Final answer:
The winner-take-all system creates a barrier against third parties by making voters feel that voting for a third party is a waste of their vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
The winner-take-all system creates a structural barrier against third parties in the political system. In this system, the candidate who receives the most votes in a particular district wins the election, even if they do not have a majority. This often leads voters to believe that voting for a third-party candidate is a waste of their vote and would only take away votes from the major party candidates. As a result, third parties struggle to gain popular support and representation in the government.