Political Party: A "Definition"

As the professor explains in this week’s reading notes, the question of defining the term “political party” seems simple. We have been exposed to the idea of political parties for as long as we can remember, and most of us have no orientation towards any other political system. However, when asked to explicate a definition of the term, things get a little sticky. As mentioned in the reading notes, it is difficult to discern what exactly constitutes a political party. Entities such as special interest groups are universally recognized as influential in Washington, but they are not considered actual political parties. Distinctions such as this are what make it difficult to label political parties. However, based on my knowledge and opinions, I have formulated what I feel is a suitable definition of the term. To me, a political party is a body of socially and economically like-minded individuals, united on common ground, to advance their societal goals and preferences through direct political means. In other words, a political party is a group of people who share many of the same views and attempt to assert those views through “inside” political action (i.e. getting elected to office). As mentioned in the notes, it is important to realize that parties are constituted by more than just elected officials. Voters and supporters play just as crucial a role, though all share the same ultimate goal of having elected members of their own party, and thus, all are included in my proposed definition.