Only candidates from the two major parties will, by the laws established in each of the states, automatically appear on the general election ballot. this is because the states' legislatures write the election laws for each of their individual states and in every state, the legislature is made up almost entirely of republicans and democrats who may not agree on many political issues but do agree that they, the two major parties, should maintain control of elections and political institutions such as the legislatures, the congress, and the presidency. this control that the democrats and republicans hold over election law inhibits the growth of the electoral college. third parties in america. democracy. a republican form of government. corporate control of the news media.