Third parties form in opposition to the two dominant parties. Describe three vital roles that third parties have played

in the US.

Third parties have existed the United States for a long time, and they form for different reasons. Third parties provide voters with an alternative to the two major parties and have highlighted issues that those parties may have overlooked. They have formed to support a specific issue or a wide range of issues. Perhaps the most important role that they have played has been to influence election results, specifically at the national level. They can also function as protest groups, and the recent formation of the Tea Party movement is an example.

Sources: Edgenuit. (sample answer)

American politics operate as a two-party system, and third party candidates do not ... Describe how and why third parties form, their key successes, and hurdles to ... third party: A political party in opposition to the main parties in a two-party system.