Political Parties and Interest Groups

Political Parties

• Definition: Coalitions of individuals aiming to control government and implement policies.
• Goals:
• Nominate candidates
• Elect candidates to public office
• Win elections
• Functions Once in Office:
• Organize government lawmaking
• Change government policy

Interest Groups

• Definition: Organized groups that influence specific policies without seeking full government control.
• Strategies:
• Lobbying elected officials
• Contributing to political campaigns
• Partisanship: Identification with or support of a particular party; essential for mobilizing citizens.

Political Party Coalitions

• Two Major Parties: Democratic and Republican parties today are broad coalitions, comprising media, interest groups, think tanks, donors, and Super PACs.
• Role of Parties: Act as teams to mobilize citizens and drive voter turnout.

Parties and Democracy

• Debate: Do parties enhance or hinder democracy?
• Early view portrayed parties as