Examine the role of minor parties in U.S. politics. How have minor parties affected the electoral system? What limitations have kept them from achieving major-party status?
Provide a detailed assessment from the individual voter's perspective on the utility of voting for a minor party. Use the presidential election of 2000 (Bush v. Gore) as a test case.
An ideal response will:
1. Describe the various prominent minor parties in American history and their effects in altering the national debate.
2. Explain the institutional limitations and attitudes that have prevented minor parties from becoming major parties. Institutional barriers such as winner-take-all elections and single-member districts are the primary hindrance to the rise of minor parties. Voter attitudes are affected by this and thus, many see voting for minor parties as a wasted vote and that minor parties spoil elections. Duverger's Law, which predicts this interaction, may or may not be noted in the answer.
3. Using detailed evidence from the reading, assess who voted for the Green Party in 2000 and why, giving a detailed explanation as to why many believe Ralph Nader spoiled the election as well as offering counterexplanations. Provide an argument for voting or not voting for minor parties.
4. Provide a succinct summary and conclusion.
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Although Congress is a partisan body, the procedure for getting a bill proposal to a floor vote is remarkably nonpartisan
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Bonds that are paid off with revenue earned by the facility or project for which they were issued are called:
A. general obligation bonds. B. savings bonds. C. merit bonds. D. revenue bonds.
Ken is attending a precinct convention in his county. He is in a particular stage in the convention where he is being chosen as a delegate to represent his precinct. In such a scenario, which of the following will take place next?
a. The convention chair will be elected into office. b. Citizens participating in the convention will be allowed to offer resolutions. c. Ken will be asked to send proposed suggestions to the next year's convention. d. The secretary will be elected by the delegates.
A ______ is one proposal that policy analysts have developed to address the problem.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).