1. The Minor Parties

2. There are 4 types of Minor Parties Ideological Single-issue Economic protest Splinter

3. Ideological parties Those parties based on a particular set of beliefs and having a comprehensive view of social, econoimc, and political matters Examples: Communist party, Socialist party, Socialist Labor, Socialist Workers, Libertarian

4. Single-Issue Parties that focus on a single public policy issue Examples: American (“Know-Nothing) party, Free Soil party, Right-to-Life

5. Economic Protest Parties Those that protest economic hard times, blaming perceived enemies and proclaiming disgust with the major parties Examples: Greenback party, Populist party

6. Splinter Parties Those that split away form one of the major parties Examples: Progressive “Bull Moose” party, Progressive party (1924), American Independent Party, “Dixiecrat” Party

7. Splinter parties have been the most successful in winning votes. Ideological parties have been the longest living.

8. Function of minor parties They have drawn attention to problems ignored by the major parties, and They have played “spoiler roles” in close elections