73:
140:
32:
267:
their low recognition, vote and donations. Minor parties often receive very small numbers of votes at an election (to the point of losing any candidate nomination deposit). The method of voting can also assist or hinder a minor party's chances. For example, in an election for more than one member, the
525:
than minor ones. Because of the regionalist nature of many parties, it is possible to be a major party in one part of the country and not another: for example, at one point UKIP was officially a major party in
England and Wales, but a minor one in Scotland. No mainland British party is classed as a
266:
in a country's politics and elections. The difference between minor and major parties can be so great that the membership total, donations, and the candidates that they are able to produce or attract are very distinct. Some of the minor parties play almost no role in a country's politics because of
1057:
Third parties usually have little chance of forming a government or winning the position of head of government. Nevertheless, there are many reasons for third parties to compete. The opportunity of a national election means that attention will be paid to the positions of third parties. The larger
1044:
give little advantage to the two largest parties, so they tend to elect many parties. Therefore, in those countries, three, four, or more political parties are usually elected to legislatures. In such parliamentary systems, coalitions often include smaller parties; since they may participate in a
1045:
coalition government, there is not a sharp distinction with a 'major' party. In two-party systems, on the other hand, only the major parties have a serious chance of forming a government. Similarly, in presidential systems, third-party candidates are rarely elected president.
1058:
parties might be forced to respond and adapt to their challenges, and often the larger parties copy ideas from them. Most third parties try to build their support to become one of the dominant parties, as the Labour Party in
Britain and New Democratic Party in Canada did.
601:
Third-party candidates who received more than the historical average of 5.6 percent of the popular vote or at least one electoral college vote are listed below, three of which were former presidents (follow links for more information on their time as president).
312:. This allows minor parties to achieve at least one quota in the electorate or state and thus gain representation in a parliamentary chamber. Often minor parties have been so successful in gaining such representation that they are able to hold the
1048:
In some categorizations, a party needs to have a certain level of success to be considered a third party. Smaller parties that win only a very small share of the vote and no seats in the legislature often are termed minor or fringe parties.
390:. However, strong regionalist movements and the potential for parties to take votes in the centre or extreme fringes of the political spectrum mean that minor parties still play a significant and increasing role in British politics. The
1024:
party contending for votes that failed to outpoll either of its two strongest rivals (or, in the context of an impending election, is considered highly unlikely to do so). The distinction is particularly significant in
533:
in Great
Britain that is able to contest only parish and community council elections in England and Wales and has fewer reporting, financial and administrative requirements than an ordinary registered political party.
1029:. In any case "third" is often used figuratively, as in "the third parties", where the intent, literally stated, is "the third and succeeding parties". The term "third parties" is used mostly in countries with
1252:
Unlike the parties in many nations, Canadian parties at the federal level are often only loosely connected with parties at the provincial level. Some parties operate only at the provincial level, for example
456:, which was the largest British party in the European Parliament before withdrawing due to Brexit, held no seats in the House of Commons. Today The Brexit Party is known as Reform UK and has five seats. Also
549:
402:(the main opposition to the Conservative Party before the rise of Labour, forming governments six times between 1859 and 1918) have achieved significant numbers of seats and have occasionally been
348:. During most of Suharto's presidency, only three political parties participated in elections, but after Suharto's fall minor parties returned to the Indonesian electoral scene. In the
755:
1972 Candidate John
Schmitz Won 1.4 percent of the popular vote (slightly over one million votes). Wallace was shot while running for the Democratic nomination that year.
586:. Since 1860, six presidential candidates other than Republicans and Democrats have received over 10% of the popular vote, although one of them was a former president,
463:
Other parties that have held seats in devolved assemblies, the House of
Commons or the European Parliament in the 21st century include the non-sectarian Northern Irish
1448:
1419:
1239:
1076:
Challenging parties also usually appeal for votes on the basis that they will try to change the voting system to make it more competitive for all parties.
309:
1084:
In some countries like the United States, parties with low win probability face frequent exclusion from major debates and media coverage and denial of
1455:, America.gov, 20 August 2007. (Information derived from the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
87:
629:
867:
317:
360:
has been implemented in
Indonesian elections, reducing the number of parties represented in the national parliament to ten or less.
1350:
1097:
972:
944:
914:
862:
838:
788:
760:
732:
698:
674:
650:
624:
475:
352:, for example, out of 48 participating political parties only 20 political parties won any seats at the national level. Since the
765:
1150:
555:
1323:
422:
hold a significant number of seats in their Home
Nations, with the SNP controlling 56 of 59 Scottish Westminster seats at the
1445:
530:
483:
1184:
1180:
503:
423:
353:
349:
345:
341:
271:
method of voting can be advantageous to a minor party as can preference allocation from one or both of the major parties.
204:
1487:
176:
571:
434:
1166:
1126:
846:
703:
563:
344:, over a dozen newly established political parties which participated in elections won just two seats or less in the
241:
223:
121:
59:
1130:
872:
583:
579:
517:
Whether or not a party counts as a major party is a sometimes heated argument, since "major parties" as defined by
449:
183:
1296:
980:
369:
1125:
In the United States, there have been numerous "third parties". The largest since the mid-20th century are the
373:
161:
382:
in the United
Kingdom means that in the post-War era, only two parties have had a majority in parliament: the
487:
313:
301:
287:
190:
1215:
157:
45:
1120:
1041:
567:
559:
543:
411:
268:
172:
1482:
1231:
1030:
817:
770:
737:
507:
491:
1459:
1270:
1070:
522:
445:
1424:
1165:. In the Scottish Parliament, the SNP has been the dominant parliamentary party beginning with the
499:
395:
103:
1069:, which can give smaller parties strength disproportional to their support. Examples include the
1254:
1211:
1162:
1142:
1100:(DLP) was the largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections from 1955 until 1977. The
415:
383:
357:
150:
262:
that plays a smaller (in some cases much smaller, even insignificant in comparison) role than a
1393:
1191:
1170:
1154:
471:
391:
83:
1355:
1227:
457:
441:
291:
1246:
1223:
1101:
896:
321:
274:
A minor party that follows the direction/directive of some other major parties is called a
8:
1219:
1066:
464:
427:
379:
197:
1372:
1104:
was the largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections from 1977 until 2004.
1249:
has been the largest Third party by popular vote in most federal elections since 1962.
1195:
1158:
1062:
796:
587:
575:
399:
1146:
1108:
742:
717:
511:
387:
325:
305:
95:
1364:
1258:
1235:
1141:
In the United
Kingdom, a third party is a national political party, other than the
1034:
1026:
954:
926:
682:
99:
51:
20:
1463:
1452:
949:
259:
426:, and every single Northern Irish seat is held by a regional party – either the
1275:
822:
724:
438:
1198:
used to be the largest Third party by popular vote from the 1920s until 2015.
1173:
the next largest party and Labour becoming
Scotland's third party ever since.
460:
has achieved significant vote shares despite holding no seats in the Commons.
1476:
1085:
634:
495:
529:
A minor party is also a special type of political party registered with the
920:
708:
550:
List of third party and independent performances in United States elections
453:
407:
430:
419:
263:
1368:
574:, and others that have less influence than the major parties. Since the
275:
1176:
1111:
have been largest Third party by popular vote in federal elections.
468:
403:
297:
139:
414:) and are sometimes also classed as a major party. The nationalist
16:
Political party with little influence in the governing of a country
316:
in the particular house of the parliament. Some examples are the
1161:
were the third party. Between 2015 and 2024, it was used for the
1446:
Third-Party Candidates Can Influence U.S. Presidential Elections
1073:
which pushed for Home Rule in Ireland in the late 19th century.
1207:
1240:
List of federal political parties in Canada#Registered parties
1397:
1005:
Source: (Bureau of International Information Programs, 2006)
518:
1456:
1187:
479:
1297:"Nasib Suram Partai Gurem dalam Sejarah Politik Tanah Air"
645:
Did not run; endorsed Republican candidate George W. Bush
340:
in Indonesia. In Indonesia's first democratic election in
1324:"Tantangan Partai Politik Baru di Pemilu 2024 - Laman 4"
324:
from the late 1970s until 2004, and more recently the
1218:
are the two major parties at the federal level. The
336:
Minor political parties are commonly referred to as
1179:was the largest Third party by popular vote in the
164:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1230:are the largest minor parties, represented in the
1052:
1420:"Guidance on registering and maintaining a party"
1190:was the largest Third party by popular vote. The
1474:
1079:
1037:, so that successful smaller parties are rare.
596:Third-party presidential candidates, 1832–1996
1394:"Ofcom Statement on Party Election Broadcasts"
1351:"The Continuing Advance of the Minor Parties"
1153:. From 1922 to 2015 and again from 2024, the
578:(1861–1865), the major parties have been the
80:The examples and perspective in this article
1033:systems, as those systems tend to create a
60:Learn how and when to remove these messages
412:2010–2015 coalition with the Conservatives
1348:
1234:. Another 12 parties are registered with
242:Learn how and when to remove this message
224:Learn how and when to remove this message
122:Learn how and when to remove this message
1294:
562:. Minor parties in the U.S. include the
490:, the left-wing Northern Irish unionist
476:Independent Community and Health Concern
320:(DLP) in the 1960s and early 1970s, the
1388:
1386:
1384:
1382:
1149:, which has at least one member in the
1088:as well as hamstrung campaign budgets.
727:was instead the Libertarian candidate.
558:, minor parties are often described as
1475:
1321:
478:, the cross-community Northern Irish
1379:
1295:Matanasi, Petrik (25 January 2017).
1185:2015 United Kingdom general election
1181:2024 United Kingdom general election
833:Won 3.2 percent of the popular vote
504:Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
424:2015 United Kingdom general election
162:adding citations to reliable sources
133:
66:
25:
1242:) but have no seats in Parliament.
1136:
13:
1114:
484:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
435:Social Democratic and Labour Party
14:
1499:
1167:2011 Scottish Parliament election
1065:there is also the possibility of
1000:are those over 10% in elections.
526:major party in Northern Ireland.
363:
300:owe much of their success to the
41:This article has multiple issues.
537:
506:and the unionist Northern Irish
138:
71:
30:
1053:Parliamentary two-party systems
482:, the cross-community feminist
370:Elections in the United Kingdom
310:the legislatures of most states
149:needs additional citations for
49:or discuss these issues on the
1439:
1412:
1342:
1315:
1288:
1091:
1011:
857:Endorsed Democratic candidate
669:Ran as Reform Party candidate
374:Politics of the United Kingdom
1:
1322:Alief, Muh (22 August 2023).
1281:
809:Returned to Republican Party
783:Returned to Republican Party
488:People Before Profit Alliance
394:, and their predecessors the
288:Electoral system of Australia
1157:and their predecessors the
1080:Structural barriers to power
967:Won 4.9 percent of the vote
498:, the left wing nationalist
331:
281:
7:
1264:
1194:and their predecessors the
1121:Third party (United States)
1042:proportional representation
793:Progressive ("Bull Moose")
544:Third party (United States)
302:proportional representation
269:proportional representation
98:, discuss the issue on the
10:
1504:
1488:Types of political parties
1232:House of Commons of Canada
1118:
1031:first-past-the-post voting
547:
541:
523:party political broadcasts
508:Traditional Unionist Voice
492:Progressive Unionist Party
367:
285:
84:the English-speaking world
18:
1271:Frivolous political party
1201:
1071:Irish Parliamentary Party
1016:In electoral politics, a
1004:
995:
723:Did not run; his elector
619:Outcome in next election
609:
600:
595:
474:, the healthcare-focused
446:Democratic Unionist Party
304:method of voting for the
1425:The Electoral Commission
991:Endorsed Whig candidate
500:Scottish Socialist Party
452:hold four seats and the
346:House of Representatives
19:Not to be confused with
1457:http://usinfo.state.gov
1163:Scottish National Party
502:, the elderly interest
416:Scottish National Party
358:parliamentary threshold
86:and do not represent a
1098:Democratic Labor Party
472:British National Party
318:Democratic Labor Party
1356:Parliamentary Affairs
771:Robert M. La Follette
548:Further information:
521:are entitled to more
486:, the anti-austerity
442:Ulster Unionist Party
292:Politics of Australia
1247:New Democratic Party
1224:New Democratic Party
1102:Australian Democrats
1067:minority governments
897:John C. Breckinridge
868:Constitutional Union
738:American Independent
613:Popular vote %
531:Electoral Commission
406:(such as during the
396:SDP–Liberal Alliance
322:Australian Democrats
278:or satellite party.
158:improve this article
104:create a new article
96:improve this article
82:deal primarily with
893:Southern Democrats
380:first past the post
308:and one chamber of
1462:2006-12-23 at the
1451:2008-02-15 at the
1349:Paul Webb (2005).
1216:Conservative Party
1063:Westminster system
797:Theodore Roosevelt
588:Theodore Roosevelt
576:American Civil War
572:Constitution Party
448:. As of 2024, the
384:Conservative Party
1483:Political parties
1369:10.1093/pa/gsi063
1192:Liberal Democrats
1155:Liberal Democrats
1109:Australian Greens
1027:two-party systems
1009:
1008:
743:George C. Wallace
718:faithless elector
564:Libertarian Party
512:UK Unionist Party
392:Liberal Democrats
326:Australian Greens
306:Australian Senate
296:Minor parties in
252:
251:
244:
234:
233:
226:
208:
132:
131:
124:
106:, as appropriate.
64:
1495:
1467:
1443:
1437:
1436:
1434:
1432:
1416:
1410:
1409:
1407:
1405:
1390:
1377:
1376:
1371:. Archived from
1346:
1340:
1339:
1337:
1335:
1319:
1313:
1312:
1310:
1308:
1292:
1259:British Columbia
1236:Elections Canada
1151:House of Commons
1107:Since 2004, the
1040:Countries using
1035:two-party system
955:Martin Van Buren
939:Party dissolved
927:Millard Fillmore
909:Party dissolved
885:Party dissolved
683:John B. Anderson
616:Electoral votes
593:
592:
584:Democratic Party
580:Republican Party
494:, the left wing
314:balance of power
247:
240:
229:
222:
218:
215:
209:
207:
166:
142:
134:
127:
120:
116:
113:
107:
75:
74:
67:
56:
34:
33:
26:
1503:
1502:
1498:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1493:
1492:
1473:
1472:
1471:
1470:
1464:Wayback Machine
1453:Wayback Machine
1444:
1440:
1430:
1428:
1418:
1417:
1413:
1403:
1401:
1400:. 16 March 2015
1392:
1391:
1380:
1347:
1343:
1333:
1331:
1330:(in Indonesian)
1320:
1316:
1306:
1304:
1303:(in Indonesian)
1293:
1289:
1284:
1267:
1204:
1139:
1123:
1117:
1094:
1082:
1055:
1014:
996:Percentages in
847:James B. Weaver
552:
546:
540:
376:
366:
334:
294:
284:
260:political party
248:
237:
236:
235:
230:
219:
213:
210:
167:
165:
155:
143:
128:
117:
111:
108:
93:
76:
72:
35:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1501:
1491:
1490:
1485:
1469:
1468:
1438:
1411:
1378:
1375:on 2014-01-18.
1363:(4): 757–775.
1341:
1314:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1278:
1276:Vote splitting
1273:
1266:
1263:
1220:Bloc Québécois
1203:
1200:
1138:
1137:United Kingdom
1135:
1119:Main article:
1116:
1113:
1093:
1090:
1081:
1078:
1054:
1051:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1002:
1001:
993:
992:
989:
986:
983:
978:
975:
969:
968:
965:
962:
957:
952:
947:
941:
940:
937:
934:
929:
924:
917:
911:
910:
907:
904:
899:
894:
891:
887:
886:
883:
880:
875:
870:
865:
859:
858:
855:
852:
849:
844:
841:
835:
834:
831:
828:
825:
823:Eugene V. Debs
820:
815:
811:
810:
807:
804:
799:
794:
791:
785:
784:
781:
778:
773:
768:
763:
757:
756:
753:
750:
745:
740:
735:
729:
728:
725:Roger MacBride
721:
714:
711:
706:
701:
695:
694:
691:
688:
685:
680:
677:
671:
670:
667:
664:
659:
658:H. Ross Perot
656:
653:
647:
646:
643:
640:
637:
632:
627:
621:
620:
617:
614:
611:
608:
604:
603:
598:
597:
542:Main article:
539:
536:
465:Alliance Party
365:
364:United Kingdom
362:
333:
330:
283:
280:
250:
249:
232:
231:
146:
144:
137:
130:
129:
90:of the subject
88:worldwide view
79:
77:
70:
65:
39:
38:
36:
29:
21:minority party
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1500:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1465:
1461:
1458:
1454:
1450:
1447:
1442:
1427:
1426:
1421:
1415:
1399:
1395:
1389:
1387:
1385:
1383:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1362:
1358:
1357:
1352:
1345:
1329:
1328:Rakyat Sulsel
1325:
1318:
1302:
1298:
1291:
1287:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1268:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1250:
1248:
1243:
1241:
1237:
1233:
1229:
1225:
1221:
1217:
1213:
1212:Liberal Party
1209:
1199:
1197:
1193:
1189:
1186:
1182:
1178:
1174:
1172:
1171:Conservatives
1168:
1164:
1160:
1156:
1152:
1148:
1144:
1143:Conservatives
1134:
1132:
1128:
1122:
1115:United States
1112:
1110:
1105:
1103:
1099:
1089:
1087:
1086:ballot access
1077:
1074:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1059:
1050:
1046:
1043:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1028:
1023:
1019:
1003:
999:
994:
990:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:Anti-Masonic
976:
974:
971:
970:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
942:
938:
935:
933:
930:
928:
925:
922:
918:
916:
913:
912:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
892:
889:
888:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
860:
856:
853:
850:
848:
845:
842:
840:
837:
836:
832:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
813:
812:
808:
805:
803:
800:
798:
795:
792:
790:
787:
786:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
758:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
730:
726:
722:
719:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
696:
692:
689:
686:
684:
681:
678:
676:
673:
672:
668:
665:
663:
660:
657:
654:
652:
649:
648:
644:
641:
638:
636:
635:H. Ross Perot
633:
631:
628:
626:
623:
622:
618:
615:
612:
606:
605:
599:
594:
591:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
565:
561:
560:third parties
557:
556:United States
551:
545:
538:United States
535:
532:
527:
524:
520:
515:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
496:Respect Party
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
470:
466:
461:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
440:
436:
432:
429:
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
408:Lib-Lab pacts
405:
401:
400:Liberal Party
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
375:
371:
361:
359:
355:
354:2009 election
351:
350:1999 election
347:
343:
339:
329:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
293:
289:
279:
277:
272:
270:
265:
261:
257:
246:
243:
228:
225:
217:
214:November 2008
206:
203:
199:
196:
192:
189:
185:
182:
178:
175: –
174:
173:"Minor party"
170:
169:Find sources:
163:
159:
153:
152:
147:This article
145:
141:
136:
135:
126:
123:
115:
112:February 2022
105:
101:
97:
91:
89:
85:
78:
69:
68:
63:
61:
54:
53:
48:
47:
42:
37:
28:
27:
22:
1441:
1429:. Retrieved
1423:
1414:
1402:. Retrieved
1373:the original
1360:
1354:
1344:
1332:. Retrieved
1327:
1317:
1305:. Retrieved
1300:
1290:
1251:
1244:
1205:
1175:
1140:
1124:
1106:
1095:
1083:
1075:
1060:
1056:
1047:
1039:
1021:
1017:
1015:
997:
981:William Wirt
959:
931:
921:Know-Nothing
901:
877:
801:
775:
747:
709:John Hospers
693:Did not run
679:Independent
661:
655:Independent
553:
528:
516:
462:
454:Brexit Party
388:Labour Party
377:
338:partai gurem
337:
335:
295:
273:
255:
253:
238:
220:
211:
201:
194:
187:
180:
168:
156:Please help
151:verification
148:
118:
109:
81:
57:
50:
44:
43:Please help
40:
1228:Green Party
1169:, with the
1127:Libertarian
1018:third party
1012:Third party
919:American ("
766:Progressive
704:Libertarian
568:Green Party
450:Green Party
420:Plaid Cymru
378:The use of
264:major party
256:minor party
1477:Categories
1431:24 October
1282:References
610:Candidate
428:republican
404:kingmakers
368:See also:
286:See also:
276:bloc party
184:newspapers
46:improve it
1255:BC United
1183:. In the
1177:Reform UK
1133:Parties.
1092:Australia
950:Free Soil
873:John Bell
843:Populist
818:Socialist
469:far right
437:, or the
431:Sinn FĂ©in
332:Indonesia
298:Australia
282:Australia
100:talk page
52:talk page
1460:Archived
1449:Archived
1404:18 March
1301:tirto.id
1265:See also
1214:and the
1196:Liberals
1159:Liberals
582:and the
439:unionist
410:and the
398:and the
386:and the
94:You may
1334:2 April
1307:2 April
1061:In the
554:In the
198:scholar
1226:, and
1210:, the
1208:Canada
1202:Canada
1147:Labour
630:Reform
566:, the
467:, the
200:
193:
186:
179:
171:
1398:OFCOM
1238:(see
1131:Green
890:1860
814:1912
607:Year
519:Ofcom
258:is a
205:JSTOR
191:books
102:, or
1433:2018
1406:2016
1336:2024
1309:2024
1245:The
1188:UKIP
1145:and
1129:and
1096:The
998:bold
985:7.7
973:1832
960:10.1
945:1848
932:21.5
915:1856
902:18.1
878:12.6
863:1860
851:8.5
839:1892
802:27.4
789:1912
776:16.6
761:1924
748:13.5
733:1968
713:0.0
699:1972
687:6.6
675:1980
662:18.9
651:1992
639:8.4
625:1996
510:and
480:NI21
458:UKIP
444:and
433:and
418:and
372:and
356:, a
342:1955
290:and
177:news
1365:doi
1257:in
1206:In
1022:any
1020:is
923:")
906:72
882:39
854:22
806:88
780:13
752:46
716:1 (
160:by
1479::
1422:.
1396:.
1381:^
1361:58
1359:.
1353:.
1326:.
1299:.
1261:.
1222:,
988:7
964:0
936:8
830:0
827:6
720:)
690:0
666:0
642:0
590:.
570:,
514:.
328:.
254:A
55:.
1466:)
1435:.
1408:.
1367::
1338:.
1311:.
245:)
239:(
227:)
221:(
216:)
212:(
202:·
195:·
188:·
181:·
154:.
125:)
119:(
114:)
110:(
92:.
62:)
58:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
