Response To Third Party And Independent Candidates In American Politics: Wallace, Anderson And Perot
...American Politics: Wallace, Anderson and Perot
In this article, Abramson provides a history of third party and independent candidates in the American political system. Abramson also explores the reasons why third parties are not more prevalent and do not receive greater support in the United States. In addition to this study of American politics, Abramson explains and compares the presidential elections of France's Fifth Republic to those of the United States to show the difference of outcomes.
To illustrate the history of third party and independent candidates, Abramson chooses to focus on three efforts of independent candidacy, George Wallace in 1968, John B. Anderson in 1980 and H. Ross Perot in 1992. Within a brief review of the history of elections and the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment, Abramson explains that this was when a reduction of eligible candidates began, as the number fell from five to three. Since that time, third party candidates have been more of a strategic tool to wrest votes from Democrats or Republicans in order to deny them a majority in an election, rather than in hopes of the independent winning the election itself. However, in the absence of a majority the decision goes to the house of representatives, which provides a possible way for an independent to be elected, though "a legislative body dominated by Democrats and Republicans would be unlikely to turn to an independent." (Abramson, 352) Abramson explains that an electoral vote majority is not the only impedance to a third party candidate. The ways that states choose their electors via popular vote, rather than proportional representation also stands in the way of election success.
In explaining the tenacity of the two party system in the United States, Abramson uses "Duverger's Law." Which, when translated says: "the simple majority single ballot system favors the...
View Full Essay
