1. In terms of the government shutdown, what does this mean?
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The 27th Amendment
“No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”
In terms of the government shutdown, what does this mean?

2. Why does one of these two win every election?

3. What will I learn today?
I can explain the difference between single party, two party and multi party systems.
I can explain why the U.S. has a two party system.
I can explain the role of minor parties in the U.S.

4. Party Systems Advantage: Disadvantage:
Two Party System: Only two parties have a chance to win elections.
Multi Party System: Three or more parties have a change to win elections
Single Party System: Only one party exists and wins all elections

5. Why a Two-Party System?
The Historical Basis. The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them.
The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties. We expect the winner of the election to have a 51% or better majority.
Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States.
Election Rules – Getting names on the ballot requires petitions, excluded from most debates.
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6. Minor Parties in the United States

7. Economic Protest Parties
Minor parties in the U.S.
Parties that break from a major party.
Parties that arise in bad economic times.
Parties based on a single policy issue.
Parties based on a particular set of beliefs.
Ideological
Parties
Single Issue
Splinter Parties
Economic Protest Parties
Examples:
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Bull Moose Party
Reform Party ‘92

8. Why Minor Parties Are Important Jesse Ventura
Minor parties play several important roles:
“Spoiler Role”
Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party.
Critic
Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore.
Innovator
Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties.