{"id":623,"date":"2015-07-20T21:19:57","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T21:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/masteryusgovernment1x6xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=623"},"modified":"2015-07-29T22:59:48","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T22:59:48","slug":"why-it-matters-8","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/spokanecc-americangovernment\/chapter\/why-it-matters-8\/","title":{"raw":"Why It Matters","rendered":"Why It Matters"},"content":{"raw":"

Summarize the role of political parties and interest groups in the American political system<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"Photo<\/a>\r\n

Introduction<\/h2>\r\nPolitical parties and interest groups tend to have pretty bad reputations. Ask a friend what s\/he thinks about either the Democrats or the Republicans, and you\u2019ll probably get a negative response.\r\n\r\nOne widespread perception is that the parties are more concerned with enhancing their own power than advancing the public interest. A similar assumption is attached to the actions of \u201cspecial interests.\u201d Are those reputations deserved? It's hard to say, \u201cNo, absolutely not\u201d in response to that question, but it's worth thinking about where our political system would be without parties and interest groups, both of which help organize and give shape to our politics.\r\n\r\nAs you work through the material\u00a0in this section, it will be important to consider and take seriously some of the perennial complaints about parties and interests, but it will also be worth thinking about the ways in which both parties and interest groups help make our democracy run. In the end, you\u2019ll probably find that some of the criticisms are valid but that both parties and interests wind\u00a0up being pretty important to democracy in any case.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s see whether you agree.","rendered":"

Summarize the role of political parties and interest groups in the American political system<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Political parties and interest groups tend to have pretty bad reputations. Ask a friend what s\/he thinks about either the Democrats or the Republicans, and you\u2019ll probably get a negative response.<\/p>\n

One widespread perception is that the parties are more concerned with enhancing their own power than advancing the public interest. A similar assumption is attached to the actions of \u201cspecial interests.\u201d Are those reputations deserved? It’s hard to say, \u201cNo, absolutely not\u201d in response to that question, but it’s worth thinking about where our political system would be without parties and interest groups, both of which help organize and give shape to our politics.<\/p>\n

As you work through the material\u00a0in this section, it will be important to consider and take seriously some of the perennial complaints about parties and interests, but it will also be worth thinking about the ways in which both parties and interest groups help make our democracy run. In the end, you\u2019ll probably find that some of the criticisms are valid but that both parties and interests wind\u00a0up being pretty important to democracy in any case.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see whether you agree.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Original<\/div>