The Roles of Political Parties and Interest Groups By Lauren Sink

While interest groups and political parties each play a significant role in the United States political system, they differ in their fundamental goals. A) Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process. B) Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process. C) Describe two different ways by which interest groups support the fundamental goal of Political Parties in the political process. D) For one of the forms of support you described in C, explain two different ways in which that form of support helps interest groups to achieve their fundamental goal in the political process.

Vocabulary Political Party: A group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label Interest Group: An organized group that tries to influence public policy Public Policy: An intentional course of action followed by government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern

Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process Influence public policy Influence Congress/Government Change laws No point is given to the student if they list a series of goals. It must be THE fundamental goal Example: The fundamental goal of interest groups is to influence public policy.

Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process Elect people to office of their party Gain control of the government Influence policy As long as you connect it to winning control of government/electing people to office Gain a majority of seats in Congress Provide a decentralized government Divided government

Monetary contributions Political Action Committee donations Describe two different ways by which interest groups support the fundamental goal of political parties in the political process Monetary contributions Political Action Committee donations Media Campaigns Independent committees/527s Candidate endorsements Raise public support of a party’s candidate The more money and publicity=success

Influence policy makers For one of the forms of support you described in C, explain two different ways in which that form of support helps interest groups to achieve their fundamental goal in the political process Influence policy makers Have like-minded people/policy advocates in office Legislation that helps interest groups Basically because they helped the candidate get elected, the candidate is likely to support the interest group and pass legislation in favor of the group.