be state funded and the support could be provided in form of petrol, cash, paper etc.
5 Important Topics of Class 10 Civics Chapter 4 Notes
Importance of Political Party Class 10 Notes
Revision notes help you quickly understand and remember important ideas before exams by summarising the key concepts.
They save time by focusing on the most important points and leaving out unnecessary details, making your study sessions more efficient.
These notes make difficult topics easier to understand by breaking them down into simpler terms.
They provide examples that show how theoretical knowledge applies to real-life situations, helping you see practical uses of what you learn.
Political Party Class 10 notes cover all important parts of the chapter in a clear and structured way, ensuring thorough preparation.
Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 Political Parties - Summary
Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 Political Parties discusses the nature and working of political parties, especially in countries like India. Political Party is a group of people who come together to go for elections and hold power in the government. Political Parties are a part of our society and thus involve “Partisanship”. The Political Parties are known by what it stands for, which policies the parties support, and whose interests they uphold. Political Parties are required to fulfil a different range of functions. They are an important part of modern democracies. It is of utmost importance to have political parties in different countries as the parties coordinate politicians, mobilise voters, shape identities and collaborate across borders.
Tips for Learning the Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 Political Parties
Focus on the roles and functions of political parties in forming governments and shaping policies.
Memorise details about major national parties, including their symbols, leaders, and influence on Indian politics.
Understand the different types of political parties and their characteristics.
Summarise key aspects of each political party’s history and achievements.
Review the major national party's performances in recent elections.
Practice questions on how political parties impact democracy and governance.
Conclusion
Political Science Class 10 notes will help the students understand the topics covered in the chapters in a better way. Also, Political Party Class 10 Notes will work as the best revision resource during board exams. Apart from CBSE Class 10 Political Science Chapter 4 notes, we have also provided the important questions, NCERT Solutions, and sample papers on Vedantu’s official website to help students prepare effectively for the board exams.
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FAQs on Political Parties Class 10 Notes: CBSE Civics Chapter 4
1. What are the main functions of a political party in a democracy for a quick summary?
A political party performs several key functions: it contests elections by putting up candidates, presents policies and programmes to voters, plays a crucial role in law-making, forms and runs the government, acts as the opposition to check the ruling party, shapes public opinion, and provides people with access to government machinery.
2. How can I quickly revise the different types of party systems mentioned in Chapter 4?
To quickly revise, remember the three main systems:
- One-Party System: Only one party is allowed to control and run the government.
- Two-Party System: Power mainly alternates between two major parties, as seen in the United Kingdom.
- Multi-Party System: Several parties compete for power and may form coalitions or alliances to form a government, which is the system in India.
3. For revision, what is the core difference between a national party and a state party?
The core difference lies in their reach and recognition criteria. A national party has influence and units across several states and meets specific nationwide vote or seat thresholds set by the Election Commission. A state party (or regional party) has its influence limited to one or a few states and meets the vote or seat criteria within that particular state to gain recognition.
4. What are the key challenges that political parties in India face, as a summary?
The main challenges to summarise are: a lack of internal democracy, the issue of dynastic succession where top positions are controlled by one family, the growing role of money and muscle power in elections, and often, the failure to offer a meaningful choice to voters as parties can have similar ideologies.
5. What are the major reforms suggested for political parties in this chapter?
The key reforms suggested for political parties include: creating a law to regulate their internal affairs, making it mandatory to give a minimum number of tickets to women candidates, and introducing state funding of elections to reduce corruption. Reforms already implemented include the anti-defection law and mandatory affidavits for candidates detailing their assets and criminal cases.
6. Why is a multi-party system considered more suitable for a diverse country like India compared to a two-party system?
A multi-party system is better suited for a country with vast social and geographical diversity like India because it allows a variety of interests and opinions to gain political representation. Different regions and social groups can form parties that voice their specific concerns, ensuring a more inclusive democracy than a two-party system where power is concentrated between only two major groups.
7. How do the challenges faced by political parties, such as a lack of internal democracy, relate to the need for specific reforms?
The challenges and reforms are directly linked. For instance, the challenge of a lack of internal democracy, where power is concentrated with a few top leaders, directly leads to the proposed reform of making organisational elections mandatory. Similarly, the challenge of money power in elections is what prompts the suggestion for state funding of elections to create a more level playing field.
8. For a quick revision of Political Parties Class 10, what are the most crucial topics to focus on?
For an effective revision, focus on these four core areas:
- The primary functions of political parties.
- The definitions and criteria distinguishing national vs. state parties.
- The major challenges faced by political parties (e.g., dynastic succession, money power).
- The key reforms suggested to strengthen them, including the anti-defection law.
9. Are all regional parties also 'State Parties'? How does the Election Commission's recognition work?
No, not all regional parties are officially recognised 'State Parties'. A 'State Party' is a formal title granted by the Election Commission of India to a party only after it secures a minimum percentage of votes or seats in a state election. A party might be regional in focus but may not have met this official criteria yet. Recognition is important as it grants privileges like an exclusive election symbol.
