1. Section 4 The Minor Third Parties

3. Ideological Third Parties DefinitionExamples Leader (if any)historical impact Ideological Party B ased on a set of beliefs, long lived Usually Marxist Want major change in society Socialist Party Communist Party Green Party Karl Marx

4. Single-Issue Parties DefinitionExamples Leader (if any)historical impact Single Issue Party Focus on ONE public-policy matter. Usually as issue gains support, becomes absorbed by a major party Free Soil Party Know Nothings Right to Life

5. Economic Protest Party DefinitionExamples Leader (if any)historical impact Economic Protest Party Rooted in periods of Economic discontent- demand better times Greenback Party Tea Party Populist Party

6. Splinter Parties Definition Examples Leader (if any)historical impact Splinter Party Groups that break off from one of the 2 major parties Most important Bull Moose (Progressi ve)Party DIxiecrats Theodore Roosevelt Ralph Nader * form around a strong person who didn’t get major party support

7. Third Parties Any party other than the two major parties can be called a “Third party.” What type of success? never gained control of the White House. More successful in Congress or on the local level. Ralph Nader, Independent Candidate, 2008

8. The Odds Are Against Them Why? can’t raise enough money to be competitive Only one candidate can win in a given district. Usually the winner is either Democratic or Republican. must show support by getting voter signatures to even be placed on the ballot for national office often formed to support a specific issue. These rise and fall over time.

9. Why Minor Parties Are Important & Their Roles

10. “Spoiler Role” pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates. (especially they are from a splinter party )

11. Critic often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.

12. Innovator draw attention to important issues & propose innovative solutions to problems. Oh Grandpapa!

13. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.