Political Parties
A political party is an alliance of like-minded people who work together
to win elections and control of the government. Political parties work to win as
many offices in the government as they can so that they can put the party’s
policies into effect. Like most presidential democracies, the United States has
only two powerful political parties: the Democrats and the
Republicans.
Interest Groups
An interest group is an organization of people who share a specific common
interest and work together to promote that interest through government via
lobbying or grassroots activism. Interest groups give voice to the people
outside of elections, but can sometimes skew government policy.
The Media
The media refers to the private organizations that keep the public
informed about politics and current events through newspapers, magazines,
television, radio, and the Internet. The media also keep the government in check
and can even influence the government agenda by deciding what to
cover.
Campaigns and Elections
Because the United States is a democracy, the president, vice president,
members of Congress, state governors, and many state, county, and city office
holders must campaign for their positions in an election.
