Political Party

What is the purpose of having a Political Party?

Critical Mass in fund-raising, to pay for Big Media Advertising.

To simplify the "choice" for the voters by defining a memorable "Brand". (This works for small parties, also, who lack enough visibility to promote many individual members.)

A party probably starts as a well-intentioned AdHoc, to let people of like minds support each others' efforts.

George Washington's farewell address dealt a great deal with the dangers of political parties.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/p1/party-po.asp

http://fhss.byu.edu/washsem/ps102/parties.html

Pages about US parties, chronologically:

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federalist_Party

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic-Republican_Party

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic_Party

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Whig_Party

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party