1Party Systems Party Systems Overview• Number of political parties in country• U.S. two-party system & reasons• Third (minor) parties in U.S.U.S. Two Party System• Democratic Party• Republican Party• independent – NOT A PARTY• Grammar lesson (proper v. common nouns)– democrat v. Democrat– republican v. RepublicanFour Reasons for TwoParties in U.S.• 1. Electoral system• 2. Presidential system• 3. Nature of public opinion• 4. Continuity of existing system2Reason 1: Electoral System• United States– single-member districts– plurality elections• Most European democracies– multimember districts– proportional representationProportional RepresentationOne Four-Member DistrictPercent of Vote Number of Seats11249%30%21%ABCABCPlurality ElectionsFour Single-Member DistrictsDistrict 1Vote SeatsDistrict 2Vote SeatsDistrict 3Vote SeatsDistrict 4Vote Seats1 for Party C1 for Party A1 for Party C1 for Party CABCU.S. Electoral System• With single-member district, plurality elections:• Small parties rarely win a seat• Could have 30% of vote nationwide and no seats in the legislature• Parties that don’t win seats disappear3Other Reasons for Two Parties• 2. Presidential system versus parliament• 3. Nature of public opinion• 4. Continuity of existing system– Ballot access– Campaign finance–Media– PublicBenefits of Multi versus Two-Party System• Representation?• Stability of government?Third Parties in America• Any party other than 2 major parties• Issue or ideological parties– smaller & long term– Green, Libertarian• Factional or personality party– larger & short term– Reform (Perot 1992-96/Buchanan-2000), Bull Moose (T. Roosevelt, 1912)Current Third Parties• Homework