User-Created Content
By sunshinecavalluzzi
On November 24, 2018
Bell Ringer: Third Parties
Description
The term "Third Party" in the United States represents any political party other than the two that dominate politics at that given point in United States history. Third parties face both institutional and political obstacles to electoral successes, but have been impactful in raising policy issues for consideration that have ultimately made their way into the platforms and policymaking of major parties and their candidates.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- What, according to Ralph Nader, were some social justice causes originally advocated by third parties?
- What are the rules for participation in presidential debates established by the Commission for Presidential Debates? Which of those rules presents the most significant obstacle for third-party candidates? How, according to Peter Ackerman, does it do so? How did the CPD co-chairs justify their criteria?
- AP Government- Questions to Consider: How does the single-member, winner-take-all district system present an institutional obstacle for third party candidates? Under what electoral circumstances might a third-party candidate's platform be most likely to impact major party candidates' policy positions? How would the impact of third parties fit into Publius's assertions in Federalist 10 and Federalist 51?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Issue Advocacy
- National Polling
- Party Platforms
- Policy
- Presidential Debates
- Third Parties