We tend to think of politics as a public institution. Still, it functions like any other industry, responding to the same kinds of incentives and forces that shape competition in private markets. The result is dysfunction.

Landmark legislation often comes only when both sides fear mutually assured electoral destruction and tacitly agree to pass the bill on to future generations. But the problem runs deeper than mere partisanship.

Political Parties

Political parties are enduring organizations under whose labels candidates seek election to state government, Congress, and the presidency. They develop rules for elections and draft policy platforms. They also recruit and train candidates and coordinate Political campaigns. Two major political parties exist in the United States: Republicans and Democrats. Both are centrist politically and allow a broad range of socioeconomic groups to join. The flexibility of party policies has facilitated the emergence of third parties and protest movements. Political organizations comprise millions of rank-and-file members who develop psychological ties to, or identifications with, their parties. The most committed of these activists provide money and time to support the party’s causes. However, some parties are called neutrals, such as No Labels. They do not belong to any major political organizations.   

Interest Groups

Interest groups are associations of citizens, businesses, or organizations that lobby the government to advance their interests. These groups may be organized formally or informally and can be public or private.

They can lobby officials in various ways, including sending letters, holding protests, or fundraising for their causes and political campaigns. They can also hire professionals to lobby them. In addition, they can work to influence policymakers through social movements and media coverage of their issues. Some critics say that the presence of interest groups leads to too much special-interest influence in society. Still, others believe that they are a sign of healthy democracy that allows citizens to organize and communicate with one another to ensure elected officials hear their views. 

Media

In the past, political organizations had to rely on traditional media like television and newspapers to disseminate political information. The advent of new media democratized the dissemination of political content. People could now call into political talk shows, participate in online town halls, and communicate through personalized social networks. In the best case, this communication system would enhance citizens’ access to political information and encourage participation. At worst, it would promote polarization that leads to scorning for facts, legislative dysfunction, and, in extreme cases, real-world violence. Studies have shown that a variety of factors influence how much impact media have on the democratic process. Specifically, priming or framing can affect agenda-setting (bringing issues into the spotlight) and policy-making. However, these effects may be more pronounced at the agenda-setting stage of the policy cycle and less pronounced as one gets further down the process.

Voting

Americans must have a voice in their government. This requires more than just the right to vote but also pro-voter policies like voter registration modernizations, convenience voting, rights restoration, and sufficient resources. These policies are proven to increase the number of eligible voters and help those who vote to make their voices heard. Once a candidate makes it through a party primary and wins a general election, they enter the legislative process, where they must deal with a set of powerful rules that prioritize the interests of political leaders and the political industry. These rules impede lawmaking and render it almost impossible to address the nation’s most significant challenges by passing legislation.

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