1. Third Parties in American Politics

2. Two-Party Tradition
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists (Democrat-Republicans)
Democrats vs. National-Republicans (Whigs)
Democrats vs. Republicans

3. If third parties rarely win elections, why do they exist?
They arise because some people think neither major party is meeting certain needs

4. Types of Third Parties Single Issue Party
Focuses exclusively on some major social, economic, or moral issue
Generally short-lived (why?)

5. Types of Third Parties Ideological Party
Focuses on overall change in society, (rather than an issue)

6. Types of Third Parties Splinter Party
Spin-off from one of major parties because of disagreement
Often when popular figure fails to get party’s nomination
How long do splinter parties
last?

7. What type of third party?
The Communist Party USA supports government ownership of factories, transportation, resources, farmland, and other means of production and distribution.

8. What type of third party?
The Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party of the 1840s formed to take stronger stands against slavery

9. What type of third party?
The Bull Moose Party (Progressive), led by Theodore Roosevelt, opposed the high influence of business interests in politics.

10. What type of third party?
The Libertarian Party calls for drastic reductions in government in order to increase personal freedoms.

11. Obstacles for Third Parties
Take a minute and brainstorm with your neighbor—why is it so hard for third parties to gain any power?

12. Obstacles for Third Parties
Difficult to get on the ballot
Have to obtain enough
voter signatures

13. Obstacles for Third Parties
Difficult to win elections
Winner-take-all system + single member districts
What kind of party system would encourage minor parties?

14. Obstacles for Third Parties
Difficult to raise $$$ for campaign
Why don’t people or interest groups contribute $$ to a third party?

15. Impact of Third Parties
Can influence national elections
When have we seen this happen?

16. Impact of Third Parties
Bring attention to new issues
Third parties bring new issues to the fore for discussion, often getting them adopted by a major party
Ex. Minimum wage, 5 day work week, health insurance!

17. Third Parties in 2012?
“Palin certainly has many of the qualities of a third-party candidate – charismatic and passionate… for Palin to run as a tea party candidate, it would require money and keen organization. To become a legitimate third party, as opposed to its current status as a movement, the tea party would face a series of steep obstacles it likely could not scale by 2012.”

18. Third Parties in 2012?
"The concern is, if I don't win [the GOP nomination], will I run as an Independent? And the answer is probably yes”
"To be honest with you, I think it'd be very, very bad for the Republican Party, because they did some polls recently where I get 29 percent as an Independent. That's a lot — far more than Ross Perot ever got,"

19. Slogans & Symbols “One World, One Chance” “Yes We Can!”
“There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch”