Consider the fact that members of Congress increasingly rely on journalists, think tanks, or other areas of expertise for information or ideas on which to base policy decisions. This supports the argument that __________

a. political parties have never played a substantive role in setting policy
b. political parties are declining in their dominance of political functions
c. political parties are expanding their dominance over how ideas become public policy
d. political parties will continue, for example, to censor or outlaw the activities of think tanks

b