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Political Parties. Two-Party System. SPRING 2011. Two Party System. Two major parties dominate link to “winner take all” Sprinkling of third parties TRADITION Always done it that way CONVENIENCE Makes it easier for voters, no homework
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Political Parties Two-Party System SPRING 2011
Two Party System • Two major parties dominate • link to “winner take all” • Sprinkling of third parties • TRADITION Always done it that way • CONVENIENCE Makes it easier for voters, no homework • ELECTION LAWS D’s and R’s perpetuate system through policy process
3rd Parties(minor parties, independent parties)Many different ways to categorize---some might claim six types, others four, etc. • Great Personality • Teddy Roosevelt / Bull Moose Party (1912) • 88 Electoral votes; 6 states; 4,122,721 votes; 27.4% • Great Idea • Populist Party (1900s) • Tea Party, Libertarians and Greens today • If idea is great enough then both the movement and its supporters/voters are “absorbed” by one of the major parties • Hybrid • Combination of two---- “message & messenger” • will the Tea Party need someone like Sarah Palin? • George Wallace (1968)-American Independent Party • (states rights, segregation) • 48 electoral votes; 5 states; 9,901,118 votes; 13.5% • Ross Perot (1992)-United We Stand • Fiscal/economic responsibility & reform • 0 electoral votes; 0 states; 19,743,821 votes; 18.9%
GREEN PARTYten values • Grass roots democracy • Social justice/ equal opportunity • Ecological wisdom • Nonviolence • Decentralization • Community based economics/ economic justice • Feminism & gender equity • Respect for diversity • Personal & global responsibility • Future focus & sustainability
LIBERTARIANS(from their website)“Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom” • High degree of both personal & economic liberty • Support lower taxes, slashing bureaucracy, charitable welfare • Socially tolerant with few restrictions on personal actions/lifestyles • “live & let live”mentalitywith a balanced checkbook • Borrow from both partiesto create a logical & consistent whole • Laissez faire economic policies-minimal gov’t regulations • Strong civil liberties • Non-interventionist foreign policy-avoidance of “foreign entanglements” • Minimally regulated migration across borders • Free trade & travel among nations