Final answer:
The number of political parties in democracies can range from a two-party system, as in the United States, to multiparty systems in parliamentary democracies, with variations like single-party systems in non-democratic states. The U.S. has minor parties, but the two-party framework remains dominant despite growing political diversity and public desire for more options.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of political parties in most democracies varies significantly. In the United States, the political system has consistently been a two-party system with the Democratic and Republican parties dominating. Countries with a presidential regime, like the USA, tend to have fewer major parties due to election mechanisms such as plurality voting and the need for broad appeal across different voter groups, which is conducive to a two-party system. In contrast, parliamentary systems, often found in Europe, encourage a multiparty system due to proportional representation, which allows for more parties to gain legislative seats. Notably, single-party systems exist in countries without democratic elections, such as China and North Korea, where only one political party controls the government.
Despite discouragement by winner-take-all systems like the Electoral College and ballot access rules, third-party and minority parties are a common feature in U.S. politics. They contribute to political diversity but generally have a smaller impact on national electoral outcomes. Discussions on the effectiveness of having multiple political parties often lead to the concept of hyperpluralism, which signifies extreme political fragmentation that can complicate the decision-making process and public policy formation.