Third Party Reading

Question 1

What Third Parties Do

Answer 1

1. Policy innovations
2. Cause realignments
3. Link people to gov’t
4. Outlet for political discontent.

Question 2

Barriers to Third Parties

Answer 2

1. Constitutional advantages to two party systems.
2. Ballot Access Laws.
3. Campaign Finance Laws (FECA)
4. Lack of Resources/Media Coverage
5. Candidate Quality.

Question 3

Anti-Third Party Strategies

Answer 3

1. Cooptation- assimilate minority party issues into the major two parties.
2. De-legitimatizing tactics- undermine legitimacy of third party, waste of vote, etc.