Political Parties Why A Two Party System?. Why does the U.S. have a two party system?

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Why A Two Party Why A Two Party System?System?

Why does the U.S. have Why does the U.S. have a two party system?a two party system?

Two Party SystemTwo Party SystemMost modern democracies Most modern democracies have a multi-party systemhave a multi-party system

U.S. is in the minority with its U.S. is in the minority with its two party system, one of only two party system, one of only about 15 in the world todayabout 15 in the world today

Two Party SystemTwo Party SystemEven though a number of Even though a number of third parties have emerged in third parties have emerged in the course of U.S. history, the course of U.S. history, none have endurednone have endured

Two Party SystemTwo Party SystemWith the exception of a short With the exception of a short period in the early 1800s, two period in the early 1800s, two major political parties have major political parties have always competed with one always competed with one another for power in the another for power in the systemsystem

Two Party SystemTwo Party SystemThree important reasons for Three important reasons for the American two-party the American two-party system:system:

(1) Consensus of values(1) Consensus of values

(2) Historical influence(2) Historical influence

(3) Winner-take-all system(3) Winner-take-all system

Consensus of ValuesConsensus of Values

It is easy to complain about It is easy to complain about bickering between Democrats bickering between Democrats & Republicans& Republicans

What we forget is that What we forget is that Americans share a broad Americans share a broad consensus, or agreement, of consensus, or agreement, of many basic political valuesmany basic political values


Both parties believe in Both parties believe in libertyliberty, , equalityequality, and , and individualismindividualism

Neither advocates that the Neither advocates that the Constitution be discardedConstitution be discarded

Both accept the election Both accept the election process by conceding defeat to process by conceding defeat to the winnersthe winners


In many countries with multi-In many countries with multi-party systems, the range of party systems, the range of beliefs is greater, and beliefs is greater, and disagreements run deeperdisagreements run deeper

Historical InfluenceHistorical Influence

Nation began with two Nation began with two political parties (Federalists & political parties (Federalists & the anti-Federalists)the anti-Federalists)


During early American history During early American history politicians tended to take politicians tended to take sides, starting with the sides, starting with the debate over the constitution, debate over the constitution, and continuing with and continuing with disagreements within George disagreements within George Washington’s cabinetWashington’s cabinet


This tendency has persisted This tendency has persisted throughout American historythroughout American history

Winner-Take-All SystemWinner-Take-All System

Single most important reason Single most important reason for a two-party system is the for a two-party system is the winner-take-all or pluralist winner-take-all or pluralist electoral systemelectoral system


This system contrasts to those This system contrasts to those with proportional with proportional representation:representation:

Percentage of votes for a Percentage of votes for a party’s candidates is directly party’s candidates is directly applied as the percentage of applied as the percentage of representatives in the representatives in the legislaturelegislature


Winner in American elections Winner in American elections is the one who receives the is the one who receives the largest number of votes in largest number of votes in each voting districteach voting district


Winner does not need to have Winner does not need to have more than 50%, but only one more than 50%, but only one vote more than her/his vote more than her/his closest competitorclosest competitor


This process encourages This process encourages parties to become larger, parties to become larger, embracing more & more embracing more & more votersvoters


Third parties have almost no Third parties have almost no hope of getting candidates hope of getting candidates into officeinto office

Their points of view tend to Their points of view tend to fall under the umbrella of one fall under the umbrella of one or both of the big partiesor both of the big parties

Political Parties Why A Two Party System?. Why does the U.S. have a two party system?

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