Political Parties
Minor Parties
Objectives
• 1. Identify the types of minor parties that have
been active in American politics.
• 2. Understand why minor parties are
important even though they seldom elect
national candidates.
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• Libertarian, Reform, Socialist, Prohibition,
Natural Law, Communist, American
Independent, Green, Socialist Labor,
Constitution.
• What do these names have in common?
• All minor parties
• All fielded a presidential candidate in 2000
Definition
• Political Party – an organization of citizens
who wish to influence and control
government by getting their members elected
to office.
• Minor parties are usually associated with a
certain agenda and are not usually able to get
national candidates elected to office.
Types of Minor Parties
• Four distinct types of minor parties
• A. Ideological parties – based on a particular
set of beliefs
• Most built on teachings of Karl Marx.
• Examples – Socialist, Socialist Labor,
Communist
• Different – Libertarian Party – emphasizes
individualism and doing away with
governments present functions and programs.
• B. Single-issue parties – concentrate on one
public-policy matter
• Example – Free Soil Party – opposed spread of
slavery
• Right to Life Party – opposes abortion
• C. Economic protest parties – no clear-cut
ideological base
• Mainly sectional parties drawing strength from
the South and West.
• Example – Greenback Party – agrarian discontent
from 1876-1884 – appealed to struggling farmers
– called for federal regulation of railroads, free
coinage of silver, income tax, labor legislation
• When the problem disappears the party
disappears.
• D. Splinter parties – split away from major
parties.
• Example – Teddy Roosevelt’s “Bull Moose”
Progressive Party.
• George Wallace’s American Independent Party
• Most form around a strong personality – as
personality fades the party fades.
Why are they important?
• Have an impact on american politics and the
major parties.
• A) Anti-Masons – first to use a national
convention to nominate a presidential
candidate – 1831. Whigs and Democrats
followed in 1832. Has been used by
Democrats and republicans ever since.
• B) Can be a spoiler in an election – can pull
votes away from a major party.
• Example – When Teddy Roosevelt broke off it
split the Republican Party and allowed
Woodrow Wilson to win the election as a
Democrat. He would not have won otherwise.
• C) Most important role is as a critic and
innovator.
• Will make a stand on an issue that major
parties are hesitant to address.
•
• Examples – income tax, women’s suffrage,
railroad and banking regulations, consumer
safety.
• Once the issue becomes prominent the major
parties “steal it” and claim ownership.