In the context of United States government and politics, the term refers to any political organization that is not one of the two dominant parties, currently the Democratic and Republican parties. These organizations advocate for particular ideologies, policies, or represent specific segments of the electorate and seek to gain political power through elections. An example would be the Green Party, advocating for environmental issues, or the Libertarian Party, promoting individual liberties and limited government intervention.
These organizations play a crucial role in shaping the political discourse by introducing new ideas and perspectives that the major parties may overlook or ignore. They can influence policy by drawing attention to specific issues, forcing the major parties to address them. Historically, they have acted as incubators for policies that were later adopted by the dominant parties, and their presence can shift the political landscape by siphoning votes from the major party candidates, altering election outcomes. Their struggle to gain traction highlights the challenges of navigating a system dominated by two established forces.