A political party is an organized group that coordinates candidates to compete in elections and actively participates in governance, typically uniting its members around shared political ideas or specific policy goals. These organizations have become a fundamental component of politics in nearly every country, evolving globally over the last few centuries, and are found in both multi-party democracies and single-party autocracies. Each party is typically structured with a leader, executives, and active members, streamlining political decision-making.

Parties are primarily distinguished from other political groups by their core mission to elect candidates under a shared label. While many are driven by distinct ideologies like liberalism, conservatism, or socialism, others operate as "big tents" to attract a diverse voter base or focus on patronage. The definition of a political party often includes not only candidates but also supporting organizations, volunteers, and identifying voters.