Essay 10

Essay 10:

2006-1 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:

The fundamental goals of interest groups are to affect public policy by utilizing the press and government officials. Also, by get people elected into office, interest groups can have a direct influence. 

(b) Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process: 

The fundamental goal of a political party is to have electoral power. They support a candidate with similar beliefs to theres and then campaign for this specific candidate in order to get them elected. They want to get the most votes and the most seats in congress. 

(c) Describe two different ways by which interest groups support the fundamental goal of political parties in the political process:

1. Interest groups support political parties by raising awareness of a specific politician.
2. They also help the fundamental goal of political parties by pressuring elected officials to support the agenda of a specific interest group. 

(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:

1. Political parties support interest groups by passing certain laws or measures that benefit that interest group.  
2. When a politician is noticed by the public they can help the interest group get there issues political attention.