1. Third parties in American politics
Varieties and definitions of third parties
Subpresidential politics
The dilemma of the two-party system
2. Minor parties in a two-party system : historical perspectives
The emergence of a party system
The pre-Civil War era : two-party competition, minor party eruptions
The post-Civil War era : Republican ascendancy, sectionalism, transient third parties
The 1896 election : electoral realignment, Republican resurgence
Progressivism and the emergence of the New Deal Democratic coalition
The ascendancy of the New Deal Democratic coalition
The post-New Deal system : divided government, candidate-centered politics, continuing third-party and independent candidacies
Elections 2000 : Reform party disintegration and Green party emergence
Minor parties in state politics
Lessons from party history
3. Third parties in the American context : a less than friendly environment
Why two major parties and not a multiparty system?
Institutional barriers to multiparty politics
Assessing public support for the Republicans and Democrats
Fear of "wasting" one's vote : strategic voting in recent presidential elections
Multiparty systems at the state level : the overwhelming tides of national politics
An environment hostile to third parties
4. The public demand for alternatives
Discontent at the ballot box with two-party alternatives
Public opinion on the performance of our two-party political system
Politicians' responses to public discontent
Causes of the dissatisfaction
Consequences of "alternative" governments
5. Political parties in the twenty-first century
The future of two-party politics in America
A defense of two-party politics in America
Reforming the two-party system
Discussion questions
Glossary.