What are political parties? How do they differ from interest groups? How has the current two-party system in Texas affected the power balance between parties and interest groups?

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1. Define political parties.
2. Identify and briefly explain party in the electorate, party as an organization, and party in government.
3. Explain that parties differ from interest groups in terms of the breadth of issues with which they are typically concerned and running candidates under their labels.
4. Explain that under one-party Democratic domination for 100 years, interest groups were particularly powerful. Briefly explain that the current power balance between political parties and interest groups in the more recent two-party system in the state still needs further development and evaluation.