6. Enables people from
diverse backgrounds
with diverse interests to
unite behind a single
alternative
7. “It is the competition of [parties]
that provides the people with an
opportunity to make a choice.
Without this opportunity popular
sovereignty amounts to nothing.”
- E.E. Schattschneider
18. Roles and Functions of
Party Organizations
• Primary purpose of a party
organization is to run candidates
for election.
• Aggregate Interests
• Facilitate Participation
• Simplify Alternatives
• Stimulate Interest in Politics and
Government
19. Some of these functions
are being taken over by 527
groups
28. One-party system
A political system in which
representatives of one political
party hold all or almost all the
major offices in government.
29. Two-party system
A political system in which
only two political parties have
a realistic chance of
controlling the major offices of
government.
30. Multi-party system
A political system in which
three or more political parties
effectively compete for political
office and no one party can win
control of all offices.
31. Why does the US have
a two party system?
• Electoral Rules
• Restrictions on Minor
Parties
• Attitudes of the American
Public
35. US system discourages rise of
Third Parties
(cc) 2005 Grant Neufeld - Creative Commons, Some Rights
36. Why does the US have
a two party system?
• Electoral Rules
• Restrictions on Minor
Parties
• Attitudes of the American
Public
37. The major parties often establish rules
that make it difficult for other parties to
get on the ballot.
(cc) 2006 Adrian Liem - Creative Commons Some Rights Reserved
38. Qualification rules for third-party
presidential candidates can create
financial difficulties…
(cc) 2006 Steven Hoang - Some Rights Reserved
39. Suspension of the FCC’s “equal time” and
“fairness doctrine” requirements creates
difficulties for third party candidates to get
invited to the debates.
(cc) 2000 Ruby Sinreich - Some Rights Reserved
40. Why does the US have
a two party system?
• Electoral Rules
• Restrictions on Minor
Parties
• Attitudes of the American
Public
41. The broad belief
in The American
Creed leaves
little room for
parties outside
the mainstream.
(cc) 2006 Samuel Eichner - Some Rights Reserved
42. People grow comfortable with the
system they are used to…
(cc) 2006 Mattias Berg - Some Rights Reserved
43. “Human institutions have an
impressive capacity to
perpetuate themselves, or
at least to preserve their
form.”
~V.O. Key
53. Allow people with grievances to
express themselves in a way not
possible within the major parties.
54. Minor parties are usually not as
cautious as the major parties
• Tend to be loud, unambiguous about
policies, ideologically committed.
• Expand the scope of conflict in
American politics.
• Increase interest and attention among
at least some segments of the public.
• Bring a few more Americans into the
political process.
55. Realignment
When a new party system has
taken the place of the old system
because of a fundamental shift in
the types of groups that support
the parties.