Final answer:
Political parties are composed of three key entities according to political scientists: the party in the electorate, the party organization, and the party in office.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political scientists typically refer to three distinct but related entities when discussing political parties. These are: the party in the electorate, the party organization, and the party in office:
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- The party in the electorate consists of those members of the general public who identify with a political party and regularly support its candidates during elections.
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- The party organization refers to the dedicated structure that manages the practical aspects of running the party, such as fund-raising, candidate selection, and campaign management.
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- Lastly, the party in office includes the elected officials who represent the party at different levels of government and work toward implementing the party's policy goals.
This tripartite model helps illustrate how modern political parties operate on several levels to influence policy and win elections.