#AP US Government Study Guide: Electoral Systems & Third Parties

Hey there, future AP Gov superstar! 🎉 Let's break down how our electoral system works and why third parties face an uphill battle. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource the night before the exam, so let's make every minute count!

#Winner-Take-All vs. Proportional Representation

#The Winner-Take-All System 💯

• House of Representatives: Each district elects one representative. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat.

• Electoral College: Most states use a winner-take-all system for presidential elections. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually gets all of that state's electoral votes.

  | 2020 Presidential Elections | Democratic | Republican | | --- | --- | --- | | North Carolina | 48.59% popular vote / 0 electoral votes | 49.93% popular vote / 15 electoral votes | | Georgia | 49.47% popular vote / 16 electoral votes | 49.24% popular vote / 0 electoral votes |

#Impact on Third Parties 🥉

• Limited Success: The winner-take-all system makes it very difficult for third parties to win elections. Even if they get a significant number of votes, they often get no representation.
• Voter Discouragement: Many voters feel like they're "wasting" their vote if they vote for a third-party candidate because they're unlikely to win. This is why you often hear the phrase "a vote for a third party is a vote for the other guy."

#Examples of Third-Party Challenges

• Ross Perot (1992 & 1996): Despite getting 18.91% of the vote in 1992 and 8.4% in 1996, he won zero electoral votes. This shows how difficult it is for third parties to gain traction in our system.
• George Wallace (1968): He won 46 electoral votes, which is a rare success for a third-party candidate, but still not enough to win the presidency. This shows that while third parties can gain some ground, they still face huge challenges.

#Incorporation of Third-Party Agendas

#How Major Parties Absorb Third-Party Ideas

• Strategic Adoption: To attract independent and third-party voters, major parties often incorporate third-party agenda items into their platforms. They see that the third party is gaining traction and try to take some of their ideas to absorb those voters.

#The Double-Edged Sword

• Dilution of Ideas: When major parties adopt third-party ideas, it can dilute or obscure the original message. This makes it harder for third parties to stand out.
• Potential for Change: If major parties ignore third-party issues, they risk losing voters and facing challenges in future elections. This means that third parties can still influence policy, even if they don't win elections.

#Why This Matters

• Dynamic Political Landscape: Third parties can push major parties to address issues they might otherwise ignore. This makes our political system more responsive to public needs.
• Limited Electoral Success: Despite their influence, third parties often struggle to win elections because of the winner-take-all system and the strategic moves of the major parties.

#Final Exam Focus

#Key Topics

• Winner-Take-All System: Understand how it works in both the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.
• Impact of Electoral Systems: How the winner-take-all system affects third parties and voter behavior.
• Third-Party Influence: How third parties can impact the political agenda even without winning elections.
• Electoral College: Be ready to explain the pros and cons of the Electoral College and how it impacts presidential elections.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions about the mechanics of the winner-take-all system and its effects on third parties.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain how third parties influence the political agenda and why they struggle to win elections.
• Free Response: You might be asked to analyze the impact of the winner-take-all system on political parties or to evaluate the role of third parties in the US political system.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of the questions and make sure you understand what they're asking.
• Use Examples: Support your answers with specific examples to demonstrate your understanding.
• Stay Calm: Take deep breaths and remember everything you've learned. You've got this!

#

Practice Question

Practice Questions

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is a consequence of the winner-take-all system in US elections? (A) Increased voter turnout (B) Greater representation of third parties (C) Reduced influence of major parties (D) Difficulty for third parties to gain electoral success

2. How does the incorporation of third-party agendas by major parties affect third parties? (A) It increases their chances of winning elections (B) It strengthens their unique positions (C) It can dilute their original message and reduce their appeal (D) It has no impact on their success

#Free Response Question

Question:

Explain how the winner-take-all system affects the success of third parties in the United States. Then, discuss how major parties incorporate third-party agendas and the impact of this practice on third parties and the political landscape.

Point-by-Point Scoring Breakdown:

• Part 1: Winner-Take-All System and Third Parties (2 points)
  • 1 point for explaining that in a winner-take-all system, the candidate with the most votes wins all representation for the district or state.
  • 1 point for explaining that this system makes it difficult for third parties to win elections because they often receive no representation even if they get a significant number of votes.
• Part 2: Incorporation of Third-Party Agendas (2 points)
  • 1 point for explaining that major parties often adopt third-party agendas to attract independent and third-party voters.
  • 1 point for explaining that this practice can dilute the original message of third parties and make it harder for them to stand out.

Example Answer:

The winner-take-all system in the United States means that the candidate who wins the most votes in a district or state receives all the representation for that area. This system makes it extremely difficult for third parties to succeed because they often receive no representation even if they gain a significant share of the votes. For example, Ross Perot received 18.91% of the popular vote in 1992 but won zero electoral votes. Major parties will often incorporate third-party agendas into their platforms to attract more voters. This strategy can dilute the original message of third parties, making it harder for them to stand out and gain support, as the major parties co-opt their ideas.