Minor parties

Why are the minor parties important?

Although most Americans do not support them, minor parties play an important role in American politics. Minor parties can influence the outcome of elections. Their candidate may be popular in certain states or regions and can take a significant number of votes away from the major candidates. This has happened several times in history. For example, Ralph Nader and the Green Party took votes away from Al Gore, the Democratic candidate, in 2000. This can happen in state and local elections also.

Minor parties often present issues that may appeal to a major party. The major party may then support those ideas. Usually this happens when many citizens see the need for change and support the minority ideas. Some issues that were originally brought forth by a minor party were the income tax and voting rights for women. And it was a minor party—the Anti-Masons—that first used a national convention to nominate a candidate. The Whigs and Democrats soon followed. Now both major parties use conventions to nominate candidates.

Despite their importance, minor parties have many problems to overcome. They usually do not have the money needed to promote their candidates and programs. Newspapers, television, and radio usually do not give minor party candidates much attention.

There are four types of minor parties:

Ideological Parties An ideological party is based on a certain set of beliefs. Some have been around a long time and are based on social, political, or economic issues. Three examples are the Socialist, Socialist Labor, and Communist parties. Others, such as the Libertarian Party, want more individual rights and less government control. Single-Issue Parties These parties focus on only one main concern and usually do not last. One example is the Free Soil Party. It wanted to stop the spread of slavery in the mid-1800s. Today's Right to Life Party is another example. It opposes abortion. Economic Protest Parties These parties have appeared during periods of economic struggle, and they have voiced their unhappiness with the major parties. These types of parties have focused on issues such as foreign imports or banking. An example was the Greenback Party of 1876-1884. This party wanted an income tax, labor laws, and regulation of the railroads. Economic protest parties usually fade after an economic crisis is over. Splinter Parties Splinter parties are parties that have broken away from a major party. Most of the more important minor parties have been splinter parties. Three examples are the Progressive Party (1912 and 1924), the States' Rights (Dixiecrat) Party (1948), and the American Independent Party (1968).

Minor Parties in History

Minor parties have been important throughout the history of our country. They have given voters options other than the major party candidates. They have also caused the major parties to take another look at their own platforms. At certain times in history, minor parties have played an important role in presidential elections.

What are the types of minor parties in the United States?

Minor parties in the United States are called third parties and the members of each share the same beliefs. These beliefs are often different from the beliefs of the two major political parties—the Democrats and the Republicans. Minor parties do not have the power of the major parties, and minor parties usually do not have enough money or support to get their candidates elected. The most they can do is take votes away from major party candidates. This has happened in several elections in our country's history. Although minor party candidates often have little chance of winning, they are still important.

Biography

Ralph Nader (1934-) Ralph Nader was born in Connecticut in 1934. After graduating from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, he worked as a lawyer. In 1965, Nader wrote a book on the American auto industry. His book prompted Congress to pass safety laws. Since that time, Nader has continued to push for laws that protect consumers, workers, taxpayers, and the environment. Nader has criticized the major parties for relying so much on wealthy supporters to fund their campaigns. Nader has run for President several times as a minor party candidate. In 1996 and 2000, he ran as the Green Party candidate. In 2004, he ran as the Reform Party candidate and collected over 400,000 votes.

The Green Party, led by Ralph Nader, does not fit into any of the categories just described. The Green Party began with a single issue but has grown since 2000. The Green Party has taken on a number of issues, including environmental concerns, healthcare, campaign finance reform, and opposition to free trade. The Green Party refused to nominate Nader in 2004 and 2008. In 2004, the party chose attorney and political activist David Cobb. In 2008, the Green Party nominated Cynthia McKinney, a former Congresswoman from Georgia. McKinney supported universal healthcare, an end to the war in Iraq, and repeal of the Patriot Act.

What are the four different types of minor parties? ideological parties, single-issue parties, economic protest parties, and splinter parties

Introduction

You may have heard the names H. Ross Perot or Ralph Nader during recent elections. Political parties called Libertarian, Reform, Prohibition, American Independent, Green, and Constitution may be other names that you recognize. These are some of the candidates and minor parties that have appeared on recent election ballots. A minor party has never won a presidential election, but minor parties do play an important role in American politics.

ideological party

a political party based on a certain set of beliefs, such as political or economic issues

single-issue party

a political party that focuses on one main concern

economic protest party

a political party that forms during difficult economic times, often because people demand reforms

splinter party

a political party that has broken away from one of the major parties

If a small group breaks away from the Democratic Party and forms a new party more in line with its beliefs, what kind of party would it be?

a splinter party

One problem that keeps voters from being more aware of minor parties and their platforms is _____.

minor parties do not receive significant media coverage

When a significant number of citizens support points raised by a minor party's platform, the minor party is likely _____.

to have a major party adopt some of its ideas