Final answer:
The obstacles to the formation of minor parties make them difficult to describe and classify.
Step-by-step explanation:
The obstacles to the formation of minor parties make them difficult to describe and classify. Third parties in the United States face challenges such as electoral rules, lack of voter support, and limited resources. These factors prevent them from gaining broad support among the electorate and becoming viable alternatives to the two major parties.
Given the hurdles they must overcome, such as securing sufficient petition signatures to get on the ballot or facing challenges due to plurality voting systems, the success of minor parties is often limited. Despite these challenges, third parties can play significant roles in shaping major party positions and bringing attention to specific issues, even if they do not frequently win major elections.