Why do you think Americans and your constituents prefer our two party system over a legislature with multiple parties as in many other nations around the world? Why did or didn't you declare yourself as an independent?

Why do you think Americans and your constituents prefer our two party system over a legislature with multiple parties as in many other nations around the world? Why did or didn't you declare yourself as an independent?
Asked by: michael perigard from Seattle, WA

Asked of All U.S. Congress on Apr 9th, 2008

Categories: Campaign 2008. Tags: independents · parties.

Answer from: U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT)

The two party system is a bi-product of the system we have right now, the fact that we have single member districts where one person is elected will always result in a two party system, it does in other countries as well. The constitution was designed with no parties in mind and can function with one, or two or multi or no parties whatsoever, as long as you have separation of powers and federalism securely in place. We are mucking around with federalism and separation of powers to the point that it doesn’t help. But whether there are two parties or multiple parties is really insignificant and it is a bi-product of the system we have created by statute of a single representative elected from a district. If you change that you’ll change the number of parties, whether that is more helpful or not is probably insignificant.

Answered on May 28th, 2008