Two Party System
Why a 2 Party System?
1. Historical Basis
• Ratification of the Constitution created the first
two parties (Federalists and Anti-Federalists)
• Constitution made no provisions for political
parties
• Framers had never known the parties would play
the role that they do in Government
• Framers would never know how the two parties
would play the middle of the road positions
2. Tradition Itself
• Most Americans accept the
idea of a 2 party system
• People feel closer to one of the
two parties
• Minor Parties face restrictions
• American has a two party
system because America has a
two party system (Its what the
people have accepted)
3. Electoral System
• Single-member districts
• Only one candidate is elected
to each office on the ballot
• Winner takes all in the election
▫ Plurality
• Discourage minor parties
• Election Rules
• Rep/Dem act bipartisan
▫ They shape laws
▫ Hard for minority parties to
get on the ballot
3. Electoral System
• 4 types of minor parties:
• 1. Protest Parties- Tea Party
• 2. Ideological Parties- Green
Party
• 3. Single Issue Parties- Steve
Forbes and Flat Income Tax
• 4. Splinter Parties- Bull
Moose Progressive Party
4. American Ideology
• Same ideas, beliefs and basic
principles
• Consensus on fundamental
matters.
• American society does not
permit more than two parties
• Democratic Party supports
social welfare, business
regulation, minority status
• Republican Party support
private market, govt. be less
involved in social welfare
One Party System
• One party rules
• There is no other party
▫ Soviet Union
▫ China
• Some parts of the U.S. tend to
vote to one particular party
▫ Youngstown/Warren area
democratic party
▫ Cincinnati Republican Party
Multiparty Systems
• Seen in European democracies
• Based on an interest
▫ Religious Beliefs
▫ Economic Class
▫ Political Ideology
• Give the voter more of a choice
• Leads to instability in Govt.
▫ Leads to a Coalition
• Examples of Bad Multiparty
▫ Italy
▫ Kenya
• Americans stayed away from
this system
Left Wing vs Right Wing
Membership Patterns
• Voluntary basis
• Made Up of a variety of people of variety of
segments
• Some segments tend to lean one particular way
• Important to many individuals to be identified
with a party
• Events, Economic Issues, Age, Education and
Work Environment influence party choice
Homework
• You are campaigning for one of the two major
parties. Create a short political advertisement to
appeal to large numbers of voters and to
distinguish your party from the other major
party. (10 points)
• Partner (Skit or TV Ad)
• Individual (Radio or Newspaper Ad)