The Green Party platform centers largely on the environment, while Libertarians, which make up the third largest political party in the country and the oldest of the third parties, believe in a reduced role of the government. Democrats blamed Nader for causing Gore’s defeat by siphoning off votes simply by his presence in the race. But controversy marred the Green Party accomplishment. As the Green Party candidate in 2000, he gained more than 2 million votes, coming in third behind Al Gore and George W.

Ralph Nader, an independent candidate in the 2004 presidential race, made his name as a consumer advocate and as the two-time presidential nominee of the Green Party. All of these parties have fielded presidential candidates in the last several elections. The Green Party, Reform Party, Libertarians, Constitution Party and Natural Law Party represent the most active third parties currently in the United States. Why, in a democracy, do only two parties dominate? What of the 52 other parties, many of which have contributed ideas and policies that have become mainstays of American political life and law? The answer, according to historians and scholars, is the political process that has relegated third parties to the sidelines and the nature of the parties themselves. The United States is home to more than 54 political parties - 37 of which have had candidates run for the presidency.īut, despite an active political presence, only two parties - the Democrats and Republicans - dominate the modern American political process, between them fielding all of the candidates that have become president since the mid-1800s.

Democracy 3 parties