Why a Two-Party System?

The Historical Basis

Framers of the constitution
opposed to a political party
system

Federalists
and
anti-federalist
formed

Electoral System

Single-member system

only one candidate is
elected to each office
on the ballot. They are
winner-take-all elections.

Plurality – the largest number
of votes cast.

Tradition

Americans accept two party
systems because it has always
been that way.

Tradition runs
deeply in human
culture

American Ideological Consensus

American people share many of
the same ideals, basic principles, and
patterns of belief.