Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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ELI5: Why do only the two biggest parties in the US a chance to win an election? (feddit.org)

submitted 1 week ago by tux0r@feddit.org to c/eli5@lemmy.world

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I mean, there is a variety of intriguing political parties, but it's still always "Republicans or Democrats". Why?

(Disclosure: I'm German, never been to the US.)

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[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago

            
              first past the post elections encourage a 2 party system.
it's not a parliamentary system, so a legislature hostile to the executive is more probable with a multi party system, so the 2 parties are already coalitions.
the winners of elections get to set the rules for future elections so both parties work to make third parties more difficult. This factors into federal funding, qualifying for ballots, and debate appearances.