Final answer:
Special interest groups in the U.S. political process mainly support candidates who favor their viewpoints. These groups are well-organized and have a disproportionate effect on political outcomes. They engage in activities like lobbying, electioneering, and media campaigns, but do not vote on legislation or oversee elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States political process, special interest groups primarily provide support for candidates favoring their views, option a) from the given selections. An interest group is defined as a group of individuals united by common interests who seek to influence policy and support candidates, regardless of party affiliation (Option b from the review questions). Special interest groups are noted for being small compared to the overall population but well-organized, exerting a significant impact on political outcomes due to their organization and focused efforts.
These groups do not vote on bills themselves or conduct voting in the legislative bodies such as the House and Senate; this is the responsibility of elected officials. Nor do they supervise voting on election day, as this is typically overseen by local and state governments. Instead, they may engage in various activities to achieve their objectives, such as lobbying government officials, organizing letter-writing campaigns, staging protests, electioneering to help candidates win office, and bringing attention to issues via the media.
Special interests can sometimes develop close relationships with a political party, leading their influence to fluctuate as the party gains or loses power. Democratic institutions allow for an ebb and flow of political parties and interests, which offers opportunities for special interest groups while also providing mechanisms to balance their influence over time.