Unlike in parliamentary systems, policy-making in the United States is not driven by political parties . Their roles have been assumed by “issue networks” or “advocacy coalitions”, whose like-minded participants - members of the administration and Congress, campaign managers, lobbyists, experts and journalists - try to implement their ideas and interests . Structural changes, in particular the Supreme Court’s campaign finance rulings, have weakened political parties further and offered political entrepreneurs even more room to manoeuvre . PACs and interest-driven advocacy think tanks have emulated interest groups’ lobbying und grass roots strategies . Their positioning for deregulation and small government gives them a leg up in fundraising activities, because laissez-faire interested donors assume that think tanks not only influence policy-making directly, but also via the media by setting the agenda . Commercialized and politicized media also contribute to the polarization, which paralyzes the political system and undermines its legitimization . Contrary to many German observers’ expectations after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential elections and “his” Republican “party” in Congressional elections, the alleged “most powerful man in the world” will not be able to implement his policy goals and “make America great again” to improve the output-legitimacy of the U .S . democracy .
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