• Unit 3: Political Parties, Campaigns, Elections, and Interest Groups

    In this unit, we study campaigns, the electoral process, and how political parties and interest groups shape the political landscape by influencing candidates and voters. First, we focus on the role of political parties (especially in elections), their historical development, and their effect on the political process. We also discover how the American political system maintains a strong two-party system (made of Democrats and Republicans) that makes it difficult for a third party to gain meaningful influence in government. Finally, we explore how interest groups impact campaigns, candidates, and voters. Interest groups often use aggressive issue advocacy and campaign contributions to gain influence and maintain the status quo.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.


    • 3.1: What Are Political Parties and What Is Their Role in Government?

      Political parties are essential to democracy – they simplify voting choices, organize the competition, unify the electorate, help organize government by bridging the separation of powers and fostering cooperation among branches of government, translate public preferences into policy, and provide loyal opposition. In this section, we examine the functions of political parties, their evolution, and the reasons Americans have maintained a two-party system.

    • 3.2: Campaigns and Elections

      Elections are critical elements of a representative democracy such as the United States. They allow people to choose representatives and influence public policy. They also endow elected officials with legitimacy. There are two main types of elections in the United States: primary and general elections. During primary elections, candidates from the same political party battle for that party's nomination. The winners of these races run in the general election, which decides who will take office.

    • 3.3: Interest Groups

      Interest groups have long played a significant role in electing and defeating candidates. They provide information to officeholders and often set the agenda for American politics. Americans continue to be concerned about the power these groups have in government, especially their tendency to pursue self-interest at the expense of less organized groups and the general public. Restraining the negative tendencies of interest groups while protecting liberty is a challenging task.

      The Republic's founders called these groups "factions". Their foremost challenge was to create an orderly and stable constitutional system that also respects the liberty of free citizens and prevents the tyranny of the majority or one dominant interest. Today, interest groups exist to make demands on the government.
      Interest groups vary widely. Some are formal associations or organizations. Others have no formal organization. Some are organized to lobby for limited goals or broadly influence public opinion with published reports and mass mailings. We categorize interest groups into several broad types, which we will study in the readings.

      For decades, interest groups have lobbied Congress and the Executive branch. These efforts have increased in significance as they have become deeply involved in the electoral process – with an increasing number of political action committees (PACs), mass mailings, advertising campaigns, and litigation.

      Media coverage of interest groups often focuses on the activities of powerful interest groups in finance, energy, and manufacturing. However, an oft-quoted statement is that the "special interest is us." In other words, we all benefit from interest-group activity in consumer protection, cleaner air, safer drinking water, and workplace safety. Are interest groups good and bad for democracy? Why or why not?

    • Unit 3 Assessment

      • Receive a grade