Political parties are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, America’s founders understood that the republic they were founding requires parties as a means for keeping the government accountable to the people. Throughout America’s history, the power of political parties has risen and fallen, reaching their nadir in the last few decades.

Americans today attribute to parties the very maladies from which great parties would save us if only we would restore them. Great political parties of the past put party principles above candidate personalities and institutionalized resources to maintain coalitions based on principle. They moderated politics and provided opportunities for leadership in Congress instead of shifting all power to the executive, enabling the republic to enjoy the benefits of checks and balances while avoiding excessive gridlock.

Parties also encouraged elected officials to put the national interest ahead of narrow special interests, unfortunately, one of those parties has died, overtaken by a disease that infected the host and causes all the cells to destroy themself, the Republican party was destroyed and replaced with Trumpublicans party.