What is the most salient characteristic of the American political party system?

Answer 1

The "winner take all" model, which ensures that we hardly ever have a viable third party.

Answer 2

Two mainstream parties.

All the rest of the industrialized world has about 4-5 parties on a ticket. Consequently those other countries hardly ever have a majority of the people voting for their leaders.

Answer 3

There are two big parties that are both funded by big business and big lobby groups, and they're not really much different but they argue with each other as if they are, and anyone who doesn't agree with either of them is hooped because they'll never get enough money to challenge them.

That's my take as a Canadian looking in from the outside, anyhow.

Answer 4

These days? Not too much at all. All these guys are the same - there isn't much of a political party system these days.

"You could say I'd lost my belief in our politicians
They all seemed like game show hosts to me"

Answer 5

the parties are the same ones we have always had. the Federalists and the Antifederalist. One wants uniform federal laws to regulate behavior the other prefers local and state govs to regulate behavior.

Answer 6

Constant change.