Third Parties

<h1>Text Preview</h1> <p> <P>While the American system of politics has generally been defined as a two-party system, occasionally a <b>third party</b> emerges, influencing elections and siphoning important votes from the major parties. Third parties often begin as single-issue parties that oppose or promote a certain social, economic, or political topic. For example, the Republican Party formed in the 1850’s as a third party in opposition to slavery. Similarly, in 2000, Ralph Nader formed the Green Party that focused on environmental issues. <br></P> <P>Third parties occasionally form based on an extreme ideological philosophy, such as socialism or libertarianism. Third parties have also been triggered by economic protest. For example, the Greenback Party formed in 1874 to promote currency expansion. In 1892, the Populist Party called for similar broad reforms to coining money and taxation. </P> </p> <p> <P>Third parties can also splinter out of major parties, forming party offshoots. Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Progressives in 1912, and George Wallace’s American Independent Party in 1968, both split from major parties and postured as third party candidates.<br></P> <P>While third parties can influence elections, they seldom even win Congressional seats. However, they play an important role in government. Third parties have historically played the role of a critic or an innovator, bringing new platform issues to the forefront of American politics. Issues such as child labor laws, bank regulations, and old-age pensions captured national attention through the efforts of third party candidates. Third parties can also force major parties to accept specific issues and include them in their platforms. For example, many Americans saw the Populists of the late 1800’s as radicals, but by the early 1900’s many Populist ideas such as income tax, direct election of Senators, and federal control of railroads were implemented.</P> </p> <p> <P>Political institutions limit the power and influence of third parties in America. The design and function of the Electoral College severely limits election opportunities for third party candidates. With Nebraska and Maine being the only exceptions, whichever candidate wins the most popular votes in any state, also takes all of the electoral votes. Even if a third party candidate receives a large number of votes, if it is not the most votes, that candidate receives nothing. Not since 1968, with presidential candidate George Wallace winning several southern states, has a third party candidate won a significant number of electoral votes. In Congressional elections, the results are the same. The candidate that collects the majority of votes wins the election. </P> </p> <p> <P>This voting method differs from the system of proportional representation where the overall results are proportional to the distribution of votes. Many European countries use the voting system of proportional representation. In addition, third party presidential candidates are not eligible for federal subsidies for campaigning if their party was not on the ballot and did not poll at least five percent of the votes in the last election. If the third party generates the five percent of votes necessary in the current election, the party may apply for the money after the fact. </P> </p> <p> <P>Third parties can act as spoilers for a major party in a close election race. Voters who would normally support a major party may vote for the third party, possibly in protest and knowing a win for the candidate is doubtful, but showing solidarity with a stance on an issue. This can allow the opposite major party to carry an election that it otherwise may have lost. For example, in 1912 Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party pulled votes from the incumbent President William Howard Taft’s Republican ticket and ensured Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson a victory. Nader’s Green Party affected the very tight presidential race of George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. Nader drew votes from the democrat Gore, giving Bush the opportunity to gain narrow victories in Florida and other states and allowing him to capture the presidency.</P> </p> <p id="TextCopyright">Copyright 2006 The Regents of the University of California and Monterey Institute for Technology and Education</p>