We have all been exposed to the intensity with which both political
parties and interest groups pursue their objectives. It is important
to gain an understanding of how these types of groups are organized,
how they work within the citizenry, and the ways that each can
pursue its goals within the government. Parties and interest groups
both serve as intermediaries between the people and the government.
However, distinctions such as how each organization works to fulfill
this intermediary position, and their capacity to do so, as well as
who gets represented are critical to developing a more in-depth
appreciation of this role. In order to thoroughly evaluate these
questions, we will examine the historical development of each type
of group, as well as how parties and interest groups relate to, and
challenge, each other.