ABSTRACT
The ills of the American political party system are deeply rooted in the traditions of political behavior in this country, entrenched public attitudes, and even the Constitution itself. A set of approaches intended to improve the cohesion of the government in Washington must encompass the party structure outside as well as within that government. Constitutional amendment to require voters to vote for party slates of candidates for president, vice-president, and House is one effective solution, though hardly a feasible one in the short run. Short of amending the Constitution, much can be done through modifying election laws and the design of ballots and voting machine layouts to discourage rather than encourage split-ticket voting for national offices. Congressional leaders have to see to it that the committee chairmen to whom legislative action on presidential proposals is entrusted are not in fact narrow, parochial, corrupt, or otherwise unresponsive to the will of the party as a whole.
