It is difficult to imagine a period in American political history that was not dominated by a duopoly of political parties. Although the resistance of the Founding Fathers on the issue of political parties is well documented, the two-party system we are accustomed to developed shortly after the United States emerged as an independent nation. Whether it was the Federalist/Democratic-Republican system of the late 18th and early 19th centuries or the Democratic/Republican system we know today, two ideologically opposing parties have always maintained dominant control over the system American politics. The existence of third parties and independent candidates therefore complicates the political system we have used for centuries. Steven Rosenstone argues that the existence of our current two-party system is due, in part, to the ability of the two major parties to offer benefits in exchange for voter support. So what happens when one of the major parties fails in its responsibility to be publicly accountable? Although several options exist, including demanding change within the major parties, third-party parties and independent candidates are becoming a viable option to restore a sense of accountability among American politicians. Although third-party parties and independent candidates may seem attractive to voters, they often fail to win important elections. This failure can be attributed to many different factors, including constitutional and electoral obstacles, as well as deficiencies arising from the general lack of knowledge about third parties. Why then do third parties and independent candidates continue to exist in American politics? The ability of a third party to influence policy p...... middle of paper ...... a third party is to force the two major parties to provide leadership that is accountable to the people and actively involved in innovation policy. Rosenstone's assertion that third parties are essential to American democracy proves that the current two-party system is inadequate and often fails to provide strong leadership. Without the presence of third parties, it is not difficult to imagine what the American political system might look like. Works Cited Goren, Paul. “The two-party system”. Conference, POL 4737W, Blegen Hall 425, Minneapolis, January 28, 2010. Nader, Ralph and Theresa Amato. "So you want to run for president? Ha! Third-party barriers to entry." National Civic Review 90, no. 2 (summer 2001): 163-72. Rosenstone, Steven J., Roy L. Behr, and Edward H. Lazarus. Third parties in America. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996.