“Saying we should keep the two-party system simply because it is working is like saying the Titanic voyage was a success because a few people survived on life rafts.” - Eugene McCarthy

 Relatively unique in the world, even among democracies › Both national parties have been relatively evenly balanced during most of modern history; but…  More recently…who owned the White House?  Who owns Congress? › And at state and local levels, parties dominate different areas "A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life." John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

 Generally speaking, which party… › Supports gay marriage? › Supports gun ownership by individuals? › Is pro-life? › Favors more government regulation of economy › Favors expelling illegal immigrants instead of amnesty › Continue defense spending at current levels › Believe taxes on wealthy are “job killers” › Believe government should act to make health care available to all › Is anti-globalization › Calls for passage of Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) › Favors repealing the 17 th amendment › Full public financing of campaigns › Supports compulsory government service

 Historical circumstance › Two ways of seeing the Constitution  Two major factions emerged in our early years.  Once this happened, it became difficult for any third faction to survive. This is because a third group would “steal” votes from one of the other existing parties, thus splitting the vote. Thus, new groups usually merged into one of the two existing factions.  Elections are slanted in favor of two party system › Plurality and winner-take-all in both state and federal elections. › Single-member districts for MoCs › Electoral College and WTA system – voters don’t want to “waste” votes. › Electoral laws make it more difficult for third parties to get on the ballot in many states;  In addition, Dems often battle their ideological “brethren” Greens, and Reps battle Libertarians to keep them off the ballot.  Opinions of the voters › For some reason, voters seem content to split with the two major parties on most of the important issues in our country  Alternative/Possible party coalitions have not formed or do not last

 Do they play a significant role in our 2-party system? › If so, how? If not, why not?

 (non-major party) Candidates filing by nomination papers must obtain signatures from electors of the district equal to at least 2 percent of the largest entire vote cast for an elected candidate in the last election within the district. – Governor = 1.8 million › 2 percent of 1.8 million = 36,000

 A new party or independent candidate may gain ballot access for one election as a "political body" by collecting petition signatures equal to 2 percent of the vote for the highest vote-getter in the most recent election in the jurisdiction. › A political body that wins two percent of the vote obtained by the highest vote-getter statewide in the same election is recognized statewide as a "political party" for two years.  A political party with a voter enrollment equal to less than 15 percent of the state's total partisan enrollment is classified as a "minor political party," which has automatic ballot access in special elections but must otherwise collect the same number of signatures as political bodies.  Political parties not relegated to "minor" status qualify to participate in primary elections. Candidates may gain access to primary election ballots by collecting a set number of petition signatures for each office, generally significantly fewer than required for political bodies and minor political parties.

 Both systems, being democratic, rest on compromise. › – In a two party system, compromise takes place prior to elections as parties (and factions within them) select (or settle on?) candidates who they believe can win a majority. › – In multiparty systems, ideologically pure parties are forced to compromise after elections in order to form a majority coalition to pass laws (and often select a prime minister).

Party Seats+/– Kadima28−1 Likud27+15 Yisrael Beiteinu15+4 Labor Party13–6 Shas11–1 United Torah Judaism5–1 United Arab List4— Hadash4+1 Meretz3–2 Balad3—

 Two party systems tend to be more stable.  Multi-party systems offer voters more choice. › Having only two choices may dampen voter turnout.  Two Party Systems narrow legislative debate: › – Even if outvoted, small parties if represented are likely to raise public awareness of issues the other parties wouldn’t otherwise discuss.  Two Party Systems may be more polarizing: › – Parties in multiparty systems must work together and form coalitions which forces members to reach across party lines.

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