American political parties perform some important functions of a democratic system. Some responsibilities include nominating candidates, governing, informing and activating support, and acting as a watchdog. First, a party will organize and attempt to get its candidate elected to influence the overall governance of the executive and legislative branches. Parties regularly involve the media to raise public awareness for or against legislative proposals. Furthermore, political parties will act as watchdogs, ensuring the honesty and legitimacy of the opposing party. National and local parties are associated together through their political ideology and culture. “Many national organizations attempt to set broad policy goals, then integrate their affiliates at the state and local levels into their broader strategies. Organizations at the state and local levels typically attempt to accommodate specific local issues and conditions within these overarching strategies.” (University of Texas at Austin). The two largest parties in Texas are the Republicans and the Republicans ...