The wiki has more info than can fit into one post with a question like this.
There are 8 Guilds/Factions to join, Three Great Houses (can only pick one) and Three Vampire clans (can only pick one.)
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Factions
Some of the Guilds and each of the Great Houses is geared towards a type of Class. (Stealth, Combat or Magic)
Some factions won't let you in unless your Skills are high enough, but usually this still allows almost anyone to join. But being in a faction that favours Skills you are poor at can cause a lot of hard work for you.