Assess the reasons why third parties have such a limited impact on American politics.

1)Both major parties spread across a wide ideological spectrum.

Little room for another party/candidate to attract substantial support because the parties are ideologically all encompassing.

➔independent but fits under the progressive Democrats, standing as a Democrat in 2016.

 Accusations of extremism, for candidates that try and appear separate from the other 2 parties.
The people are fearful of extremism.

➔‘If you liked Hitler, you will love Wallace’ 1968 election Republican accusation

2) winner takes all system.

When an independant candidate votes are spread out across the country, it is hard to gain representation.

In 1992, Ross Perot won 19% of the popular vote, but no electoral college votes, as votes were spread throughout the US

3) Ballot laws. How to qualify for their name to be on the ballot is different in states.
Restrictive regulations mean it is hard for their name to appear on them.

Whereas as the main parties dominate, and both parties have sufficient support in all states to achieve the requirements, it is not a concern for the major party candidates.

➔Tennessee, 25 signatures in a petition.

➔California, 1% of the electorate.

 To gain representation on every ballot in every state, is expensive and difficult to achieve.

Ross Perot efforts to get his name on every ballot paper in every state.
Draft Perot organization was set up, at the height of the effort, the received 30,000 phone calls an hour concerning the issue.