Final answer:
Interest groups and political parties both have a role in influencing US politics, with parties directly sponsoring candidates whereas interest groups may endorse and support those aligned with their issues. Both types of organizations work as benefit seekers and participate in elections, though in different capacities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics you've mentioned in the question can each be attributed to political parties, interest groups, or both, based on their typical activities within the US political system. Let us examine each characteristic:
- A. Work as benefit seekers: This applies to both parties and interest groups, as they both seek to influence policy and garner support for their causes or candidates, often offering benefits to their members to encourage participation and loyalty.
- B. Interest groups only work to get preferred candidates elected: This statement is incorrect because both interest groups and political parties work to get preferred candidates elected, although interest groups tend to be more focused on specific policies or issues.
- C. Both sponsor candidates directly: This characteristic mainly applies to political parties, as their primary role is to nominate and support candidates for public office. While interest groups may endorse or support certain candidates, they do not typically sponsor candidates directly.
- D. Parties only: Since political parties' main function is to win elections and govern, this characteristic applies only to parties as they directly nominate and work to get candidates elected to enact their policy platforms, unlike interest groups that do not have a direct role in governing but may support or oppose candidates based on their alignment with specific issues.
The correct answer is B. A group of people who work to influence policy and support candidates regardless of party.