For a long time, politics in the United States has been dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. But from time to time, there have been many people who, for varied reasons, have not been satisfied with the big parties.
We recall several noteworthy “third party” efforts.
Remember, for example, when Theodore Roosevelt ran for president as the Bull Moose Party candidate.
Strom Thurmond, who served as a South Carolina governor and U.S. senator, ran for president in 1948 as the candidate of the States’ Rights Democratic Party. He actually won 39 electoral votes – one from Tennessee!
Alabama Gov. George Wallace made quite a stir as a 1968 candidate of the American Independent Party.
There have been lots of less spectacular efforts over the years, under such party names as Vegetarian, Prohibition, Green, Libertarian, Constitution, etc. But most haven’t gotten very far. A current effort that is not really a “third party” per se goes under the “tea party” name.
The subject of third parties has arisen currently in Tennessee as the Green, Libertarian and Constitution parties have filed suit. U.S. District Judge William J. Haynes Jr. has ruled that Tennessee’s requirements to get on the ballot are too burdensome, and thus are unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
For example, they require that petitions to get a third party on the ballot be signed by people who are members of the party in question.
The judge said his ruling will take effect after this November’s election, so the question arises as to whether the Tennessee General Assembly will enact new law on the subject before the 2012 election.
No citizen or no group should be barred from a reasonable opportunity for expression in voting. But most “third party” efforts, for obvious reasons, don’t manage to get very far.