Two Party System - Why Democrats and Republicans Win

The two party system is firmly rooted in American politics and has been since the first organized political movements  emerged in the late 1700s. The two party system in the United States is now dominated by the Republicans and the Democrats. But through history the  Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, then the Democrats and the Whigs, have represented opposing political ideologies and campaigned against each other for seats at the local, state and federal levels. No third-party candidate has ever been elected to the White House, and very few have won seats in either the House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. The most notable modern exception to the two party system is U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a socialist whose campaign for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination invigorated liberal members of the party. The closest any independent presidential candidate has come to being elected to the White House was  billionaire Texan Ross Perot, who won 19 percent of the popular vote in the 1992 election. So why is the two party system unbreakable in the United States? Why do Republicans and Democrats hold a lock on elected offices at all levels of government? Is there any hope for a third party to emerge or independent candidates to gain traction despite election laws that make it difficult for them to get on the ballot, organize and raise money?   Here are four  reasons the two party system is here to stay for a long, long time. 1. Most Americans Are Affiliated With a Major Party Yes, this is the most obvious explanation for why the two party system remains solidly intact: Voters want it that way. A majority of Americans is registered with  the Republican and the Democratic parties, and thats been true throughout modern history, according to public-opinion surveys conducted by the Gallup organization. It is true that the portion of voters who now consider themselves independent of either major party is larger than either the Republican and Democratic blocs alone. But those independent voters are disorganized and rarely reach a consensus on the many third-party candidates; instead, most independents tend to lean toward one of the major parties come election time, leaving only a small portion of truly independent, third-party voters. 2. Our Election System Favors a Two Party System The American system of electing representatives at all levels of government makes it almost impossible for a third party to take root. We have what are known as single-member districts in which there is only one victor. The winner of the popular vote in all 435 congressional districts, U.S. Senate races and state legislative contests  takes office, and the electoral losers get nothing. This winner-take-all method fosters a two-party system and differs dramatically from proportional representation elections in European democracies.   Duverger’s Law, named for the French sociologist Maurice Duverger, states that a majority vote on one ballot is conducive to a two-party system ...  Elections determined by a majority vote on one ballot literally pulverize third parties (and would do worse to fourth or fifth parties, if there were any; but none exist for this very reason). Even when a single ballot system operates with only two parties, the one that wins is favored, and the other suffers. In other words, voters tend to choose candidates who actually have a shot at winning instead of throwing their votes away on someone who will only get a small portion of the popular vote. By contrast, proportional representation elections held elsewhere in the world allow for more than one candidate to be chosen from each district, or for the selection of at-large candidates. For example, if the Republican candidates win 35 percent of the vote, they would control 35 percent of the seats in the delegation; if Democrats won 40 percent, they would represent 40 percent of the delegation; and if a third party such as the Libertarians or Greens won 10 percent of the vote, they would get to hold one in 10 seats. The basic principles underlying proportional representation elections are that all voters deserve representation and that all political groups in society deserve to be represented in our legislatures in proportion to their strength in the electorate. In other words, everyone should have the right to fair representation, the advocacy group FairVote states. 3. Its Tough for Third Parties to Get on the Ballot Third-party candidates have to clear greater hurdles to get on the ballot in many states, and its difficult to raise money and organize a campaign when youre busy gathering tens of thousands of signatures. Many states have closed primaries instead of open primaries, meaning only registered Republicans and Democrats can nominate candidates for the general election. That leaves third-party candidates at a significant disadvantage. Third party candidates have less time to file paperwork and must collect a greater number of signatures than do major party candidates in some states. 4. There Are Just Too Many Third Party Candidates There are third parties out there. And fourth parties. And fifth parties. There are, in fact, hundreds of small, obscure political parties and candidates who appear on ballots across the union in their names. But they represent a broad spectrum of political beliefs outside of the mainstream, and placing them all in a big tent would be impossible. In the 2016 presidential election alone, voters had dozens of third-party candidates to choose from if they were dissatisfied with Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. They could have voted instead for libertarian Gary Johnson; Jill Stein of the Green Party;  Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party; or Better for Americas Evan McMullin. There were socialist candidates, pro-marijuana candidates, prohibition candidates, reform candidates. The list goes on. But these obscure candidates suffer from a lack of  consensus, no common ideological  thread running through all of them. Simply put, theyre too splintered and disorganized to be credible alternatives to the major-party candidates.

The War I And World War II - 1191 Words

Introduction During World War I and World War II life back home changed excessively. When the soldiers went to fight in World War 1 and World War 2, women and children had to replace men in the workforce. There was an increase in those affected by the trauma of the wars, and the birth-rates dropped during this time. Family Families were affected by the trauma and exposure of the war, causing mental illnesses such as depression. Young children had been exposed to the trauma of war. A great deal of pressure was put onto the older children because they had to take care of the household and their younger siblings. Injuries and mental health left soldiers unemployed, which led to financial difficulty to provide for the children, this forced families to change their standard of living in some cases (â€Å"Impact on soldiers and their families†). Children were also able to help during the wars through services such as knitting sweaters and making bandages for soldiers overseas. Sufficiently the topic of war was also beginning to appear in curricular in early 1914. Patriotic teachers encouraged students to help convince adult males or older brothers to enlist in the war. Countless children remember war as an economic hardship, grinding tragedy and unbearable grief (â€Å"The Children’s War†). Separation of fathers or sons left devastating effects on children, many felt as if their childhood had been stripped from them. This established tension between families as they poverty rate had beenShow MoreRelatedWar I And World War II919 Words   |  4 Pageshistorians debate rather World War I and World War II were two different parts to the same war or if they are separate and distinct wars. Even though World War I and World War II were very different wars, and there were many years in between the two, the outcomes of World War I caused for World War II to happen because of unresolved issues. World War II is a continuation of World War I. World War I lasted four years and was the first total war in history. Before World War I Europe was doing well theyRead MoreThe War I And World War II1660 Words   |  7 Pagesin thehistory of the world were World War I and World War II. World War I occurred from 1914 to 1918. World War I was caused by militarism, alliances, nationalism, imperialism and assassination (MANIA). The first four causations were more of a build-up to it. Then, once the Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the buildup was sparked. This can be compared to pouring gasoline on the ground and then lighting it on fire. World War II occurred from 1939 to 1945.World War II was caused by the discontentRead MoreWar I And World War II1517 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout history the United States has been involved in many different wars. Their involvement has brought forth many significant events and changes that have affected the American way of life. I will briefly discuss the events and the United States involvement in World War I and World War II. I will give a brief overview of both wars and explain exactly how and why the United States joined in each. The term First World War was first used in 1914 by Ernst Haeckel, who stated that, there is noRead MoreThe War I And World War II944 Words   |  4 PagesFrom piles of bodies in no man’s land to Jewish death camps, the level of violence found within World War I and World War II was extreme even for wartime standards. These experiences shaped generations to come through the memories passed on by those who lived through such atrocities. Both Ernst Junger and Art Spiegelman carry on these memories through the book Storm of Steel and graphic novel Maus. Their pieces both give glimpses into the lives of the past and the violence in which those individualsRead MoreWorld War I And The War II1518 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War II was a war that ended in much tragedy. There were over 60 million casualties. Throughout World War II there was how it started, the Nazi Regime, and some of the major battles. Much of the war was about the Germans bringing together a group of people called the Nazis. They were under the rule of Adolf Hitler. There were two groups fighting against each other: the Axis powers and the Allied powers. The Axis powers consisted of Japan, Italy, and Germany. The Allied powers were GreatRead MoreWar I And World War II1264 Words   |  6 Pages During any war, there will alwaAys be alliances made which stick even after the war has been dissolved. Postwar foreign policy after wars such as World War I and World War II was complicated and both had their similarities and differences from each other. World War I (WWI) strengthened our international relations with many countries, It also deteriorated some relations as well and set the stage for America becoming a great power. World War II (WWII) had some of the same effects, solidating ourRead MoreWar I And World War II771 Words   |  4 Pagessought to stay out of both World War I and World War II only to be pulled in by intense happenings that inflicted chaos on the nations people. World War II would be a time in American history that would bring many fresh war tactics and developments, that helped to pull a depraved nation from the depths of a depression as well as pled ge the freedom and prosperity of its opposing nations. Dangerous discoveries will be made in the world would be left to be governed by two world powers. Hoping to remainRead MoreWorld War I and World War II700 Words   |  3 PagesMany people know about World War I and World War II seeing that they are a couple of the world’s most famous wars. Have you ever wondered how much you really know? This paper is here to inform you of all of the propaganda used to persuade people to follow Hitler, the Nazi party, and Stalin, terms that were used during this time period, and some of the very important people involved in World War I and in World War II. In the heat of World War I there were two groups, the Allies and the Central PowersRead MoreThe War I And World War II911 Words   |  4 Pages There are many countries in the world that have a great history. Their antiquity benefited them in one way or another. One of these nations is France, which is known to have glorious events in the past. These events have made France the way it is now. For example, World War I, and World War II. However, these events were not the only thing that had a major role in France’s history some people are involved as well, such as Napoleon Bonaparte I and Louis Napoleon III. Those two men controlled FranceRead MoreThe War I And World War II881 Words   |  4 PagesCOMPARISONS The second half of the twentieth century was very troubled for many countries. Immediately after World War II, another war would start; the Cold War. Fortunately the Cold War was not near as bloody as World War I and World War II, but it was also harmful to multiple countries. At the time, Democracy and Communism were fighting against each other to be the most dominant ideology in the world and consequently the most influential one. Africa was colonized by many European countries and Democracy

Golden Ratio Free Essays

Golden ratio ; The Definition of Beauty â€Å"Geometry has two great treasures: one is the Theorem of Pythagoras; the other, the division of a line into extreme and mean ratio. The first we may compare to a measure of gold; the second we may name a precious jewel. †Ã‚   Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630 The golden ratio is present in everyday Life. We will write a custom essay sample on Golden Ratio or any similar topic only for you Order Now The golden proportion is the ratio of the shorter length to the longer length which equals the ratio of the longer length to the sum of both lengths. It can be expressed algebraicay like : This ratio has always been considered most pleasing to the eye. It was named the golden ratio by the Greeks. In the world of mathematics, the numeric value is called â€Å"phi†, named for the Greek sculptor Phidias. The Golden Ratio is also known as the golden section, golden mean or golden rectangle. The Golden Rectangle has the property that when a square is removed a smaller rectangle of the same shape remains, a smaller square can be removed and so on, resulting in a spiral pattern. It is a unique and important shape in mathematics which also appears in nature, music, and is often used in art and architecture. Our human eye „seesâ€Å" the golden rectangle as a beautiful geometric form. Leonardo Fibonacci discovered the unusual properties of the numeric series, that’s how it was named. It is not proven that Fibonacci even noticed the connection between the Golden Ratio meaning and Phi. The Renaissance used the Golden Mean and Phi in their sculptures and paintings to achieve vast amounts balance and beauty. Throughout the centuries, artists have used the golden ratio in their own creations. An example is â€Å"post† by Picasso. The Golden Ratio also appears in the Parthenon in Athens. It was built about 440 B. C. ; it forms a perfect Golden Rectangle. Another example of the Golden Ratio is shown in Egyption Pyramids. Ancient Egyptions used the Golden Ratio to build their pyramids. The pyramids show one of the first examples of using the golden ratio in architecture. The Golden Ratio was used to build these wonders of the world back in around 2500 B. C. In India, the Golden Mean was used in the construction of the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1648. After writing this essay an interesting result has occurred. Now I see the examples of the Golden Ratio everywhere. It is like my eyes were opened whole time but didnt take any attention about those detais. And I’m glad because it changed. How to cite Golden Ratio, Essay examples

The Effects of Excessive Use of Facebook to the Study Habits free essay sample

With the introduction and popularity of the internet brought an even smaller world. People from miles away could easily talk to one another without the use of a pen and paper. Snail mails are only done for important documents and birthday, Christmas or Valentines cards. Telegraphs is an alien term for youngsters and nothing but a part of history. The most common thing used for communicating, especially those who are countries apart, is social networking sites. Text messaging is convenient but communicating through social networking sites is free and even more convenient with options such as wall posts and chatting. Social networking sites as such Myspace paved the way through one of the best creations of the decade, Facebook. Facebook is arguably the most popular networking website of today. Everyone from the young to the old is using Facebook, it as an efficient way of communicating and finding old friends. Apart from Facebook being a new and interesting way to interact with friends and family, there is a lot more things to do while logged on to the site. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Excessive Use of Facebook to the Study Habits or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Users could play games, use other fun applications such as horoscopes, love tallies and typing challenges, find new friends and hunt crushes and guard significant others online. This paper presents the excessive use of Facebook to the study habits of BC 25 students of Silliman University in four parts. The first part provides a brief overview of Facebook. The second mentions the positive and negative effects of Facebook to the users. The third cites arguments against the excessive Facebook use. The final part presents the result of the survey with BC 25 students from Silliman University regarding the effects of Facebook use to them. The survey results support the claim that excessive use of Facebook worsens the study habits of students. Facebook is an online community and way for students t communicate with each other and it will continue to be something that students will enjoy and use it daily. (Advantages of Social Networking, 2010). â€Å"The history of Facebook is not about a driven individual who wants toconquer the world. It is more abut a geeky and somewhat reclusive teenager who stumbled upon a pot of gold by chance, and then milked it well to turn it into one of the most popular and talked about faces of the Internet technology, ever (The History of Facebook, 2006). Mark Zuckerberg, together with three other students, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, founded Facebook. The founders limited the membership only to Harvard students but later on, some colleges in the Boston area like the ivy league Stanford university were opened for membership. It then opened to high school students and then to anyone 13 and above (The History of Facebook, 2008). In the beginning, there was Harvard and only Harvard. Facebook was created as a way for Mark Zuckerberg and other Harvard students to keep in touch over the internet and get to know each other (The History of facebook, 2009). Facebook, Inc. owns the most successful technology and social networking website today. It has more than 600 million users and members way back January 2011. US’ university administrations give books to students at the start of the school year for the purpose of helping the students get to know each other and this is where Facebook got its name (The History of Facebook, 2008). Facebook is such a very successful network. This is because almost all of us who knows how to use the internet knows the â€Å"pros and cons of Facebook. And there is no other way for Facebook to move but forward for a â€Å"true global revolution (The History of Facebook, 2008). Originally, the website was called â€Å"The Facebook† but Zuckerberg dropped â€Å"the† from the name in 2005. A high school student should be invited first. Companies are also allowed to have networks on the website after launching the high school version (The History of Facebook, 2009). In the article â€Å"t he History of facebook† it stated that Facebook has a certain difference with myspace in terms of purpose. Facebook’s main purpose is the privacy of the member’s profile while myspace is just connecting everyone without privacy. Facebook is just mainly for people in school and in jobs (The history of Facebook, 2008). Facebook is just something fun to be used to keep in touch with friends and family as well as it is a good way of getting ahead in business (Wadas, 2009). With Facebook use comes positive and negative effects. Students should be conscious in interacting with others on facebook as well as the professionals in representing themselves in the online communities. Those who are also involved in playing Facebook will have no difficulty in entering and they can easily look for their lost friends ad long as they use Facebook. Students can log-in at a time which is convenient for them and see what is new with the student organizations about schedule changes or announcements (Wadas, 2009). Facebook users can eventually make hundreds of friends and a good way for the University to learn students’ interests and concerns (Advantages of social networking sites, 2010).