2. List all the minor parties you have heard of

3. Minor Parties Libertarian Reform Socialist Prohibition Natural Law Communist American Independent Green Socialist Labor Constitution

4. Minor Parties 4 Distinct Type of Minor Parties 1.Ideological 2.Single-issue 3.Economic Protest 4.Splinter

5. Ideological Parties Based on a particular set of beliefs Inclusive view of social, economic, and political matters Long-lived Some part of Marxist thinking – Socialist, socialist labor, socialist worker, communism Libertarian Party (individualism)

7. Single-Issue Parties Concentrate on one public policy issue Names indicate issue – Free Soil Party, Right to Life Most are not long-lived

9. Economic Protest Parties Rooted in periods of discontent Not ideological based Greenback Party, Populist Party Disappeared after nation fixed economic period

11. Occupy Wall Street Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #ows is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to fight back against the richest 1% of people that are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future. The occupations around the world are being organized using a non- binding consensus based collective decision making tool known as a "people's assembly".

12. Splinter Parties Split from a major party “Bull Moose” Progressive Party Formed around a strong personality

13. Why are Minor Parties Important? Spoiler Role in Elections

14. Minor Parties What is the paradox that plagues minor parties?

15. Minor Parties Harry Browne: “It’s a catch-22 situation. Many individuals consider it futile to vote for us, register as Libertarians, or donate money, and the national media won’t cover us on a continuing basis, because we aren’t relevant to the electoral outcome. But we can’t become relevant to the outcome until people vote for us, register as Libertarians, and donate money, and the national media begin to cover us on a continuing basis (Browne 1996).