What specific features of America’s two-party system make it so difficult for a third party to be established on a permanent basis?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The rules of the two-party system, which are often designed by the nation’s two permanent parties, make any serious threat from a third party nearly nonexistent. To begin with, the United States uses the single-member-district electoral system, which means that whoever receives the most votes in a specific district wins a seat while the loser gets nothing. This type of winner-take-all system encourages voters to cast their ballot for one of the established parties due to the belief that a vote cast for a third party candidate equates to throwing one’s vote away. Legal barriers are another issue that third parties face. For example, most states have election laws that protect established parties from competition from other parties. Many states also require that any potential third party candidate gather signature petitions in order to be placed on the ballot. Third parties must also contend with federal election laws such as those that prevent candidates from claiming federal campaign funds until after an election is over. They also must receive approximately five percent of the vote in order to be eligible for those funds. Access to the media is another problem. Televised debates are typically limited to candidates from the two major parties.