Unit 5.5 - Third-Party Politics (Persuall Readings)

What are minor parties/third parties?

They are new political parties that often come and go within the United States, enjoying a limited time of success.

What impact have some third parties made (besides Lincoln’s win, which was technically a third party one)?

They have been able to send peopel to Congress, helped to add amendments to the Constitution, and forced larger parties to take note of them and their ideas.

Why do third parties usually form?

Many times, it’s because citizens believe that neither major party hears or implements their desired agenda, so they create their own party.

What are ideological parties? What are some examples?

Ideological parties are political groups that subscribe to a consistent ideology across multiple issues. For example, libertarians and socialists are ideological parties because they advocate for the same belief across multiple issues.

What are splinter parties?

They are third parties that form when large factios of members break off from a major political party.

What is an economic-protest party?

It’s a political party that emerges in response to economic issues, often advocating for reforms to address specific economic concerns.

What are single-issue parties?

They’re a type of third party that focuses on one specific area of concern.

Wht are single-member districts? What does this system lead to?

It’s when the candidate who wins the most votes wins the office. This system often leads to a two-party system because only one representative is elected per district.

Why is it hard for a third-party to gain reocgnition by many people?

It’s mainly because of money. They don’t start with a ton of money or have a lot of donors to sponsor programs or post ads.

Why do independents have a difficult time with ballot access?

It’s mainly beacuse of varying state laws that impose strict requirements, like gathering a certain number of signatures and paying a fee.

What is the winner-take-all voting system? Why would this discourage third parties?

This is an electoral colelge system where the candidate who earns the most votes in a district wins that election. The only states that don’t do this are Maine and Nebraska, which allows for different types of electoral votes to come through.

This discourages parties because it’s difficult to win an entire state.