The creation of a party was a critical step that Lenin took in translating the theory Marxism into a revolutionary force. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was in fact the policy- and decision-making body that directed the work of the Soviet government. A similar relationship was developed in most other countries that were labelled Communist. In non-Communist countries, the Communist Party would often play various functions. It would act as an opposition party, but in many cases (including the United States) it would also serve as a tool of Soviet policy and power projection, providing everything from propaganda to spies for the Soviet Union.
