1. The Roles of Political Parties and Interest Groups
By Lauren Sink

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.