The major functions of political parties:
(i) In democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put by political parties.
(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes and the voters choose from them.
(iii) A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions into a few basic positions which it supports.
(iv) Parties play a decisive role in making laws in legislatures.
(v) Political parties provide access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by the government.
