A political party is an organized group of people who share similar political ideas and goals, and who coordinate to compete in elections to gain political power and influence government policies. Members of a political party typically work together to select candidates for public office, campaign during elections, and promote specific ideological or policy objectives. Political parties play a central role in the political systems of most countries, especially democracies, where they help structure political debate, organize governance, and provide choices to voters
. Key features of political parties include:
- Coordinating candidates to run for office under a shared party label.
- Promoting common political ideologies or policy platforms such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, or others.
- Organizing party leaders, executives, members, volunteers, and supporters to participate in political processes.
- Forming governments or opposition groups in legislatures based on election outcomes.
- Sometimes forming coalitions with other parties to achieve a governing majority
Political parties differ from other political groups by their focus on winning elections and governing, their larger and more stable membership, and their deeper connection to the electorate
. They exist in various forms worldwide, from single-party systems in autocracies to multi-party systems in democracies, and they serve as a primary mechanism for citizens to influence government and hold officials accountable
. In summary, a political party is a collective organization that seeks to gain and exercise political power through elections, representing shared interests and ideologies to shape government policy and leadership.
