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To promote a greater understanding of public opinion the Institute established the Rabat-based People 's Mirror in 2003 , the first focus group center of its kind in the Arab world to focus on democratic and social issues . NDI worked with the Speaker 's Office and the political parties represented in Parliament to improve the legislative processes and strengthen parliament as an institution . ' S Office . NDI assisted the Parliament Office and members of parliament to develop a permanent committee system , increase research and administrative capacity of staff , and develop opportunities for increased public engagement in the work of Parliament . Recent electoral reforms in Mexico , particularly the creation of an autonomous Federal Electoral Institute - IFE , made it possible for opposition parties like the PAN and the Party of the Democratic Revolution - PRD to challenge the seven decades of political dominance by the Institutional Revolutionary Party - PRI at both the national and local level , resulting in a more competitive and open political system . The Political Parties and Democracy in Theoretical and Practical Perspectives series was made possible through support provided by the Office of Democracy and Governance , Bureau for Democracy , Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance , U.S. Agency for International Development . For example , after organizing an advocacy seminar for youth and women representatives of two political parties in Bihac , NDI helped them reach out to the youth branches of other parties , local civic groups , and medical experts to raise awareness about and to foster solutions to the growing problem of youth drug abuse . Since 1996 , with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development , the National Endowment for Democracy , and the Office of the High Representative , NDI has supported the democratic development of political institutions and governing bodies through political party building , legislative strengthening , election monitoring , and citizen political participation . There was " Sliding Into Home Base " , in which a blanket was placed atop a marble floor and then slid into at full speed ( me : two broken fingers , Shawn : fat lip ) .