Powerful. Representative. Influential. These are some of the various words used to describe how political parties have been and continue to be a dominant force in American politics. Political parties have established organization throughout society by creating a two-party system, Democrats and Republicans, within institutions and the general public. Over the years, political parties have been an essential aspect of American politics and have given American citizens the opportunity to express their opinions. Political parties offer all eligible citizens the opportunity to participate in politics by selecting a party that best defines and implements their views. Additionally, political parties play an important role in educating American citizens and encouraging them to vote. Political parties also allow America to support a democratic form of government, in which the people have an important voice. The formation of political parties helped make America a democracy and helped ensure that America did not turn into a dictatorship. Therefore, political parties are beneficial to American politics and have a positive impact on society by uniting and organizing Americans with similar political views, mobilizing voters, and striving to maintain a democracy to protect America from a dictatorship. One reason political parties have a positive effect on American politics is that they unite and organize Americans who share similar views on a variety of political issues. Political parties allow Americans to select a party that demonstrates their personal values/beliefs and articulates their views on how to overcome the problems facing America. Murray S. Stedman, J...... half of article ......Perspective Analysis (1981): 289-98. JSTOR. Network. May 23, 2014.Gershtenson, J. “Mobilization Strategies of Democrats and Republicans, 1956-2000.” Policy Research Quarterly 56.3 (2003): 293-308. JSTOR. Network. May 26, 2014. Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir, Tolbert, and Spitzer. "Introduction: The Citizen and Government" We The People 9th ed. New York, New York: W. W. Norton. 2013.10. Print.Karp, JA and SA Banducci. "Party mobilization and political participation in new and old democracies". Party Politics 13.2 (2007): 217-34. Network. May 26, 2014.Stedman, M.S. “American Political Parties as a Conservative Force.” Political Research Quarterly 10.2 (1957): 392-97. JSTOR. Network. May 23, 2014.Tavits, Margit. “Party Systems in the Making: The Emergence and Success of New Parties in New Democracies.” British Journal of Political Science 38.1 (2008): 113-33. JSTOR. Network. May 26 2014.