Political parties differ from interest groups because parties __________.
A)are less responsive to public opinion
B)must win elections to influence policy
C)influence policy outside of the electoral process
D)rely only on public money to finance their activities

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Political parties are focused on winning elections in order to gain control of government and directly influence policy. Interest groups seek to influence policy outside of the electoral process by lobbying officials, running issue-based campaigns, and engaging in public education campaigns.

Answer: A, C, D 
 Parties are typically more responsive to public opinion than interest groups, as winning elections requires them to appeal to voters. While parties do influence policy through the electoral process, they may also engage in a range of other activities to shape policy and public opinion. Parties often rely on private money in addition to public funding to finance their activities.

Political Parties Differ from Interest Groups Because Parties __________