Political factions have played a vital role in shaping governments here and around the world throughout history, and will continue to influence in the future. Factions divide a government based on different beliefs on key policy issues, such as spending and war. Political factions are both beneficial and harmful to a society. A political party is “A group organized for the purpose of achieving and exercising power within a political system” (Gwinn 960). They gain power through elections or revolutions. Likewise, but not exactly, it is a group of people trying to influence the government, which would be a pressure group. Pressure groups attempt to influence both the government and political parties. The main objective of a political party is to put one of its own parties into office and is structured around trying to secure it in elections. Pressure groups can become political parties but are not limited to. The first political parties, centered on aristocratic and monarchical regimes, composed only of nobles and influential people in opposition to each other. There was no real involvement of what we would today call the lower and middle class. Modern political parties originated in the early 19th century in Europe and the United States with the development of the electoral and parliamentary system. Before, political parties would be centered around the ideals of a noble man. Now, with the development of parliamentary and electoral systems, parties could be centered on ideal ideas for someone more ordinary like the common worker. These parties depended on mass support. Later in the 20th century we see the spread of political parties to the rest of the world, such as in Asia, where parties were often based on religious…middle paper…interest groups". New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th ed. Vol. 25. Chicago IL: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1995. Print.Harwood, John “For Democrats, Internal Dissent Could Halt a Cold Agenda.” (L). 2012. “LACK OF FUNDS AND FACTIONALITY HARMS DEMOCRATS, LABOR LEADER SAYS.” New York Times, March 21, 1985. Infotrac Newsstand. “Party Factionalism: Bringing the Independents Ahead.” January 24, 2012. Web February 4, 2012. Roland, John "The Federalist # 10". 1998. Web. 06 February 2012. http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm"The Highbreeds begin a new session with no chance of harmony; United States." Times [London, England] October 4, 2010: 27. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. January 24. 2012.