https://youtu.be/rqhw6W0K5t0

The epic perennial battle between Republicans and Democrats that defines America's two-party political system makes it all-too-easy to forget that there are actually other parties out there crusading in the political wilderness.

Although largely overlooked today in mainstream political circles, third parties -- or minority parties -- have historically played a significant role in national politics.

None of the third-party candidates this year mustered the requisite polling percentages (15 percent or higher) to qualify to participate in the upcoming presidential debates. However, thanks largely to the general unpopularity of Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump -- and the ongoing influence of former candidate Bernie Sanders, who railed against the two-party system -- some third party candidates are getting a bit more attention than usual in this election.

[ad fullwidth]

[contextly_sidebar id="HgIu6NsbL3VYk4GquuPxtlQ6Yk3RfQxR"]

This year, nearly 30 minority parties achieved ballot access in at least one state (including the American Shopping Party, which will be on the ballot in Hawaii).

Only three of them, however, are recognized in more than a handful of states:

The Libertarian Party, the largest third party, advocates for personal freedom and very limited government. This year, the party qualified to be on the ballot in every state. Its presidential nominee is Gary Johnson (who also ran in 2012), the former governor of New Mexico.
The Green Party, a left-leaning environmental and social justice party, has so far qualified to be on the ballot in 44 states. Its nominee is Jill Stein (who ran in 2012 as well), a physician from Massachusetts.
The Constitution Party, a right wing, religious-based party that believes in a literal interpretation of the Constitution, has so far qualified to be on the ballot in 24 states. Its nominee is Darrell Castle, an attorney from Tennessee.

Each party is wholly unique, but they all share a staunch belief in the need for alternatives to the presiding two-party system.

Embedded below, (and downloadable here as a PDF), this chart compares the positions of America’s three largest minority parties on 12 key national issues. Excerpts are taken directly from each party's most recent platform.

[Article continues below chart ...]

Few and far between

It’s been a hot minute since anyone besides a Republican or Democrat was president of the United States.

Not since 1853, in fact, when Millard Fillmore of the Whig Party departed the White House.

Today, third parties are relegated to the sidelines of the U.S. politics. Currently, only two U.S. senators identify as independent, including former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders from Vermont. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently composed of only Democrats and Republicans. And of the more than 7,000 representatives and senators in state legislatures across the country, a tiny fraction are neither Republican or Democrat (most are independents). And among governors, only Bill Walker of Alaska identifies as an independent.

Yet, in a 2014 Gallup poll, 58 percent of adults said that a third major U.S. political party is necessary because Republicans and Democrats “'do such a poor job’ representing the American people.”

Winner-take-all

So when Election Day rolls around, why do so few people usually vote for third party candidates?

For starters, the U.S. electoral system is winner-take-all. And that doesn’t make it too easy for the little guy to get anywhere (but home). It also dissuades voters from supporting a third party candidate they may support, as it may seem like a wasted vote.

In Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and other parliamentary governments, proportional representation opens the door for members of smaller political parties to win seats in government and gain influence.

Not so much in the U.S.

Notable efforts

America’s two-party mold, though, hasn’t prevented some notable third party efforts. Most recently, Ralph Nader’s 2000 presidential run as the Green Party candidate landed him a substantial 2.8 million votes. It’s widely believed that Nader’s relatively successful campaign took away critical votes from Al Gore, contributing to the Democratic candidate's loss in Florida, which ultimately cost him the election.

Similarly, in the 1992 presidential election, many believe that wealthy independent candidate Ross Perot hurt President George H.W. Bush’s re-election bid against Bill Clinton. Using his personal fortune to fund sprawling political infomercials, Perot was the last third party candidate to get high enough poll numbers to participate in the presidential debates. In the end, he amassed nearly 20 million votes – close to 19 percent of the electorate – many of whom would likely have otherwise voted for Bush. It marked the most successful third party run in recent history, inadvertently helping Clinton reach the White House.

The once mighty Whigs

There are several third parties that have historically had significant influence in national politics. Among them, the Socialist and Progressive parties of the early 1900s, both of whom championed labor rights and women’s suffrage. President Fillmore’s Whig Party, which rose to prominence in the 1830’s in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson, won three presidential elections in the 1840s and 50s (although Fillmore was the fourth Whig president, he didn’t actually win an election – he was Zachary Taylor’s vice president and took the helm after Taylor's death).

The Whig Party ultimately disintegrated in 1854, though, fracturing in large part over the increasingly divisive issue of slavery. The party’s demise led to the eventual emergence of the Republican Party, which under President Abraham Lincoln, became the most dominant force in American politics until the 1930s.

party platformsparty platforms

Where America's Third Parties Stand on the Big Issues of the 2016 Election (with Lesson Plan)

Third Party Platforms: Where Do America's Smaller Parties Stand on the Big Issues? [Downloadable Chart]

How Republicans and Democrats Differ on 11 Key National Issues [w/Downloadable Chart]