Briefly explain the reasons why the third parties have found it extremely difficult to compete with the major parties for votes.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary.Minor parties, calledthird parties,have found it extremely difficult to compete with the major parties for votes.There are many reasons for this, some of which are as follows:Political socialization:When young people or new immigrants learn about U.S. politics, they tend to absorb the political views of those who are providing them with information. Parents find it easy to pass their political beliefs on to their children, often without even trying. Those beliefs frequently involve support for one of the two major parties.Election laws favoring two parties:American election laws tend to favor the major parties. In many states, for example, the established major parties need relatively few signatures to place their candidates on the ballot, whereas a third party must get many more signatures. The number of signatures required is often based on the total party vote in the last election, which penalizes a new party that is competing for the first time. The rules governing campaign financing also favor the major parties.Institutional barriers to a multiparty system:The structure of many of the institutions prevents third parties from enjoying electoral success. The nature of the election process works against third party candidates, as does the nature of single-member districts.