The document discusses the lack of a significant third party in the United States compared to other Western nations. It suggests this may be due to the dominance of the two-party system, with the Republican and Democratic parties accommodating a wide range of beliefs under their "big tent" approaches. Third parties face challenges in raising money, organizing nationally, and gaining enough votes and attention to survive long-term.

1. The U.S. is the only major Western nation that does not have at least one significant and enduring national third party. Why is this? Is it significant?

2. Groups that seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office

3. Group of people who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office Made up of people committed to a common set of beliefs, ideals, policies or programs Democrats and Republicans: Parties that are election oriented rather than issue oriented

4. Republicans and Democrats Dominant parties in the U.S. The “Big Tent” Concept: Because all voters are theoretically represented by only two parties each party needs a “Big Tent” to accommodate all members beliefs

5. Nominating: Name candidates to run for elective offices Provide money to candidates running for office. Help raise money Bonding: Gives the seal of approval to candidates Informing: Mobilize citizens to vote and participate in elections Create a PLATFORM that explains stance on issues Provide Cues to Voters on who or what to vote for Governing: Bear the responsibility of operating government once in power Watchdog : Providing organized opposition to the incumbents (party in power) Partisanship: support your party. Bash the other party

6. The oldest political party in the U.S. Symbol is the donkey Considered the more liberal party Believes in stronger federal government Believes in more individual control over personal behavior Tends to focus spending on social programs Discourages big business Pro-Union Appeals to people in cities, labor, minority groups

7. Symbol is the elephant Considered the more conservative party Believes in stronger state government Tends to focus on cutting taxes Favors big business and owners Believes in personal responsibility and individualism Tends to to well in Midwest, South, rural, and suburban areas

8. History - started out that way - factions Tradition - there has always been one since after George Washington Federalists (Madison and Hamilton) vs Anti-Federalists (Jefferson et al) Federalists wanted strong central government Anti-Federalists did not trust a strong central government http://nak247.glogster.com/federalist-vs-anti-federalist/

9. Two parties start to look alike Similar feelings about broad issues of the day Keeps either party from getting too radical Must moderate, compromise, strive to get votes

10. Republicans were once the liberal party 1860s – Abraham Lincoln - Republican (Abolitionist) party Democrats were the conservatives until 1920s - 30s

11. 1800-1860 – Era of Democratic Domination Farmers, debtors, pioneers help Dems stay in office 1860-1932 – Era of Republicans Northern & Western Farmers, Businessmen, abolitionists and African Americans help Republicans stay in office Southern states solidly Democrat The Democratic Revolution: 1932-1969 FDR builds new coalition of Democrats Based on south, small farmers, labor unions,minorities, big cities politics – i.e. those most hurt by the Depression NEW DEAL: Major shift in how we see the role of govt.

13. President is the visible leader of his party Party out of power does not have as visible a leader to turn to. Parties are decentralized. Run by local organizations Each has a National Committee to try to organize / coordinate party functions National Chairperson runs the national committee Congressional Campaign Committees try to increase number of party’s reps in Congress Third parties rarely have $ to organize this well. Thus, they do not last long.

14. Those that do not represent the Republican or Democratic parties, but still have a major impact on elections. Can take votes away from the major parties. (Spoiler Role) May force the candidates of the two major parties to address new issues. When issues raised by third parties become popular, the other two parties tend to adopt them into their own platforms

15. Candidates run campaigns to try to get elected to office. Presidential campaigns start about a year before the election Primary campaigns – like a playoff system to weed out candidates Intra-party elections (Democrats can only vote for Democrats etc) Iowa and New Hampshire traditionally go first Different states hold primaries on different days Candidates do a HUGE amount of traveling and speaking during campaigns Supported by political parties Propaganda often a part of campaigns Winner of most primaries gets the Nomination at a National Convention

16. Many parties can have candidates Percent of vote for party gives that party a percent of representatives Get 15% of vote, Get 15% of seats in Parliament Advantages Broader representation More responsive to the will of the people Disadvantages No party with majority support Instability Formation of coalitions (temporary alliances)

17. Party A got 15% of the vote so gets 15% of the seats Party B got 25% of the vote so gets 25% of the seats Party C got 45% of the vote so gets 45% of the seats Party D got 12% of the vote so gets 12% of the seats Party D got 3% of the vote so gets 3% of the seats

18. Just Plain Folks – A candidate tries to convince voters that he or she is a regular person - “just like you” Mud-slinging –Meant to make a candidate’s opponent sound dangerous or bad http://electionkatz.wikispaces.com/Propaganda

19. Testimonial - A well-known or famous person supports a candidate Symbols (Transfer) – A candidate’s name or picture is linked with something we like and admire

20. Glittering Generalities – Words that sound good, but don’t really mean much Bandwagon – Telling voters that they should support a candidate because “everyone else is doing it”

21. 15 th Amendment – removed racial barriers to voting – though southern states found other ways to curtail voting by African-Americans 19 th Amendment – Women’s suffrage 26 th Amendment – Voting age 18

22. Requirements to Vote Be an American citizen At least 18 years old Be a legal resident of the state in which you are voting Can you be barred from voting? Yes: Those with dishonorable discharges, in mental institutions, convicts etc can be banned

23. After Primaries, each party holds a convention to nominate candidate for President Conventions used to have MUCH more significance Were once the place where candidates were selected regardless of what happened in primaries Where party platform is unveiled

24. Presidential Elections Tuesday after the first Monday in November Electoral System Candidates elected by “electors” 1 elector for each representative and senator People vote (the “Popular Vote) to tell electors who to vote for All or Nothing System. You win a state by one popular vote, you get ALL of the electoral votes Need 270 electoral votes to win presidency

25. Who Won?

27. Sure – but our third parties rarely get any votes

28. Ross Perot: 1992, 1996 Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004

29. Any political party organized in at least a few states, other than the two current leading parties Jesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota, 1999-2003

30. 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.”

31. 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

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

34. Example: Prohibition Party in 1892 Also, Right to Life, Free Soil parties

35. Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892 Rooted in periods of economic discontent. Sectional (ie Populist, Greenback parties)

36. Example: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Bull Moose Party split from Republicans in 1912 – formed around strong personality

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

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

39. Ralph Nader Math Problem 2004 Presidential E lection

40. 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 Make major parties answer questions George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during 1992 Presidential debate

41. William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896 Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out Populist Party platform was assimilated into the Democratic Party in 1896

43. Does what you have read make it difficult for 3 rd parties to be successful? If so, how?

44. On your own piece of paper, answer the following questions: Does our system favor a 2-party system? Why or why not? Is the process 3 rd party candidates have to go through fair? Is it effective? Is it possible for a 3 rd party candidate’s campaign to be successful?