The New Party as an organization could not gain the influence it needed to continue to operate. In 1997 the [[United States Supreme Court]] ruled that the freedom of association clause of the [[First Amendment]] did not protect electoral fusion, further reducing NP's power; it was defunct by 1998, with it's former members joining or creating similar political parties. | The New Party as an organization could not gain the influence it needed to continue to operate. In 1997 the [[United States Supreme Court]] ruled that the freedom of association clause of the [[First Amendment]] did not protect electoral fusion, further reducing NP's power; it was defunct by 1998, with it's former members joining or creating similar political parties. |