ABSTRACT
The electoral and legislative institutions ensured equality in the adversarial aspect of democracy. This chapter discusses the institutions necessary to the deliberative dimension. It also discusses the familiar institutions of political parties and interest groups. The chapter explores the functions that these groups can play in a properly ordered democracy. It sees that the primary function of these secondary associations ought to be to promote discussion. The chapter presents some institutional arrangements that can promote the deliberative aspect of interest groups and political parties, such as proportional representation, which promotes deliberation, and public financing of electoral campaigns coupled with severe lobbying restrictions, which insulate the legislature from pressure from interest groups. Interest groups are not to act as representatives of citizens, advancing their aims by means of financing campaigns and lobbying the legislature; they are to serve the citizenry by contributing to its understanding of the issues.
