Understand what political parties and interest groups are, how they are similar, and how they differ

Understand what role parties play in a democracy

Understand how party organization and internal decision making work

Understand how political parties operate today

Understand the basics of interest groups (why they form, what kinds there are, and so on)

Understand the role interest groups play in our political system

Understand whether Madison was right to be concerned about the role of factions in a democracy