Political parties recruit candidates for the thousands of races at the national, state, and local levels.Once formed, what are the essential functions that political parties perform in American democracy and governance?
What fundamental problems do political parties help politicians and voters overcome? This two-party system helps to structure voters’ electoral choice and provide coordination to America’s otherwise divided and separated governing institutions. Although Americans tend to be suspicious of “party rule,” the Democratic and Republican parties are essential to the daily operation of government and the conduct of American democracy in elections. To do so, parties perform essential tasks of recruiting and nominating candidates, garnering the resources needed to run campaigns, and pursuing a policy agenda that can help them appeal to voters. Political parties are teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government. Diagnostic/Quiz+ Multiple-Choice QuizzesĬhapter 12 Political Parties Chapter Study Outline.