Compared to parties in parliamentary democracies, how are U.S. political parties generally characterized?

U.S. political parties are generally characterized as weak and ideologically diverse, reflecting the pluralistic nature of American political culture. Unlike parties in parliamentary democracies, which often exhibit strong discipline and cohesion, American parties are more decentralized and consist of a broad coalition of interests and ideologies. Each party encompasses a range of beliefs, making it common to find moderates and extreme partisan members coexisting within the same organization. This ideological diversity allows for a more extensive debate within each party but often leads to internal conflicts.

In parliamentary systems, parties often have centralized leadership that dictates party discipline strictly, meaning that party members are more likely to vote along party lines. Conversely, in the U.S., local and state parties have significant autonomy, leading to less cohesion. Thus, the description of U.S. political parties as weak and ideologically diverse accurately reflects their structure and behavior in the political landscape.