84:
151:
43:
278:
their low recognition, vote and donations. Minor parties often receive very small numbers of votes at an election (to the point of losing any candidate nomination deposit). The method of voting can also assist or hinder a minor party's chances. For example, in an election for more than one member, the
536:
than minor ones. Because of the regionalist nature of many parties, it is possible to be a major party in one part of the country and not another: for example, at one point UKIP was officially a major party in
England and Wales, but a minor one in Scotland. No mainland British party is classed as a
277:
in a country's politics and elections. The difference between minor and major parties can be so great that the membership total, donations, and the candidates that they are able to produce or attract are very distinct. Some of the minor parties play almost no role in a country's politics because of
1068:
Third parties usually have little chance of forming a government or winning the position of head of government. Nevertheless, there are many reasons for third parties to compete. The opportunity of a national election means that attention will be paid to the positions of third parties. The larger
1055:
give little advantage to the two largest parties, so they tend to elect many parties. Therefore, in those countries, three, four, or more political parties are usually elected to legislatures. In such parliamentary systems, coalitions often include smaller parties; since they may participate in a
1056:
coalition government, there is not a sharp distinction with a 'major' party. In two-party systems, on the other hand, only the major parties have a serious chance of forming a government. Similarly, in presidential systems, third-party candidates are rarely elected president.
1069:
parties might be forced to respond and adapt to their challenges, and often the larger parties copy ideas from them. Most third parties try to build their support to become one of the dominant parties, as the Labour Party in
Britain and New Democratic Party in Canada did.
612:
Third-party candidates who received more than the historical average of 5.6 percent of the popular vote or at least one electoral college vote are listed below, three of which were former presidents (follow links for more information on their time as president).
323:. This allows minor parties to achieve at least one quota in the electorate or state and thus gain representation in a parliamentary chamber. Often minor parties have been so successful in gaining such representation that they are able to hold the
1059:
In some categorizations, a party needs to have a certain level of success to be considered a third party. Smaller parties that win only a very small share of the vote and no seats in the legislature often are termed minor or fringe parties.
401:. However, strong regionalist movements and the potential for parties to take votes in the centre or extreme fringes of the political spectrum mean that minor parties still play a significant and increasing role in British politics. The
1035:
party contending for votes that failed to outpoll either of its two strongest rivals (or, in the context of an impending election, is considered highly unlikely to do so). The distinction is particularly significant in
544:
in Great
Britain that is able to contest only parish and community council elections in England and Wales and has fewer reporting, financial and administrative requirements than an ordinary registered political party.
1040:. In any case "third" is often used figuratively, as in "the third parties", where the intent, literally stated, is "the third and succeeding parties". The term "third parties" is used mostly in countries with
1263:
Unlike the parties in many nations, Canadian parties at the federal level are often only loosely connected with parties at the provincial level. Some parties operate only at the provincial level, for example
467:, which was the largest British party in the European Parliament before withdrawing due to Brexit, held no seats in the House of Commons. Today The Brexit Party is known as Reform UK and has five seats. Also
560:
413:(the main opposition to the Conservative Party before the rise of Labour, forming governments six times between 1859 and 1918) have achieved significant numbers of seats and have occasionally been
359:. During most of Suharto's presidency, only three political parties participated in elections, but after Suharto's fall minor parties returned to the Indonesian electoral scene. In the
766:
1972 Candidate John
Schmitz Won 1.4 percent of the popular vote (slightly over one million votes). Wallace was shot while running for the Democratic nomination that year.
597:. Since 1860, six presidential candidates other than Republicans and Democrats have received over 10% of the popular vote, although one of them was a former president,
474:
Other parties that have held seats in devolved assemblies, the House of
Commons or the European Parliament in the 21st century include the non-sectarian Northern Irish
1459:
1430:
1250:
1087:
Challenging parties also usually appeal for votes on the basis that they will try to change the voting system to make it more competitive for all parties.
320:
1095:
In some countries like the United States, parties with low win probability face frequent exclusion from major debates and media coverage and denial of
1466:, America.gov, 20 August 2007. (Information derived from the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
98:
640:
878:
328:
371:
has been implemented in
Indonesian elections, reducing the number of parties represented in the national parliament to ten or less.
1361:
1108:
983:
955:
925:
873:
849:
799:
771:
743:
709:
685:
661:
635:
486:
363:, for example, out of 48 participating political parties only 20 political parties won any seats at the national level. Since the
776:
1161:
566:
1334:
433:
hold a significant number of seats in their Home
Nations, with the SNP controlling 56 of 59 Scottish Westminster seats at the
1456:
541:
494:
17:
1195:
1191:
514:
434:
364:
360:
356:
352:
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method of voting can be advantageous to a minor party as can preference allocation from one or both of the major parties.
215:
1498:
187:
582:
445:
1177:
1137:
857:
714:
574:
355:, over a dozen newly established political parties which participated in elections won just two seats or less in the
252:
234:
132:
70:
1141:
883:
594:
590:
528:
Whether or not a party counts as a major party is a sometimes heated argument, since "major parties" as defined by
460:
194:
1307:
991:
380:
1136:
In the United States, there have been numerous "third parties". The largest since the mid-20th century are the
384:
172:
393:
in the United
Kingdom means that in the post-War era, only two parties have had a majority in parliament: the
498:
324:
312:
298:
201:
1226:
168:
56:
1131:
1052:
578:
570:
554:
422:
279:
183:
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1242:
1041:
828:
781:
748:
518:
502:
1470:
1281:
1081:
533:
456:
1435:
1176:. In the Scottish Parliament, the SNP has been the dominant parliamentary party beginning with the
510:
406:
114:
1080:, which can give smaller parties strength disproportional to their support. Examples include the
1265:
1222:
1173:
1153:
1111:(DLP) was the largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections from 1955 until 1977. The
426:
394:
368:
161:
273:
that plays a smaller (in some cases much smaller, even insignificant in comparison) role than a
1404:
1202:
1181:
1165:
482:
402:
94:
1366:
1238:
468:
452:
302:
1257:
1234:
1112:
907:
332:
285:
A minor party that follows the direction/directive of some other major parties is called a
8:
1230:
1077:
475:
438:
390:
208:
1383:
1115:
was the largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections from 1977 until 2004.
1260:
has been the largest Third party by popular vote in most federal elections since 1962.
1206:
1169:
1073:
807:
598:
586:
410:
1157:
1119:
753:
728:
522:
398:
336:
316:
106:
1375:
1269:
1246:
1152:
In the United
Kingdom, a third party is a national political party, other than the
1045:
1037:
965:
937:
693:
110:
62:
31:
1474:
1463:
960:
270:
437:, and every single Northern Irish seat is held by a regional party – either the
1286:
833:
735:
449:
1209:
used to be the largest Third party by popular vote from the 1920s until 2015.
1184:
the next largest party and Labour becoming
Scotland's third party ever since.
471:
has achieved significant vote shares despite holding no seats in the Commons.
1487:
1096:
645:
506:
540:
A minor party is also a special type of political party registered with the
931:
719:
561:
List of third party and independent performances in United States elections
464:
418:
441:
430:
274:
1379:
585:, and others that have less influence than the major parties. Since the
286:
1187:
1122:
have been largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections.
479:
414:
308:
150:
425:) and are sometimes also classed as a major party. The nationalist
27:
Political party with little influence in the governing of a country
327:
in the particular house of the parliament. Some examples are the
1172:
were the third party. Between 2015 and 2024, it was used for the
1457:
Third-Party Candidates Can Influence U.S. Presidential Elections
1084:
which pushed for Home Rule in Ireland in the late 19th century.
1218:
1251:
List of federal political parties in Canada#Registered parties
1408:
1016:
Source: (Bureau of International Information Programs, 2006)
529:
1467:
1198:
490:
1308:"Nasib Suram Partai Gurem dalam Sejarah Politik Tanah Air"
656:
Did not run; endorsed Republican candidate George W. Bush
351:
in Indonesia. In Indonesia's first democratic election in
1335:"Tantangan Partai Politik Baru di Pemilu 2024 - Laman 4"
335:
from the late 1970s until 2004, and more recently the
1229:
are the two major parties at the federal level. The
347:
Minor political parties are commonly referred to as
1190:was the largest Third party by popular vote in the
175:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1241:are the largest minor parties, represented in the
1063:
1431:"Guidance on registering and maintaining a party"
1201:was the largest Third party by popular vote. The
1485:
1090:
1048:, so that successful smaller parties are rare.
607:Third-party presidential candidates, 1832–1996
1405:"Ofcom Statement on Party Election Broadcasts"
1362:"The Continuing Advance of the Minor Parties"
1164:. From 1922 to 2015 and again from 2024, the
589:(1861–1865), the major parties have been the
91:The examples and perspective in this article
1044:systems, as those systems tend to create a
71:Learn how and when to remove these messages
423:2010–2015 coalition with the Conservatives
1359:
1245:. Another 12 parties are registered with
253:Learn how and when to remove this message
235:Learn how and when to remove this message
133:Learn how and when to remove this message
1305:
573:. Minor parties in the U.S. include the
501:, the left-wing Northern Irish unionist
487:Independent Community and Health Concern
331:(DLP) in the 1960s and early 1970s, the
1399:
1397:
1395:
1393:
1160:, which has at least one member in the
1099:as well as hamstrung campaign budgets.
738:was instead the Libertarian candidate.
569:, minor parties are often described as
14:
1486:
1332:
489:, the cross-community Northern Irish
1390:
1306:Matanasi, Petrik (25 January 2017).
1196:2015 United Kingdom general election
1192:2024 United Kingdom general election
844:Won 3.2 percent of the popular vote
515:Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
435:2015 United Kingdom general election
173:adding citations to reliable sources
144:
77:
36:
1253:) but have no seats in Parliament.
1147:
24:
1125:
495:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
446:Social Democratic and Labour Party
25:
1510:
1178:2011 Scottish Parliament election
1076:there is also the possibility of
1011:are those over 10% in elections.
537:major party in Northern Ireland.
374:
311:owe much of their success to the
52:This article has multiple issues.
548:
517:and the unionist Northern Irish
149:
82:
41:
1064:Parliamentary two-party systems
493:, the cross-community feminist
381:Elections in the United Kingdom
321:the legislatures of most states
160:needs additional citations for
60:or discuss these issues on the
1450:
1423:
1353:
1326:
1299:
1102:
1022:
868:Endorsed Democratic candidate
680:Ran as Reform Party candidate
385:Politics of the United Kingdom
13:
1:
1333:Alief, Muh (22 August 2023).
1292:
820:Returned to Republican Party
794:Returned to Republican Party
499:People Before Profit Alliance
405:, and their predecessors the
299:Electoral system of Australia
1168:and their predecessors the
1091:Structural barriers to power
978:Won 4.9 percent of the vote
509:, the left wing nationalist
342:
292:
7:
1275:
1205:and their predecessors the
1132:Third party (United States)
1053:proportional representation
804:Progressive ("Bull Moose")
555:Third party (United States)
313:proportional representation
280:proportional representation
109:, discuss the issue on the
10:
1515:
1499:Types of political parties
1243:House of Commons of Canada
1129:
1042:first-past-the-post voting
558:
552:
534:party political broadcasts
519:Traditional Unionist Voice
503:Progressive Unionist Party
378:
296:
95:the English-speaking world
29:
1282:Frivolous political party
1212:
1082:Irish Parliamentary Party
1027:In electoral politics, a
1015:
1006:
734:Did not run; his elector
630:Outcome in next election
620:
611:
606:
485:, the healthcare-focused
457:Democratic Unionist Party
315:method of voting for the
1436:The Electoral Commission
1002:Endorsed Whig candidate
511:Scottish Socialist Party
463:hold four seats and the
357:House of Representatives
30:Not to be confused with
1468:http://usinfo.state.gov
1174:Scottish National Party
513:, the elderly interest
427:Scottish National Party
369:parliamentary threshold
97:and do not represent a
1109:Democratic Labor Party
483:British National Party
329:Democratic Labor Party
1367:Parliamentary Affairs
782:Robert M. La Follette
559:Further information:
532:are entitled to more
497:, the anti-austerity
453:Ulster Unionist Party
303:Politics of Australia
18:Third political party
1258:New Democratic Party
1235:New Democratic Party
1113:Australian Democrats
1078:minority governments
908:John C. Breckinridge
879:Constitutional Union
749:American Independent
624:Popular vote %
542:Electoral Commission
417:(such as during the
407:SDP–Liberal Alliance
333:Australian Democrats
289:or satellite party.
169:improve this article
115:create a new article
107:improve this article
93:deal primarily with
904:Southern Democrats
391:first past the post
319:and one chamber of
1473:2006-12-23 at the
1462:2008-02-15 at the
1360:Paul Webb (2005).
1227:Conservative Party
1074:Westminster system
808:Theodore Roosevelt
599:Theodore Roosevelt
587:American Civil War
583:Constitution Party
459:. As of 2024, the
395:Conservative Party
1494:Political parties
1380:10.1093/pa/gsi063
1203:Liberal Democrats
1166:Liberal Democrats
1120:Australian Greens
1038:two-party systems
1020:
1019:
754:George C. Wallace
729:faithless elector
575:Libertarian Party
523:UK Unionist Party
403:Liberal Democrats
337:Australian Greens
317:Australian Senate
307:Minor parties in
263:
262:
255:
245:
244:
237:
219:
143:
142:
135:
117:, as appropriate.
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16:(Redirected from
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1382:. Archived from
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1324:
1323:
1321:
1319:
1303:
1270:British Columbia
1247:Elections Canada
1162:House of Commons
1118:Since 2004, the
1051:Countries using
1046:two-party system
966:Martin Van Buren
950:Party dissolved
938:Millard Fillmore
920:Party dissolved
896:Party dissolved
694:John B. Anderson
627:Electoral votes
604:
603:
595:Democratic Party
591:Republican Party
505:, the left wing
325:balance of power
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1475:Wayback Machine
1464:Wayback Machine
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1411:. 16 March 2015
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1341:(in Indonesian)
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1007:Percentages in
858:James B. Weaver
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557:
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387:
377:
345:
305:
295:
271:political party
259:
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1386:on 2014-01-18.
1374:(4): 757–775.
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1325:
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1287:Vote splitting
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834:Eugene V. Debs
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669:H. Ross Perot
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476:Alliance Party
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101:of the subject
99:worldwide view
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32:minority party
26:
9:
6:
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1223:Liberal Party
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1200:
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1189:
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1182:Conservatives
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988:Anti-Masonic
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646:H. Ross Perot
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549:United States
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507:Respect Party
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411:Liberal Party
408:
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365:2009 election
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185:
184:"Minor party"
181:
180:Find sources:
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158:This article
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