Third Party Politics
in the United States
Third Parties
in the United States
The term THIRD PARTY is used in the
U.S. for “any & all political parties other
than REPUBLICANS & DEMOCRATS”
 It can also refer to INDEPENDENT
POLITICIANS not affiliated with any party
at all & to WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.
Types of Third Parties
in the United States
1.) IDEOLOGICAL: “Based on a set of beliefs; a
comprehensive view of social, economic & political
matters” – LIBERTARIANS, GREEN, CONSTITUTION, JUSTICE
(LONGEST LASTING, LARGEST third parties)
2.) SPLINTER: “Parties that broke off from one of the two
major parties” – BULL MOOSE, DIXIECRATS, REFORM
(short-lived, centered around strong personality, MOST IMPACT on
American politics)
Types of Third Parties
in the United States
3.) SINGLE ISSUE: “Concentrate on a single public policy
matter” – RIGHT TO LIFE PARTY, U.S. MARIJUANA PARTY,
U.S. PIRATE PARTY (short-lived, tend to fade as major party steals
issue)
4.) ECONOMIC PROTEST: “Rooted in periods of economic
discontent” – GREENBACK PARTY, TEA PARTY (short-lived,
tend to fade as economic issues fade)
Economic
Protest Party?
Types of Third Parties
in the United States
Role of Third Parties
in the United States
“ACT AS AN INNOVATOR”
 Force the major parties to ADDRESS potentially divisive
PROBLEMS; PROPOSE government POLICIES & practices.
Role of Third Parties
in the United States
“PLAY THE SPOILER”
 If a candidate DRAWS ENOUGH VOTES away from a
major party rival , it can prevent that party from winning
an ELECTION.
Role of Third Parties
in the United States
“KEEP ‘EM HONEST”
 Candidates can speak more OPENLY than their major
party rivals, ADDRESSING FACTS & ISSUES that they
would often IGNORE.
Moral Victories?
“Successful” Attempts at the Presidency
1860 – Southern Democrat, JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, 18.1%
(72 electoral votes)
Moral Victories?
“Successful” Attempts at the Presidency
1912 – Progressive, TEDDY ROOSEVELT, 27.5% (88 electoral
votes – last time a third party candidate came in 2nd place)*
Moral Victories?
“Successful” Attempts at the Presidency
1948 – DixieCrats, STROM THURMOND, 2.4% (39 electoral
votes)
Moral Victories?
“Successful” Attempts at the Presidency
1968 – American Independent, GEORGE WALLACE, 13.5%
(46 electoral votes)
?
Moral Victories?
“Successful” Attempts at the Presidency
1992 – Reform, ROSS PEROT, 18.9% (0 electoral votes – most
popular votes ever by a third party candidate)*
Third Party Success!
Notable Third Party Politicians in the U.S.
Bill Walker (I)
Governor of Alaska
Angus King (I)
Senator from Maine
None in the OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Bernie Sanders (I)
Senator from Vermont
Third Party Politics
The “Big Three” in the United States
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
 Laissez-faire economics
 Strong civil-liberties
 Minimally regulated migration
 Non-intervention in foreign policy
 Freedom of trade
 Freedom of travel
Third Party Politics
The “Big Three” in the United States
GREEN PARTY
 Sustainable U.S.
 Alternative energy
 Environmental protection
 Opposition to big business
 Universal health-care
Third Party Politics
The “Big Three” in the United States
CONSTITUTION PARTY
 Pro-life & anti-gun control
 Anti-tax & anti-immigration
 Trade protectionist
 Anti-United Nations
 Anti-gay rights & anti-welfare
 Pro-school prayer