' POLITICAL PARTY A political party is defined as an organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office. Parties tend to be deeply and durably entrenched in specific substructures of society in a sustainable and well functioning democracy. They can link the governmental institutions to the elements of the civil society in a free and fair society and are regarded as necessary for the functioning any modern democratic political system. Political parties perform key tasks in a democratic society, such asSoliciting and articulating public policy priorities and civic needs and problems as identified by members and supporterssocialising and educating voters and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral system and the generation of general political valuesbalancing opposing demands and converting them into general policiesActivating and mobilising citizens into participating in political decisions and transforming their opinions into viable policy optionsChannelling public opinion from citizens to governmentRecruiting and training candidates for public office