Final answer:
The United States maintains a two-party system, with Democrats and Republicans holding the realistic possibility of winning elective office.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States has a two-party system, which means that two major political parties, currently the Democrats and Republicans, dominate the political landscape. While minor parties exist, such as the Green Party and Libertarian Party, the electoral structure and historical development of political factions in the U.S. have resulted in a system.
The winner-take-all electoral system is a significant factor contributing to the two-party system. This system, unlike proportional representation, awards the victory to the candidate with the highest number of votes, regardless of whether they attain an absolute majority. Other factors strengthening this two-party dominance include the Electoral College.
Campaign finance laws, ballot access rules, and the historical precedence set by early political parties in the U.S. As a result, voting behavior is often influenced by the perceived viability of candidates, with voters typically casting ballots for one of the two major parties to support a potential winner.