Describes any five major functions of political parties performed in a democracy.

Some of the major functions of political parties performed in a democracy are as follows:
-In democracies, elections are contested mainly among the candidates put by political parties.
-Political Parties have different policies and programmes, voters choose from them.
-In a democracy a large number of people with similar opinions group together and form a party and then give a direction to the policies followed by the government.
-The parties that lose elections form the opposition and voice different views and criticize the government for its failures. They mobilise opposition to the government.
-They shape public opinion.
-Parties with the help of pressure groups launch movements for solving problems faced by the people.
-They provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes. The local party leader acts as a link between the citizen and the government officer.