Alexander Williams

11/11/2016
Free-Response Question:
A. Discuss third parties and the challenges they face in winning elections. In your

discussion, explain three reasons third parties have difficulty in our political system.
B. Identify one third party candidate who received a significant number of popular votes

but no electoral votes.

C. Identify one third party candidate who received significant popular and electoral votes.

Thesis Statement: Though third party candidates usually lose elections, they have enough
influence to sway votes in the popular/electoral college.

Major Point #1 Party

Competition

Major Point #2 Political Power Major Point #3 State Issues

= Money
There are certain
Third parties are less
Third Party candidates do
specifications needed
known, and people
not usually have funds
to be considered a
will less likely vote
for things such as
party.
for them.
advertisements, and
campaigns.
Third parties are
People will usually
usually unqualified in
Third Parties are usually
only vote for people
accordance to the
in their political
ignored because they are
states requirements.
party.
small and most of the
time have little power.
If the third party is
Many people do not
only on some of the
Limited supporters to
vote, and will
states ballots, it will
therefore not give
help campaign for the
be impossible for them
third parties they
party.
to receive enough
desperately needed
electoral votes.
votes.
Ross Perot, 1992, had no
George Wallace, 1968,
electoral votes, but had
18.9% of the popular
an independent
votes.
nominee, received
13.5 of the electoral
vote, and almost 10
million of the popular.

4.09 FRQ

Free-Response Question: Free-Response Question Two

The Electoral College has long been debated as an odd process in our American election
system.
A. Explain two arguments that support the idea that the Electoral College be replaced by a

direct popular election of the president.

B. Describe the impact the abolishment of the election college would have on the

following:
1. Political parties
2. Presidential campaign strategies
3. Identify one institution that would benefit from direct elections and explain why

this institution would benefit from the change.

Thesis Statement: Without the electoral college, voters would have the power, essentially
helping smaller, third parties.

Major Point #1 - Voting

Popular vote
winners do not
always win the
electoral vote. This
upsets the country,
so there should be
direct voting.
Campaigns will shift
to popular voting,
causing more
campaigning to
smaller states

People will have a

guaranteed say in
the next president.

Electoral voters do
not have to vote with
your political party,
so you should do it
yourself.

Major Point #2 - Candidates

Candidates and parties

will be at the mercy of
the people.
Nominees will actually
have to hear what the
people want and listen to
the citizens.
Candidates will go to
much more populated
states to try and garner as
many votes as they can.

Major Point #3 Third

Parties/Smaller States

Smaller states will

benefit from the
abolition of the
Electoral College.

Candidates will come

to the smaller states
more often than before
because unlike then,
every vote counts.

Now it is millions of
peoples votes,
compared to before
where it was only
maybe a 5 vote state.

The smaller Third

Parties could now also
win with just popular
votes, giving them a
fair shot.

Candidates will also

spend more time in
smaller states than they
do now.