Final answer:
A political party is best described as a group with similar beliefs about government, focused on electing their members to government positions and influencing policy (Option D).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question “Which best describes a political party?” is seeking to understand what characterizes a political party.
The most accurate description of a political party is a group of individuals who organize around a shared political ideology, primarily focusing on getting their own members elected to positions of government power. Therefore, the correct option is D. A group with similar beliefs about government.
Political parties have various functions, such as nominating candidates, seeking to influence government policy, and coordinating campaigns and voter mobilization.
They are distinct from interest groups in that political parties aim to control the government from within by achieving electoral success. They formulate their positions on critical issues in a party platform, which provides choices to the electorate and helps facilitate the delivery of preferred policies when in power.