Political parties are one of the most visible institutions in a democracy and play a very important role in modern democracy many ways :
(i) Political parties contest election.
(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes that benefit the people and the voters choose from them.
(iii) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
(iv) Parties form and run governments.
(v) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing different views and criticising government for its failures.
(vi) Parties shape public opinion by raising and highlighting issues.
(vii) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by governments. [Any five]