The American Two-Party System

The American political system has, with a few brief exceptions, always had two major political parties. Third parties, such as the Reform Party today, arise from time to time and win a few votes. Sometimes a third party member is even elected to a significant political office, such as Jesse Ventura, the former governor of Minnesota. However, the American system of elections tends to work against third parties. Because votes are cast for members of Congress in single-member districts on a winner-take-all basis, third party candidates are almost never elected to the House or Senate.

Members of Congress and state legislators are elected one state or district at a time. Presidents also run for office one state at a time (rather than in one large national election). In all elections for national office, only one party candidate from each state or district becomes an elected representative. There is no reward for coming in second, third, fourth, and so on. Over time, this system has encouraged political competitors to organize themselves into two “teams” or parties that appeal broadly to large groups of voters. Third parties, which might appeal to smaller groups of voters, can disrupt the balance of power between the two major parties, but candidates representing third parties almost never win. Consequently, the motivation to remain organized as a third party and the motivation of individuals to run under the banner of a third party diminishes rapidly. The end result is a stable two-party system.

The way elections are conducted in the United States tends strongly toward a two-party system (currently dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties). Before the Reform Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, or any other “third party” can be considered a legitimate, major political party, they must at least “contest” elections at every level, meaning they must field candidates for more than just the presidency; they must field candidates for House and Senate seats nationwide. More importantly, their candidates must win a handful of these elections. While it is not impossible for these third parties to transform the political party system through their own electoral success, history is not on their side.