Final answer:
Second-Place Syndrome occurs in electoral systems when political parties appealing to smaller voter bases continuously lose to more popular ones, leading to the eventual disappearance of these smaller parties as supporters see no chance of success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Second-Place Syndrome occurs in electoral systems where candidates compete for individual seats in unique geographic districts. In such systems, a candidate must gain a significant number of votes to win. This syndrome is characterized by the phenomenon that political parties appealing to a smaller voter base tend to lose consistently to more popular parties. Consequently, parties that fail to come first, even occasionally, may cease to exist as their supporters see no hope of electoral success. This discourages votes for third-party candidates, preventing them from gaining traction.
Some examples of U.S. third parties affected by this syndrome include the Populist Party, the Progressives, the Dixiecrats, and the Reform Party.
Why It Occurs
The syndrome occurs because second-place finishers receive no reward for their efforts. This system promotes a two-party system and discourages the success of third parties since voters do not want to 'waste' their vote on a candidate with no chance of winning, leading to a tactical voting situation.