ial and political stability. American political parties were organized primarily to elect candidates to public office. Unlike many of their counterparts in other democracies, American parties typically view public policy as a vehicle for the advancement of their electoral objectives, not vice-versa . Nevertheless, as in the New Deal era and during the "Republican Revolution" of 1995, the parties demonstrated that they can and do act to promote major policy change Under their electoral roles, parties bring some order to the confusion that often surrounds elections. The fact that each party stands for a general set of principles and goals helps to simplify the choices that voters make in elections. Even the most uninformed voters, who are completely ignorant of the candidates and issues involved in a particular election, can register their approval or disapproval of the state of the nation by casting their votes in support of or against the party that controls the government Under divided government, the party label helps these voters to place credit or blame on the party that controls Congress, the White House, the state legislature, or any other specific political institutions with which they are satisfied or displeased. Political scientists focus on the parties' abilities to carry out their electoral and other functions when appraising their vigor. Most people hold an opinion of political parties that contrasts markedly with the dominant view held by the general public. Whereas the public views parties with hostility or ambivalence, most scholars believe that parties are essential to democracy and are convinced that the strength of parties is a reflection of the overall health of our nation's politics THE ROLES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN ELECTIONSOne can best understand the contemporary roles of political parties in elections by looking at the historical record. Parties passed through at least two periods before emerging into their curr...
