Why are third parties important in a political system? they oppose the strongest party. they participate in the debates. they have the largest number of voters. they draw votes away from each party?

Third parties are important in a political system because they draw votes away from each party.

Explanation:

While third parties have no real influence, that is, they have never been elected to represent positions of notorious influence (and probably never will), they do have an electoral influence that has sometimes even been decisive for the final outcome of an election.

Third parties tend to attract moderate voters, who do not identify with either Democrats or Republicans, or extremist voters, who consider the other proposals as insufficient.

Generally, these parties do not obtain electoral votes in presidential elections, as they do not win in any state. But in some cases, they have crucially influenced the outcome of an election, as in 1992, when far-right candidate Ross Perot obtained 18.9% of the votes, of which it is estimated that most of them would have voted for the Republican Party candidate, G.H.W. Bush. It is considered that thanks to the participation of Ross Perot, Bill Clinton, a member of the Democratic Party, won the presidency.