They play a significant role in the American political system by providing a haven for those with atypical views. They also increase the responsiveness of the Republican and the Democrat Party. This is principally because a major party is rather captive to its past, which is the source of its ideas and its supporters. Hence, these major parties are slow to respond when political conditions within a country change. This enables a minor party to benefit from issues that are of vital importance within the country. If a minor party should gain a large following, the major parties are forced to pay attention to the problems that are driving people to look elsewhere for leadership. For e.g. Ross Perot’s 1992 candidacy was fueled by the widespread perception that Washington had lost touch with the interests of middle class. Historically, minor parties in the USA had formed in response to the emergence of a single controversial issue, out of a commitment of a certain ideology, or as a result of a rift within one of the major parties.
Some minor parties within the American political system have been formed to represent a single issue of over riding concern to their supporters, e.g. the right to life party was formed to oppose the legalization of abortion. Some single-issue parties have seen their policies ratified into law. Single-issue parties usually disband when their issue is favourably resolved or fades in importance.
Other minor political parties are characterized by their ideological commitment, or belief in a broad and radical philosophical position, such as redistribution of economic resources. An example of an ideological party is the Green Party.
A major factor that might lead to the formation and advancement of minor political parties in the USA is when a factional conflict arises within the two major parties. The most successful of these factional parties has been Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party. Other examples of strong factional parties include the State’s Rights party formed in 1948 by southern Democrats who were angered by northern Democrats’ support of racial desegregation.
Money and the media have increasingly shaped campaigns. This has enabled candidates to seek high-level offices without the backing of a major political party. An example of such a campaign is Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential candidacy. He received 19% of the vote. Perot’s campaign was based on middle-class discontent with the major parties and was conducted almost entirely on television. Perot ran again 1996 but as the nominee of the Reform Party, which he founded. He ran a media based campaign which only attracted 8% of the vote.
Hence, I can say that overall minor political parties an important role within the American political system. They increase involvement of the general electorate in the political system and largely act as an outlet of atypical views.
