Title: The Functions of Political Parties
Headings: The Functions of Political Parties
American Government
The Functions of Political Parties
Representing groups of interests
Simplifying choices
Making policy

Content: Republicans are known for their support of business, conservative positions on social issues, and concern about the size of government; Democrats traditionally have supported labor and minorities and believe that government can solve many of the nation's problems. The alternative to using the general philosophies of the political parties to sort out candidates is to vote for individuals based on just their own one-or two-issue programs. Making policy
Political parties are not policymaking organizations in themselves. They certainly take positions on important policy questions, especially to provide alternatives to the position of whichever party is in power. When in power, a party attempts to put its philosophy into practice through legislation. If a candidate wins office by a large majority, it may mean that the voters have given him or her a mandate to carry out the program outlined in the campaign. Because President Bill Clinton failed to win a majority of the popular vote in both 1992 and 1996, few considered his victories a mandate for any specific policy or ideology. President George W. Bush also entered office without a clear mandate, because his opponent, Al Gore, won more votes (and might have won the Electoral College if not for irregularities, such as confusing ballots, in Florida). Previous The Strengths and Weaknesses of Political Parties
Next Voting and Elections
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitutional Convention
Key Concepts in the Constitution
Summary of the Constitution
The Debate over Ratification
Creation of the Constitution
The Amendment Process and Bill of Rights
The Continental Congress
Concepts of Federalism
Federal-State Relations
Recent Trends in Federalism
The Powers of Congress
The Organization of Congress
How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Two Houses of Congress
The Functions of the President
Organization of the Executive Branch
The Vice President and Presidential Succession
The Executive Branch
The Powers of the President
The Federal Court System
The Supreme Court in Operation
The State Court System
Controlling the Size of Bureaucracy
The Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy
The Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
The Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy
Political Socialization
Social Background and Political Values
Political Ideology
How Public Opinion Is Formed
Public Opinion and How It's Measured
The Functions of the Mass Media
The Mass Media and Political Coverage
The Evolution of the Mass Media
The Structure of the Mass Media and Government Regulation
The Development of Political Parties
Third Parties in American Politics
The Structure of Political Parties
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Political Parties
The Functions of Political Parties
Obstacles to Voting
Voter Turnout
Voting Choices
Getting Nominated and Campaigning for Office
Electing Candidates to Office
The Right to Vote
Functions of Interest Groups
Tactics of Interest Groups
Regulation of Interest Groups
Types of Interest Groups
The First Amendment: