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Apolitical faction is a group of people with a commonpolitical purpose, especially a subgroup of apolitical party that has interests or opinions different from the rest of the political party.[1][2]Intragroup conflict between factions can lead toschism of the political party into two political parties. Theley de lemas electoral system allows the voters to indicate on the ballot their preference for political factions within a political party. Political factions can representvoting blocs. Political factions require aweaker party discipline. Research indicates that factions can play an important role in moving their host party along the ideological spectrum.[3]
The first president of the United States,George Washington, warned of political factions in his famousfarewell address from 1796. He warned of political parties generally, as according to Washington, political party loyalty when prioritized overduty to the nation and commitment to principles, was considered to be a major threat to the survival of ademocraticconstitutional republic:[4][5]
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it [the formation and loyalty to partisan interests, over loyalty to principles or one's country].[5][4]
