3/4/08
any party other than the primary two is called a third party
3 factors that give rise to the two party system:
	election system
	effects of presidency
	general division of interests into two camps

election system is usually based on single member districts or proportional distribution
single member districts elect only one member at a time
candidate needs a plurality to win (the most, not necessarily a majority)
winner take all system
fuels tendency for groups in a district to combine forces to get a common candidate elected

proportional representation: seats may be divided based on percentage of votes
encourages multiple parties
coalitions formed AFTER election
tend to be less stable

single party interests prop up dual party system

effects of presidency:
electoral college is winner take all for members from states

polarization of interests on any issue tends to divide people into two groups instead of many
divisions occur continuously

third parties tend to hit the extremes

the most successfull third parties were the populists, progressive bull moose party, independent party, states rights party, libertarian party, green party
australian ballot - printed at government expense, has ALL candidates, secret ballot

almost all major issues will find a home in one of the two major parties
to qualify for public funding, party must get at least 5% of the popular vote in the last election
leadership tends to be more extreme within a party
any laws relating to parties are state laws
not necessarily the same between democrats and republicans
states determine voting requirements

interest groups tend to support a single party and a single interest or small group of interests
parties tend to have a broader group of issues
people join interest groups for practical or financial purposes
private interest groups
governmental interest groups
economic
professional
IG that try to affect government in some way
aggregate influence for people
PIGs and the media act as intermediaries between gov't and people
also do a lot of the compromise and election contestation
compete amongst themselves for resources 
interest groups want your money, name, and volunteer work, not suggestions

keywords:
moneyline.cq.com
single-member districts
plurality
proportional representation