Unit II Lesson 6

Political Parties in America: 3rd Parties

Essential Question:• Why do Americans believe what they do about

politics and what role do families, schools and media play in the changing or perpetuating of these political beliefs?

• In what ways do Americans participate in their political system?

• How does participation vary among various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the nation?

• How have political parties developed, how are they organized, and what effect do they have on the political process?

3rd Parties(“Minor Parties”)

Because in the U.S. we have…

Bipartisan System- Despite having other political parties only Democrats and Republicans typically win elections in the

U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/114th_United_States_Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_governors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_General_Assembly

“Bi-Partisan System”

96%

Third-Parties rarely win elections because: *They have to get thousands of signatures on petitions just to be listed on the ballot (Candidates for the “Big

Two” are added automatically)

20,000 signatures from registered voters

*State and Federal governments (which make the rules governing elections) are composed of elected Democratic and Republican

lawmakers who want to keep the bipartisan system as it is

Six-Months Six-Months

“Bi-Partisan System”

*Their lack of representation in government makes it difficult for the party to create awareness or raise funds

Last One…

*Their “platform” is often too narrow

Other

Issues

“Single-Issue Party”

“Bi-Partisan System”

96%

Despite rarely winning elections third-parties can still have a major impact on American politics by:

*Introduce ideas neglected by the “big-two”

Ross Perot

1992

Another Way 3rd Parties Impact American Politics…

*Keep the major parties honest by reminding them of their “base”

Political Spectrum

“Moderates”

“Liberal”

“Moderately Liberal”

“VERY Liberal”

And if Democrats or Republicans IGNORE these far right and left

groups…

*Play the role of “spoiler” by drawing votes away from one of the major party candidates

Nader

2000

Less than 10,000

97,421

George W Bush Al Gore

97,421

“Spoiler”

3rd Parties

Which of the following does NOT explain why U.S. politics has been predominately a two-party system?

A.Election laws require minor party candidates to go to much greater lengths to get on the ballot than the two major parties

B.The appeal of the two major parties is fairly broad whereas many third-parties are single-issue parties

C.Federal election laws in many states prevent third-parties from ever forming

D.Their lack of representation in government makes it difficult for third-parties to create awareness or raise funds

Third parties generally influence politics in the U.S. in all the following ways EXCEPT?

A.Criticizing the major parties for not keeping campaign promises

B.Affecting the final outcome of a presidential election

C.Influencing the policy agenda by winning federal elections

D.Proposing policies that the major parties will come to adopt