Final answer:
The correct option is 3) diverse. Political parties generally consist of a diverse constituency of supporters. They are a complex organization with various components and aim to build loyalty among voters to improve election outcomes. In the U.S., this complexity has resulted in a two-party system dominated by Democrats and Republicans.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, political parties are made up of a diverse constituency of supporters. This diversity is due to the various components of a political party which include the party in the electorate, the party organization, and the party in office. Political parties aim to build a stable presence among voters and foster a sense of loyalty to insulate themselves from changes in the system and improve their odds of winning elections. The party-in-the-electorate consists of members of the voting public who consider themselves part of a political party or who consistently prefer the candidates of one party over the other.
Successful political parties often need to appeal to a wide range of voters to win enough support to secure elections. They must balance the need to create a broad coalition to attract the diverse electorate without becoming so vague that they lose the ability to pass legislation. In the United States, this has resulted in a two-party system, with the Democratic and Republican parties dominating politics, though other minor parties exist which sometimes act as spoilers in elections.