Consider: Why does the US have a “two-party system”?

“Saying we should keep the two-party system simply because it is working is like saying the Titanic voyage was a success because a few people survived on life rafts.”

- Eugene McCarthy

Homework:Assignment 5 for Thursday

The Two-Party System:Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs

Unit 3AP Government and Politics

Our Two-Party System Relatively unique in

the world, even among democracies› Both national parties

have been relatively evenly balanced during most of modern history; but… More recently…who

owned the White House?

Who owns Congress?› And at state and local

levels, parties dominate different areas

"A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life."John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

Beliefs of Dems and Reps: A Short Quiz

Generally speaking, which party…› Supports gay marriage?› Supports gun ownership by individuals?› Is pro-life?› Favors more government regulation of economy› Favors expelling illegal immigrants instead of amnesty› Continue defense spending at current levels› Believe taxes on wealthy are “job killers”› Believe government should act to make health care

available to all› Is anti-globalization› Calls for passage of Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)› Favors repealing the 17th amendment› Full public financing of campaigns› Supports compulsory government service

Why 2 Parties? Historical circumstance

› Two ways of seeing the Constitution Two major factions emerged in our early years. Once this happened, it became difficult for any third faction to survive.

This is because a third group would “steal” votes from one of the other existing parties, thus splitting the vote. Thus, new groups usually merged into one of the two existing factions.

Elections are slanted in favor of two party system› Plurality and winner-take-all in both state and federal elections.› Single-member districts for MoCs › Electoral College and WTA system – voters don’t want to “waste”

votes.› Electoral laws make it more difficult for third parties to get on the

ballot in many states; In addition, Dems often battle their ideological “brethren” Greens, and

Reps battle Libertarians to keep them off the ballot. Opinions of the voters

› For some reason, voters seem content to split with the two major parties on most of the important issues in our country

Alternative/Possible party coalitions have not formed or do not last

Not Invited: Minor Parties Do they play a significant role in our 2-party

system?› If so, how? If not, why not?

Reforming our ballot access system?

(non-major party) Candidates filing by nomination papers must obtain signatures from electors of the district equal to at least 2 percent of the largest entire vote cast for an elected candidate in the last election within the district. – Governor = 1.8 million› 2 percent of 1.8 million = 36,000

The Two-Party System:Democrats, Republicans, and GDIs

Unit 3AP Government and Politics

Consider: Should the United States consider adopting a “multiparty” model?

Homework: Assignment 5 for tomorrow

Are minor parties ever on the ballot?

Pennsylvania Ballot access A new party or independent candidate may gain ballot access

for one election as a "political body" by collecting petition signatures equal to 2 percent of the vote for the highest vote-getter in the most recent election in the jurisdiction. › A political body that wins two percent of the vote obtained by the

highest vote-getter statewide in the same election is recognized statewide as a "political party" for two years.

A political party with a voter enrollment equal to less than 15 percent of the state's total partisan enrollment is classified as a "minor political party," which has automatic ballot access in special elections but must otherwise collect the same number of signatures as political bodies.

Political parties not relegated to "minor" status qualify to participate in primary elections. Candidates may gain access to primary election ballots by collecting a set number of petition signatures for each office, generally significantly fewer than required for political bodies and minor political parties.

Two party vs. Multiparty systems

Both systems, being democratic, rest on compromise.› – In a two party system, compromise takes place

prior to elections as parties (and factions within them) select (or settle on?) candidates who they believe can win a majority.

› – In multiparty systems, ideologically pure parties are forced to compromise after elections in order to form a majority coalition to pass laws (and often select a prime minister).

Multiparty systems – the Israeli Knesset

Party Seats +/–Kadima 28 −1

Likud 27 +15

Yisrael Beiteinu 15 +4

Labor Party 13 –6

Shas 11 –1

United Torah Judaism 5 –1

United Arab List 4 —

Hadash 4 +1

Meretz 3 –2

Balad 3 —

Two party vs. Multiparty systems

Two party systems tend to be more stable.

Multi-party systems offer voters more choice. › Having only two choices may dampen voter turnout.

Two Party Systems narrow legislative debate:› – Even if outvoted, small parties if represented are likely

to raise public awareness of issues the other parties wouldn’t otherwise discuss.

Two Party Systems may be more polarizing:› – Parties in multiparty systems must work together and

form coalitions which forces members to reach across party lines.

Problems with First-past-the-post-voting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

Alternative Voting System?