Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

316 readers

1 users here now

Easier to type out this way

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

FizzlePopBerryTwist@lemmy.world

ELI5: Why do only the two biggest parties in the US a chance to win an election? (self.eli5)

submitted 2 weeks ago by tux0r to c/eli5@lemmy.world

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I mean, there is a variety of intriguing political parties, but it's still always "Republicans or Democrats". Why?

(Disclosure: I'm German, never been to the US.)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago

            
              first past the post elections encourage a 2 party system.
it's not a parliamentary system, so a legislature hostile to the executive is more probable with a multi party system, so the 2 parties are already coalitions.
the winners of elections get to set the rules for future elections so both parties work to make third parties more difficult. This factors into federal funding, qualifying for ballots, and debate appearances.