Final answer:
In American politics, a Major-Party refers to one with significant size and influence, such as Democrats or Republicans, while a Third Party, like the Libertarian or Green Party, has limited resources and faces challenges in gaining traction despite offering alternative perspectives and affecting election dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction between a Major-Party and a Third Party in American politics primarily revolves around size, influence, and resources. Major parties, namely Democrats and Republicans, have established a strong presence throughout the nation's history, offering significant financial and organizational support to their candidates. In contrast, third-party candidates from parties such as the Libertarian, Reform, Green, and Constitution parties often face challenges due to limited resources, resulting in major obstacles in fundraising and garnering support.
Third parties, despite their resource constraints, play a crucial role by bringing forward issues that may be overlooked by the larger parties, offering alternative perspectives, and potentially affecting election outcomes by splitting the vote. However, due to the 'winner-take-all' electoral system and lack of perceived viability, third parties often struggle to gain a steady base of voters and media attention, which is usually concentrated on major party candidates.
Overall, the two-party system has maintained a stronghold in American politics, making it challenging for third parties to have a substantial impact. Nevertheless, their existence offers a 'safety valve' for voters seeking alternatives to the major parties and their agendas.