A party system is a concept in political science concerning the system of government in a state where political parties exist. Political science is a social science discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. ... A state is an organized political community occupying a definite territory, having an organized government, and possessing internal and external sovereignty. ... A political party is a political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology and seeks to attain political power within a government. ...
The party system of a state determines how many political parties in a state have a realistic chance of becoming the government, usually through winning elections. Party systems are usually created by a variety of factors, such as the type of electoral system used in a state. For example, the use of First Past the Post in elections to a state's primary legislative assembly (for example general elections) usually results in a two-party system. An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... The plurality voting system, also known as first past the post, is a voting system used to elect a single winner in a given election. ... A general election is an election in which all members of a given political body are up for election. ... A two-party system is a type of party system where only two political parties have a realistic chance of winning an election. ...
There are four distinct types:
Single-party system – when only one party can be the government because all other parties are banned;
Two-party system – when only two parties can realistically compete to become the government;
Dominant-party system – when only one party can realistically compete to become the government because of the weakness of other parties;
Multi-party system – when more than two parties can realistically compete to become the government.
A single-party state or one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system and form of government where only a single political party dominates the government and no opposition parties are allowed. ... A two-party system is a type of party system where only two political parties have a realistic chance of winning an election. ... A dominant-party system, or one party dominant system, is a party system where only one political party can realistically become the government, by itself or in a coalition government. ... A multi-party system is a type of party system. ...
See also
List of democracy and elections-related topics
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Two-party systems often develop spontaneously when the voting system used for elections discriminates against third or smaller parties, because the number of votes received for a party in a whole country does not relate directly and proportionally to the number of seats it receives in the country's assembly/assemblies.
In some countries, the system, while not a true two-party system, may evolve to a situation where there are two rather stable coalitions, each with a dominant party, and power alternates between the two.
The dynamics of a two-party system drives both parties' policies towards the position of a mythical median voter while remaining (hopefully) distinctive enough to motivate their core support.
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