America has an interesting assortment of minor political parties. Use this Directory of U.S. Political Parties and select two Third Parties (NOT Democrats or Republicans) from the list that you would like to learn more about. Choose at least one of the “Big Three” Third Parties. Explore their sites and answer question. Do NOT copy and paste information directly from the website’s you visit. Summarize information in your own words.
For each of the two parties you've chosen, answer all of the following questions:
What is the name of party?
How did the party get started?
What is the basic philosophy of this party? What does it stand for?
What are three current political issues of importance to this party? Give specific, well-developed examples.
Does this party hold regular conventions?
Did this party run a candidate for president in the most recent presidential election? Who was it?
Is there a chapter of this party in your local community? If not, is there one for your state?
Do you think that minor parties such as these have any influence in American politics? If so what is it?
Would you consider voting for this party or joining it? Explain your reasoning?
Three current political issues:
Climate Change and Environmental Justice: The Green Party views climate change as a crisis and supports a swift transition to a clean energy economy. They call for policies that address environmental racism, arguing that marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from pollution and climate-related disasters.
Universal Healthcare and Social Safety Net: The party advocates for a single-payer healthcare system, also known as "Medicare for All," to ensure that all citizens have access to quality healthcare without being tied to a job or facing financial ruin. They also support universal basic income (UBI) and tuition-free college education.
Non-interventionist Foreign Policy: The Green Party promotes nonviolence and diplomacy, advocating for a significant reduction in military spending and an end to foreign military interventions. They believe the U.S. should not act as a global police force.
Conventions: The Green Party holds regular national conventions in presidential election years to select its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
2024 Presidential Candidate: The party's presidential candidate in the most recent election was Jill Stein.
Local chapter: Whether there is a chapter in a specific community or state varies, as the party is a federation of state-level organizations. You would need to check their official website for a list of local affiliates.
Sample Answer
Minor political parties in America, often called "third parties," provide alternative viewpoints to the two dominant parties. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party are two of the most prominent examples.
Green Party
The Green Party of the United States, which falls under the "Big Three" third parties, is an organization committed to environmentalism and social justice.
How it got started: The party grew out of a series of social movements, especially the anti-nuclear and environmental movements of the 1970s and 80s. The first official Green Party in the U.S. was formed in 1984, but it was a more national organization, and the current Green Party of the United States was formed in 2001 as a federation of independent state parties.
Basic philosophy: The party's core philosophy, known as "Green politics," is based on four pillars: ecological wisdom, social justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy. It advocates for policies that support environmental protection and human rights, often