Question

This question is for a Political Science course, please give in depth detail if you can. Thank you!

Not since 1992 (Ross Perot) has a third-party in American politics received more than 10% of the popular vote in a presidential election. In Congress, since 1950, there has only been a handful of members in both chambers who have identified with a political label other than Republican or Democrat. Why aren’t more third party candidates successful in their bids for these offices? Identify three changes that you would make to the American political process to break the two party stranglehold that is currently in place. Why would your changes make this happen?

Answer 1

There are certain structural issues in the US elections .

The first is the institutional barrier ,the US uses first -past-the post votings.In it only candidates who can win a plurality of votes can win the elections.In US if a party candidate cannot regularly win more than 33% of votes in any election they are a non entity without any political influence hence this institutional set up need to be abolish as a structural change .Secondly Democrates and Republicans set the rules for ballot access also both the major parties set the rules for televised debate .The other political parties don't get the platform to gain support and publicity .The parties like democrates and republicans have more funds and high social networks .Hence the following is to be done to make US elections fair firstly removing first -past -the post votings so that minor parties can also be a part of wide government electing process .Rules for television debates should allow the candidates of the minor party to gain support.Adequate funding facilities should be there for the minor parties.