This primer guides the design of constitutional provisions relating to the roles, rights and regulation of political parties in a democracy. It covers the prohibition of anti-democratic parties, internal party democracy, party funding, registration, organization of caucuses and enforcement of party discipline through ‘anti-defection’ provisions.

This primer will be helpful for anyone involved—directly or indirectly—in constitutional change and anyone involved in strengthening legislatures and helping them to work more effectively. It provides a global survey of the ways in which constitutions provide for the organization, administration and privileges of legislatures.

Details

Publication date
03 September 2025
Language(s)
English
Author(s)
W. Elliot Bulmer and Sujit Choudhry
Number of pages
91
ISBN
978-91-7671-989-3 (PDF)
978-91-7671-990-9 (HTML)

Staff author

Contents

1. Introduction

2. What is the issue

3. Constitutional recognition of political parties

4. Rights in relation to political parties

5. Regulation of political parties

6. Internal party democracy

7. Financing of political parties

8. Prohibition of political parties

9. Anti-defection clauses

10. Discussion questions

11. Examples

References and further reading

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Political Parties: Constitutional Roles, Recognition, Rights and Regulations

Constitution-Building Primer No. 25
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