A one-party state or system is one of the words used to describe a single-party system. The administration is monopolized by the political party in power under the governance of a “single-party system”.
The term “double-party system” is used to describe the governance of a two-party system. Here, the decisions are made by mutual agreement of both political parties that control the government and are in power.
Single Party System vs Two Party System
The difference between Single Party System and a Two-party System is that only one political party in a single-party system has the right to organize, run, and hold the government in a sovereign state at any given moment. Whereas two political parties in the Two-party System have the power to create and hold the government in the country at any one time.
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In a single-party system, the only political party in power has all decision-making authority. They also create acts and laws that the state’s citizens must observe. In a single-party system, the ruling political party has a monopoly on the administration.
As a result, any other possible political party will be unable to assess the legitimacy of the ruling party’s rules and actions.
In a two-party state, decisions are made by mutual agreement between the political parties that control the government and are in power. The act is passed on, or law is made when the majority of both sides agree on a decision.
In a two-party system, even though one party has more power than the other, the powerful party is unable to make any decisions without the approval of the other party.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Single Party System | Two Party System |
|---|---|---|
| No. Of parties | One | Two |
| Opposition party | Does not exist | Exists |
| Role | Holds the government | One holds the government, another acts as opposition |
| Type of rule | Monopoly | Mutual consent of the opposition |
| Variety to Voters | Does not exist | Exists |
| Examples | North Korea, China | Britain |
What is Single Party System?
In a single-party state or system, the ruling political party has a monopoly on administration. As a result, any other possible political party will be unable to assess the credibility of the ruling party’s rules and actions.
Because there is no opposition party under the single-party system, there is no chance for a group of legislators to check and balance the ruling party.
Here, only one political party in power possesses complete decision-making authority.
They also create acts and laws that the state’s citizens are expected to observe. There is no competition when it comes to running for governor. As a result, voters have little say in the type of government they want to live under.
A single-party system has many terminologies to describe it, such as a one-party state. In a single-party system, only one political party has the power to organize, manage, and hold the government in a sovereign state at any given moment.
What is Two Party System?
The act is enacted, or law is made when the majority of both parties agree on a decision.
Even when one party has more power than the other in a two-party system, the powerful party is unable to make any decisions without the approval of the other existing party.
Because the opposition party exists under the two-party system, it keeps an eye on and checks and balances the acts passed by the administration.
Here, the decisions are made by mutual agreement between the two political parties that control the government and are in power. In this scenario, the major political party and the opposition party operate as two excellent choices for voters when it comes to contesting elections.
The term “dual or double-party system” is commonly used to describe a two-party system. Here the political parties, two or more in number, have the right to create and hold the government in the country at any one time.
Main Differences Between Single Party System and Two Party System
- The single party system is popularly known by various terms, such as one-party state, single-party state, and the one-party system as well. On the other hand, a Two-party System is popularly known by various terms, such as dual or double-party system.
- In the case of a Single-party system, at a given point in time, only one political party possesses the right to run the government by holding and forming a sovereign state. On the other hand, in the case of the Two-party System, at a given point in time, two political parties possess the right to form and hold the government in the country.
- The only political party which is in power in the case of a Single-party system possesses all the rights to take decisions. They also form acts and laws which the citizens of the state are asked to follow. On the other hand, both the political parties who hold the government and are in power in the case of a two-party system take decisions on a mutual agreement. When the majority of both parties agree on a decision, the act is passed on, r a law is made.
- In a Single-party state, the political party which is in power has its monopoly on the administration. Hence, any other potential political party is not capable enough to check the credibility of the rules and acts made by the party in power. On the other hand, in the case of a Two-party system, although one party possesses more power than the other, the powerful party is not capable enough to take any decision without the consent of the other existing party.
- As there is no existence of the opposition party in the Single-party state, there is no potential group of politicians who can check and balance the party which is in power. On the other hand, due to the existence of the opposition party in the Two-party system, the opposition party keeps an eye on and checks & balance the acts passed by the government.
- At the time when elections are contested, in a state adhering to a Single-party system, no competitor exists. Hence, the voters lack their choice in selecting the type of government they desire to live in. On the other hand, when the time for elections approaches in a state adhering to a Two-party system, the major political party along with the opposition party acts as two great choices for the voters to choose from.
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/twoparty-system-and-duvergers-law-an-essay-on-the-history-of-political-science/3CA289C649AFCB8D4CC8F430FC292CC3
- https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/102/3/651/1888016
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
