Third Parties in the United States The term THIRD PARTY is used
in the U.S. for any & all political parties other than
REPUBLICANS & DEMOCRATS It can also refer to INDEPENDENT
POLITICIANS not affiliated with any party at all & to WRITE-IN
CANDIDATES. It can also refer to INDEPENDENT POLITICIANS not
affiliated with any party at all & to WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.
Slide 3
Types of Third Parties in the United States 1.) IDEOLOGICAL :
Based on a set of beliefs; a comprehensive view of social, economic
& political matters LIBERTARIANS, GREEN, CONSTITUTION, JUSTICE
(LONGEST LASTING, LARGEST third parties) 2.) SPLINTER : Parties
that broke off from one of the two major parties BULL MOOSE,
DIXIECRATS, REFORM (short-lived, centered around strong
personality, MOST IMPACT on American politics)
Slide 4
Types of Third Parties in the United States 3.) SINGLE ISSUE :
Concentrate on a single public policy matter RIGHT TO LIFE PARTY,
U.S. MARIJUANA PARTY, U.S. PIRATE PARTY (short-lived, tend to fade
as major party steals issue) 4.) ECONOMIC PROTEST : Rooted in
periods of economic discontent GREENBACK PARTY, TEA PARTY
(short-lived, tend to fade as economic issues fade)
Slide 5
Types of Third Parties in the United States Economic Protest
Party?
Slide 6
Role of Third Parties in the United States ACT AS AN INNOVATOR
Force the major parties to ADDRESS potentially divisive PROBLEMS ;
PROPOSE government POLICIES & practices. Force the major
parties to ADDRESS potentially divisive PROBLEMS ; PROPOSE
government POLICIES & practices.
Slide 7
Role of Third Parties in the United States PLAY THE SPOILER If
a candidate DRAWS ENOUGH VOTES away from a major party rival, it
can prevent that party from winning an ELECTION. If a candidate
DRAWS ENOUGH VOTES away from a major party rival, it can prevent
that party from winning an ELECTION.
Slide 8
KEEP EM HONEST Candidates can speak more OPENLY than their
major party rivals, ADDRESSING FACTS & ISSUES that they would
often IGNORE. Candidates can speak more OPENLY than their major
party rivals, ADDRESSING FACTS & ISSUES that they would often
IGNORE. Role of Third Parties in the United States
Slide 9
Moral Victories? Successful Attempts at the Presidency 1860
Southern Democrat, JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, 18.1% (72 electoral
votes)
Slide 10
Moral Victories? Successful Attempts at the Presidency 1912
Progressive, TEDDY ROOSEVELT, 27.5% (88 electoral votes last time a
third party candidate came in 2 nd place)*
Slide 11
Moral Victories? Successful Attempts at the Presidency 1948
DixieCrats, STROM THURMOND, 2.4% (39 electoral votes)
Slide 12
Moral Victories? Successful Attempts at the Presidency 1968
American Independent, GEORGE WALLACE, 13.5% (46 electoral
votes)
Slide 13
?
Slide 14
Moral Victories? Successful Attempts at the Presidency 1992
Reform, ROSS PEROT, 18.9% (0 electoral votes most popular votes
ever by a third party candidate)*
Slide 15
Third Party Success! Notable Third Party Politicians in the
U.S. Bill Walker (I) Governor of Alaska Angus King (I) Senator from
Maine Bernie Sanders (I) Senator from Vermont None in the OHIO
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Slide 16
Third Party Politics The Big Three in the United States
LIBERTARIAN PARTY Laissez-faire economics Laissez-faire economics
Strong civil-liberties Strong civil-liberties Minimally regulated
migration Minimally regulated migration Non-intervention in foreign
policy Non-intervention in foreign policy Freedom of trade Freedom
of trade Freedom of travel Freedom of travel
Slide 17
Third Party Politics The Big Three in the United States GREEN
PARTY Sustainable U.S. Sustainable U.S. Alternative energy
Alternative energy Environmental protection Environmental
protection Opposition to big business Opposition to big business
Universal health-care Universal health-care
Slide 18
CONSTITUTION PARTY Pro-life & anti-gun control Pro-life
& anti-gun control Anti-tax & anti-immigration Anti-tax
& anti-immigration Trade protectionist Trade protectionist
Anti-United Nations Anti-United Nations Anti-gay rights &
anti-welfare Anti-gay rights & anti-welfare Pro-school prayer
Pro-school prayer Third Party Politics The Big Three in the United
States