does the USA have a 2 party system Flashcards
What are the evidence of a 2 party system?
popular vote, seats in the legislature, control of the executive, state government
Explain the popular vote?
7 presidential elections between 92-2016, Reps and Dems accounted for more than 80% of popular vote. in 4 of seven elections, their combined vote exceeded 95%
Explain the seats in the legislature?
following 2016 election, only Bernie Sanders and Angus King were in senate who were x elected as either reps or dems.
However, sanders is opposed only be a rep candidate at each election, therefore really a democrat
Explain the control of the executive?
every p[resident since 1853 has either been Rep or Dem, that’s 42 straight presedential elections
Explain the state government?
Jan 2017, 49 of the 50 state governors were either dem or rep only exception being Bill Walker of Alaska
What are the reasons why the US has a 2 party system?
electoral system, broad party ideologies, primary elections
Explain the electoral system?
FPTP makes it difficult for national third parties, recieve no reward at all despite picking ip fraction of the vote in almost every state, national 3rd party on ticket merely lowers percentage of vote needed for major parties to winu
Explain the broad party ideologies?
when 2 major parties encompass such wide political spectrum , not much room for other parties to attract substantial support
Explain the primary elections?
phenomenon of primary elections helps to make major parties more responsive to electorate, minimising need for protest voting. Protest votes often go to 3rd parties
What is the 50 party system argument?
2 party conveys ideas of 2 centralised national parties, 50 party system reminds us that Texas rep party is very different from Massachusetts rep party, California dem party is very different from Georgia dem party.
Why are parties different in the 50 party system?
it is a national consequence of federalism and a country in which every election- even presidential one- is a state based election run largely under states laws by state officials.
