Third Parties

Third parties differ from the two main political parties because third parties —

CE 5b,2007

• have more political experience

• are older than the two main parties

• are often concerned with one issue

• have more official members

The primary role of a third party is to:

• keep the best candidate from winning

• inform the public about the shortcomings of the other parties

• highlight an outstanding candidate in order to gain name recognition for the next election

• introduce new ideas or push for a particular issue

What is another name for third parties?

• Opposition parties

• Democrats

• Republicans

• Minor parties

Example of a third party that advocates for the smallest government possible?

• Reform Party

• Green Party

• Libertarian Party

• Communist Party

An example of a third party that focuses on a single issue?

• Communist Party

• Libertarian Party

• Reform Party

• Green Party

Purpose served by Third parties in the United States

• Important to have at least 3 people on every ballot

• Diversify media attention

• Inject new ideas in the political discussion

• Good to have a guaranteed loser

Most common function served by third parties today.

• Divert campaign funds from major parties

• "Spoil" the election for one of the major parties

• Steal candidates from major parties

• Win elections

What is a common challenge faced by third parties in the United States?

• A) Gaining media attention

• B) Having too many candidates

• C) Receiving excessive funding

• D) Winning every election

Which of the following is a well-known third party in the United States?

• A) Democratic Party

• B) Republican Party

• C) Green Party

• D) Federalist Party

Third parties often struggle to gain seats in which part of the U.S. government?

• A) The Supreme Court

• B) The Senate

• C) The House of Representatives

• D) The Executive Branch