Critical Analysis

1. According to the chart above, in what year did the largest portion of people feel the two major parties were inadequate?

2. According to the chart above, in 2003 what percent of Americans felt that the the Republican and Democratic parties did an adequate job of representing the American people?

3. Identify one trend from the chart above.

4. Describe one reason for this trend.

5. Explain how dissatisfaction with the two major parties impacts voter turnout.

6. What do parties do anyway?

7. Explain whether you believe the Democratic and Republican parties do an adequate job of representing the American people.

8. What is one feature of the U.S. electoral system that limits the success of third parties?

9. Can you even name a strong third party in the U.S now? Ever?

10. How does party identification impact American’s views on the importance of third-parties and their views of their own parties?*

Visual Extension*

Learning Extension

Check out the Gallup polling data about American’s attitudes towards third-parties.

Action Extension

Make an anagram or an acrostic out of the party name of either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Share the anagram in class or online. The best one is the winner.