Since $1996,$ the Commission on Presidential Debates has limited the participants in debates to which of the following groups of individuals?

Group of answer choices

Only candidates of the two major parties$$the Democrats and the Republicans

Candidates of the two major parties$$the Democrats and the Republicans$$and one candidate from a third party

Candidates of the two major parties in the first debate, and one candidate from a third party in the second debate

Two candidates of up to four parties at a time