Types of Party Systems: Political scientists classify party systems often according to the number of parties it has:
1. A Single-Party System: This exist in totalitarian countries like China and the former USSR, where only the Communist Party was allowed.
2. A Bi-Party System: There are the two dominant parties. The US and the UK have traditionally been dominated by the two major political parties.
3. Multi-Party System: This exist in countries like France, Germany, and India many political parties are involved and play an active role in politics.
Features of India's party system: India's party system has some unique features:
1. Multiplicity of political parties: India has several regions, languages and communities, there are many political parties in India.
2. Parties based on multiple social cleavages: Some are formed on the basis of a regional identities, others on the basis of caste, and some are based on political ideas or philosophy. Recently, the lower classes and castes have begun to form their own political parties.
3. Centralizing and divisive tendencies: While there are multiple political divisions in India, this has made it necessary for parties which want to gain power to look for support from many sections of society.
