Appraisals II

Lee (203): "Bipartisanship is particularly problematic for a party seeking to win a larger share of institutional power"

Schier (137):  "The American founders did not design a system to encourage and enhance an ideological politics"

Schier (136): "...the decline in the vital function of intermediation."A paradox: are more democratic parties bad for democracy?

 From CBO:

Budget: compare opinion on cuts with the composition of federal spending.


Examples of multiparty systems:  Canada, Britain, Israel

Causes of the two-party system:

• Duverger's "Law"
• Electoral college
• Ballot access:
• Third parties  (article at Reason)
• Independent candidates

Types of Third-Party Movements

• Ongoing issue-based or ideological parties
• Short-lived movements
• Wallace 1968
• Anderson 1980
• Perot 1992

Reasons for Third Party Bursts

• Major party deterioration and issue responsiveness
• Economic decline
• Unacceptable major party candidates