Third Parties : What role do they play in American politics?

1. Third Parties: What role do they play in American politics? Ross Perot: 1992, 1996 Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004

2. What type of candy do you want for this class? Today, we will be selecting the candy to have in class for prizes Which would you vote for?

3. Third Party

4. Third Party Any political party organized in at least a few states, other than the two current leading parties Jesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota, 1999-2003

5. The Spoiler Ralph Nader stole Gore’s left wing thunder in 2000 election. . .It was that close! • Ross Perot took away George Bush Sr’s thunder in 1992 when Bill Clinton won.

6. History of American Third Parties Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”

7. History of American Third Parties No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency • Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes • Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote

8. Formation and Role of Third Parties • Third parties influence elections by revealing sectional and political divides and bringing light to new issues. • Third Parties usually form around a social cause and social activists. • A third party neglected by the two major parties is able to affect the electorate more than if their views were co-opted by one of the major two.

9. Types of Third Parties

10. . Splinter Parties One that splits from one of the major political parties Examples: Tea Party or Bull Moose Party

11. Economic Protest Parties • rooted in times of economic discontent • Examples:James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892 • Greenback party

12. Ideology Parties Form around economic, political or social beliefs Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad

13. Single Issue Parties Concentrate on one single issue Example: Prohibition Party in 1892

14. Purpose of Third Parties Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000 “The electoral progress of third parties is in direct proportion to the failure of the two major parties to incorporate new ideas.”

15. Purpose of Third Parties Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858 Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties • 1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party

16. Purpose of Third Parties Third Parties have influence • Major parties often take on the ideas of third parties • In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during 1992 Presidential debate

17. Purpose of Third Parties: • Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out • Populist Party platform was assimilated into the Democratic Party in 1896 William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896

18. Interest Groups = Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members. Or, an organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy. - These groups are different from political parties, which seek to influence government by electing candidates. Faction: group with common interests Both interests groups and parties are considered factions.

19. EXAMPLES OF INTEREST GROUPS NRA – National Rifle Association AARP – American Association for Retired Persons National Federation of Independent Business American Israel Public Affairs Committee Association of Trial Lawyers AFL-CIO - American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations Chamber of Commerce of the USA National Beer Wholesalers Association National Association of Realtors National Association of Manufacturers American Medical Association National Right to Life Committee Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen – Congress Watch AAA – American Automobile Association ABA- American Bar Association National Wildlife Federation American Farm Bureau Etc.

20. How Interest Groups Operate Lobbying • Communication with legislators/officials to try to influence decisions. • Lobbyists can pay personal visits, attend hearings, form friendships with staffers and provide researched background materials. $$$... • In 2003, 2 top lobbying firms-Cassidy & Associates and Patton Biggs-each earned more than $28 million in revenues. • In 1997, the tobacco industry spent $15.8 million to hired 186 lobbyists to influence Congress.

21. Regulating Interest Groups 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act More restrictive… - Lobbyists must report who clients are, what agencies or branches of Congress they lobbied, & how much they were paid. - Lobbyists defined as people who spend at least 20% of time at that activity. - With several exceptions, senators may only accept gifts worth less than $50.

22. George Wallace, American Independent Party, 1968 Election http://www.wku.edu/Library/onlinexh • What issue do you think George Wallace’s American Independent Party was promoting?

23. http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/third_party.asp • What is the artist trying to say about voters who choose third party candidates?

24. T.R. Vs. Taft, Election of 1912http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/election-cartoons/images/mother-of-presidents.gif • In 1912, both Taft and Roosevelt were fighting for the same voters. What do you think was the result of TR’s candidacy in 1912?

25. The Bathtubwww.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/third_party.asp Why is it so difficult for third parties to gather support?

26. Independent Voters?http://3rdpartyblogger.com/political-cartoons/political-cartoons-2/ Why might third parties be attractive to voters?

27. Nader & the Reform Party 2004 What is the artist saying about Nader’s 2004 run for president as the reform candidate?

28. The Libertarians…www.independentpoliticalreport.com What issues do you think the Libertarian party might be concerned with?

29. The Nader Oval Officehttp://politicalhumor.about.com • What is the artist communicating about the Green party agenda?

30. The Tea Party True Third Party or Political Movement???

32. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html

33. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002529-503544.html

34. The Tea Sethttp://politicalhumor.about.com • Sometimes third party issues can be difficult to stomach.

35. Don’t Compromise on Me!http://politicalhumor.about.com • Getting the message across is more important than cutting a deal with the other parties.

36. Marriage Proposalhttp://politicalhumor.about.com • The two major parties are not necessarily looking to absorb the third parties. Sometimes they can hurt more than help.

37. Tea Party Throws GOP Overboardhttp://politicalhumor.about.com • The reverse is true: not every third party is looking to be picked up by one of the majors.

38. Tea Totaledhttp://politicalhumor.about.com • The two major parties need to be careful they do not try to please everyone. It is impossible and can cause the party to lose control of the message.

39. Hat in the Ringhttp://politicalhumor.about.com • It can take time for a third party to be taken seriously. It may never happen.