Two Party system

America's two party system may not be perfect, but it is essential to our democracy. Having a two party system, and to some extent a three party system, allows for people to clearly identify with one political belief or another. on the other hand, in recent years there has been a growing movement towards independents or moderates, instead of being a "red state" republican or "blue state" democrat. It seems in recent years that the parties have devolved into either Pro or Anti-Bush, and moreover, pro or anti-war.

Role of Minority Parties in a Democracy

The minority party is a necessity in a democracy. A minority prevents the dominance that would be assured with a one party system. The government's system of checks and balances ensures that even if a party has dominance in both houses of congress, there are tools, such as filibustering, that members can use to maintain that system. Additionally, even if a party has control of both the House of Representatives, the Senate and has the Presidency, the minority party can still prevent a bill from passing. Also, the minority party can often help sway moderates or independents to vote a certain way on a particular issue. Also, the minority party contributes to the democratic process as it allows for dissenting opinions on issues.