In minds of the voters as label b. Organization recruiting and campaigning for candidates c. Set of leaders in government 3. American parties have become weaker in all three arenas a. As label, more independents and more ticket-splitting b. As set of leaders, organization of Congress less under their control c. As organization, much weaker since 1960s B. Reasons for differences with European parties 1.
Federal system decentralizes power in U.S. a.
As political power becomes more centralized, parties did not do the same 2. Parties closely regulated by state and federal laws 3. Candidates chosen through primaries, not by party leaders, in U.S. 4. President elected separately from Congress 5. Founders' dislike of parties, viewing them as factions 2.