Examines political parites, Interest groups, public opinion, and elections in politics.

Introduction -- Political parties -- Types of political party -- Cadre parties -- Mass-based parties -- Parties and political power -- The struggle for power -- Participation in power -- Power and representation -- Party systems -- Multiparty systems -- Two-party systems -- Single-party systems -- The future of political parties -- Interest groups -- The nature of interest groups -- Types of interest groups -- Common characteristics of interest groups -- Factors shaping interest groups -- Interest groups and public policy -- Pluralism -- Neo-corporatism -- Lobbying strategies and tactics -- Influence of interest groups -- Interest groups in international politics -- The regulation of interest groups -- The future of interest groups -- Public opinion -- Theoretical and practical conceptions -- The formation and change of public opinion -- Components of public opinion -- The formation of attitudes -- Factors influencing public opinion -- Environmental factors -- The mass media -- Interest groups -- Opinion leaders -- Complex influences -- Public opinion and government -- Elections -- The history of elections -- Functions of elections -- Types of elections -- Elections of officeholders -- Recall elections -- Referenda and initiatives -- Plebiscites -- Systems of vote counting -- Legislative elections -- Executive elections -- Constituencies: districting and apportionment -- Voting practices -- Secret voting -- Balloting -- Compulsory voting -- Electoral abuses -- Participation in elections -- Influences on voting behaviour -- Conclusion.