1. Third Parties: What role do they play in American politics?
Ross Perot: 1992, 1996
Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004

2. Third Party Any political party organized in at least a few states,
other than the two
current leading
parties
Jesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota,

3. History of American Third Parties
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”

4. History of American Third Parties
No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency
Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes
Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote

5. Formation and Role of Third Parties
Third parties influence elections by revealing sectional and political divides and bringing light to new issues.
Third Parties usually form around a social cause and social activists.
A third party neglected by the two major parties is able to affect the electorate more than if their views were co-opted by one of the major two.

6. Types of Third Parties

7. Sectional Parties Example: Strom Thurmond
and the Dixiecrat Party ran on a segregationist platform in 1948

8. Economic Protest Parties
Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892

9. Ideology Parties
Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties
Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad

10. Charismatic Personality Parties
Example: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Bull Moose Party in 1912

11. Specific Issue Parties
Example: Prohibition Party in 1892

12. Combination Parties
Example: George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)
Dynamic leader with a Southern base
Anti-civil rights
Won 13% popular vote & 46 electoral votes

13. Purpose of Third Parties
Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000
“The electoral progress of third parties is in
direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”

14. Purpose of Third Parties
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties
1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party

15. Purpose of Third Parties
Third Parties have influence
Major parties often take on the ideas of third parties
In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit
George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during 1992 Presidential debate

16. Purpose of Third Parties:
Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out
Populist Party platform was assimilated into the Democratic Party in 1896
William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896

17. George Wallace, American Independent Party, 1968 Election
What issue do you think George Wallace’s American Independent Party was promoting?

18.
What is the artist trying to say about voters who choose third party candidates?

19. T. R. Vs. Taft, Election of 1912 http://www. archives
In 1912, both Taft and Roosevelt were fighting for the same voters. What do you think was the result of TR’s candidacy in 1912?

20. The Bathtub www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/third_party.asp
Why is it so difficult for third parties to gather support?

21. Independent Voters. http://3rdpartyblogger
Why might third parties be attractive to voters?

22. Nader & the Reform Party 2004
What is the artist saying about Nader’s 2004 run for president as the reform candidate?

23. The Libertarians… www.independentpoliticalreport.com
What issues do you think the Libertarian party might be concerned with?

24. The Nader Oval Office http://politicalhumor.about.com
What is the artist communicating about the Green party agenda?

25. True Third Party or Political Movement???
The Tea Party
True Third Party or Political Movement???

29. The Tea Set http://politicalhumor.about.com
Sometimes third party issues can be difficult to stomach.

30. Don’t Compromise on Me! http://politicalhumor.about.com
Getting the message across is more important than cutting a deal with the other parties.

31.
The two major parties are not necessarily looking to absorb the third parties. Sometimes they can hurt more than help.

32. Tea Party Throws GOP Overboard http://politicalhumor.about.com
The reverse is true: not every third party is looking to be picked up by one of the majors.

33.
The two major parties need to be careful they do not try to please everyone. It is impossible and can cause the party to lose control of the message.

34. Hat in the Ring http://politicalhumor.about.com
It can take time for a third party to be taken seriously. It may never happen.