American political parties perform some important functions of a democratic system. Some responsibilities include nominating candidates, governance, informing and activating support, and acting as a watchdog. Primarily, a party will organize and attempt to elect its candidate to affect the overall governance of the executive and legislative branches. Parties regularly engage the media to raise awareness for or against proposed laws. Additionally, political parties will act as a watchdog, guaranteeing the honesty and legitimacy of the opposing party. National and local parties are linked by their political ideology and culture. “Many national organizations attempt to set broad policy goals and then integrate their state and local affiliates into their broader strategies. Organizations at the state and local levels typically attempt to reconcile specific local issues and conditions within these overall strategies. (University of Texas at Austin). The two largest parties in Texas are the Republicans and the Republican Party. ...