1. Political Parties

2. 4 Historical Basis –Framers were opposed to political parties. –But the debate over the Constitution created the Federalists and Anti-federalists. 4 Force of Tradition –People support it because it always existed –Minor parties have made little headway The Two-Party System

3. 4 The Electoral System –State election laws discourage minor parties –Electoral College discourage minor parties 4 American Ideological Consensus –Americans tend to agree on fundamental issues –Major parties take moderate stands to attract the largest possible number of voters.

4. Multiparty System 4 Can make government unstable by having several strong parties with varying ideological views. 4 Harder to come to a consensus. 4 Institutional and ideological factors make a multiparty system unlikely

5. One - Party System 4 Dictatorships 4 Many areas of the United States were or are dominated by a single party. 4 Two party competition is spreading

6. Minor Parties 4 Ideological parities –based on a particular set of beliefs 4 Single issue parties –focus on one issue 4 Economic protest parties –focus on economic issues 4 Splinter parties –break off from one of the the two major parties

7. Minor Parties 4 Introduce useful innovations in American politics. 4 Strong 3rd party candidate can be a “spoiler” 4 When innovations proposed by minor parties gain popular support, they are usually adopted by one the the major parties.