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Political parties in the United States

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For complete list, see List of political parties in the United States.

This article presents the main political parties in United States politics.

Parties in presidential contention

Each of five parties shares a degree of national attention by attaining the mathematical possibility of its nominee becoming President of the United States -- i.e., having ballot status for its presidential candidate in states whose collective total is at least half of the Electoral-College votes -- in either the most recent presidential election, in 2008, or the next one, in 2012:

Name 2008 electoral votes 2008 popular votes (millions) Recent presidential wins Date founded Founder(s) Current party chair(s)

Template:American politics/party colours/Green/row

Green Party 0 0.12 -- 1984/2001 Howie Hawkins, John Rensenbrink, et al 7 Co-chairs

Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row

Democratic Party 365 52 2008, 1996, 1992 1792 (historic)/1828 (modern) Thomas Jefferson/Andrew Jackson Tim Kaine

Template:American politics/party colours/Libertarian/row

Libertarian Party 0 0.40 -- 1971 David Nolan Bill Redpath

Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row

Republican Party 173 45 2004, 2000 1854 Alvan E. Bovay/Abraham Lincoln Michael Steele

Template:American politics/party colours/Constitution/row

Constitution Party 0 0.15 -- 1992 Howard Phillips Jim Clymer

Constitution Party

Main article: Constitution Party (United States)

The Constitution Party is a conservative United States political party. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers Party in 1992. The party's official name was changed to the Constitution Party in 1999; however, some state affiliate parties are known under different names.

According to ballot access expert Richard Winger, the editor of Ballot Access News, who periodically compiles and analyzes voter registration statistics as reported by state voter agencies, it ranks third nationally amongst all United States political parties in registered voters, with 366,937 registered members as of November 2006.[1]

The Constitution Party advocates a platform that purports to reflect the Founding Fathers' original intent of the U.S. Constitution, principles found in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and morals taken from the Bible.[2]

In 2006, Rick Jore of Montana became the first Constitution Party candidate elected to a state-level office[3][4], though the Constitution Party of Montana had disaffiliated itself from the national party a short time before the election.

On April 26, 2008, Chuck Baldwin was nominated as the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party.

Democratic Party

Main article: Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in the United States and among the oldest in the world.[5][6][7]

The Democratic Party traces its origins to the Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other influential opponents of the Federalists in 1792. Since the division of the Republican Party in the election of 1912, it has consistently positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party in economic as well as social matters. The economically left-leaning activist philosophy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which has strongly influenced American liberalism, has shaped much of the party's economic agenda since 1932. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition usually controlled the national government until the 1970s. The civil rights movement of the 1960s has continued to inspire the party's liberal principles,[8] despite having lost the more conservative South in the process.

In 2004, it was the largest political party, with 72 million voters (42.6% of 169 million registered) claiming affiliation.[9] Since the 2006 midterm elections, the Democratic Party is the majority party for the 110th Congress; the party holds an outright majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic caucus (including two independents) constitutes a majority in the United States Senate. Democrats also hold a majority of state governorships and control a plurality of state legislatures.

Green Party

Main article: Green Party (United States)

In the United States, the Green Party has been active as a third party since the 1980s. The party first gained widespread public attention during Ralph Nader's presidential runs in 1996 and 2000. Currently, the primary national Green Party organization in the U.S. is the Green Party of the United States, which has eclipsed the earlier Greens/Green Party USA. There are Green Parties in many nations.

The Green Party in the United States has won elected office mostly at the local level; most winners of public office in the United States who are considered Greens have won nonpartisan-ballot elections (that is, the winning Greens won offices in elections in which candidates were not identified on the ballot as affiliated with any political party).[10] In 2005, the Party had 305,000 registered members in states that allow party registration, as well as tens of thousands of members and contributors in the rest of the country.[11] During the 2006 elections the party had ballot access in 31 states.[12]

Greens emphasize environmentalism, non-hierarchical participatory democracy, social justice, respect for diversity, peace and nonviolence.

On July 12, 2008 former six term Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was nominated as the presidential nominee of the Green Party.

Libertarian Party

Main article: Libertarian Party (United States)

The Libertarian Party is an American political party founded on December 11, 1971.[13] It is one of the largest continuing Third parties in the United States, claiming more than 200,000 registered voters and more than 600 people in public office,[14] including mayors, county executives, county-council members, school-board members, and other local officials. It has more people in office than all other third parties combined.[14]

The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects that group's particular brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration across borders, and non-interventionism in foreign policy that respects freedom of trade and travel to all foreign countries.

On May 25, 2008 former four term Congressman Bob Barr was nominated as the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party.

Republican Party

Main article: Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. It is often referred to as the Grand Old Party or the GOP.

Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, Republican Party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. The party presided over the American Civil War and Reconstruction and was harried by internal factions and scandals toward the end of the 19th century. Today, the Republican Party supports a conservative platform (as far as American politics are concerned), with further foundations in economic liberalism, fiscal conservatism, and social conservatism.

Former President George W. Bush is the 19th Republican to hold that office. Republicans currently fill a minority of seats in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, hold a minority of state governorships, and control a minority of state legislatures. The party's nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 presidential election was Senator John McCain of Arizona. It is currently the second largest party with 55 million registered members, encompassing roughly one third of the electorate.[9]

Politics comparison

Comparison of politics of current United States parties in presidential contention
Issue Green Party Democratic Party Libertarian Party Republican Party Constitution Party
Main ideologies
Political spectrum Left-Right Center-left Center-left (Rejects left-right political spectrum) Center-right Right-wing
Communitarianism vs. Individualism
Economic Issues 		Communitarian Mixed Individualist Mixed[15] Individualist
Communitarianism vs. Individualism
Cultural Issues 		Individualist Individualist Individualist Mixed Communitarian
Pacifism vs. Militarianism Pacifism Mixed Non-interventionist Mixed Non-interventionist[16][17]
Free trade vs. Fair trade Fair trade Mixed Free trade (Unilateral)[18] "Free and fair trade" (Multilateral)[19] Semi-protectionist[20]
Progressivism vs. Conservatism Progressivism Progressivism Libertarianism Conservatism Conservatism
Specific issues Legal Abortion Favor Favor [21][22] Favor [23] Oppose [24] Oppose[25]
Public financing of campaigns Favor Favor [21]
Same-sex marriage Favor Supports "equal responsibility, benefits, and protections" for same-sex couples. [21] Against government's role in marriage in general [26] Oppose, and oppose "equivalent" arrangements [27] Oppose any legal recognition (including marriage or civil unions) and oppose any protected class status for homosexuals [28]
Universal healthcare Favor single payer system Mixed Oppose [23] Oppose federally implemented universal health care [29] Oppose[30]
Taxation Supports progressive tax policies [21] Favors repeal of income tax and abolishment of IRS [23] Favors reduced and less progressive taxation [31] Oppose[32]
Deficit spending Favors reduction[33] Mixed Oppose[23] Favors balanced budget except in times of war[31] Favors reduction
Illegal immigration Supports comprehensive immigration reform [21] Mixed Oppose amnesty and guest workers[34]
Iraq war policy Calls for immediate, complete withdrawal[35][36] Sixteen month withdrawal timeline[21] Calls for withdrawal "without delay"[37] Oppose withdrawal timetables, believe timeline should be based on 'conditions on the ground' [38] Call for withdrawal[39]
Capital punishment Oppose Do not oppose, but support appropriate protections [21] More in Favor Favor Favor [40]
Drug decriminalization Favor[41] Generally Opposed Favor (Legalization)[42] Oppose Oppose[43]
Firearm policy Favors gun control [44] Supports individual right to bear arms, subject to "reasonable restrictions" [21] Opposes all firearm regulation[23] Supports individual right to bear arms and opposes gun control[27][45] Oppose all federal firearm legislation and limitations[46]
State Organized School prayer Oppose Oppose Oppose Favor Favor

Other parties

Main article: List of political parties in the United States

Many other political parties existed in the past or are active now.

See also

References

  1. ^ NOVEMBER 2006 REGISTRATION TOTALS
  2. ^ http://constitutionparty.com/party_platform.php "Constitution Party Preamble"
  3. ^ "State Legislature results", Missoulian, November 8, 2006, retrieved November 8, 2006
  4. ^ Control of state Legislature unclear, Helena Independent Record
  5. ^ Witcover, Jules (2003). "1". Party of the People: A History of the Democrats. p. 3. "The Democratic Party of the United States, the oldest existing in the world, was in a sense an illegitimate child, unwanted by the founding fathers of the American Republic."
  6. ^ Micklethwait, John (2004). The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America. p. 15. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) "The country possesses the world's oldest written constitution (1787); the Democratic Party has a good claim to being the world's oldest political party."
  7. ^ Democratic Party, Encyclopædia Britannica Online, Accessed August 21, 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Economist Intelligence Unit. (July 11, 2007). Political Forces". Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  9. ^ a b "Neuhart, P. (22 January, 2004). Why politics is fun from catbirds' seats. USA Today'". Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  10. ^ Green elected officials
  11. ^ "Green Party Ballot Status and Voter Registration Totals (United States)". Greens.org. Retrieved April 12, 2006.
  12. ^ "Greens Win Ballot Access in 31 States, Up From 17 in January". Green Party press release, September 5, 2006.
  13. ^ Libertarian Party:Our History, LP.org
  14. ^ a b "Frequently asked questions about the Libertarian Party", Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee. Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
  15. ^ Republican Platform: Economy
  16. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Defense)".
  17. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Foreign Policy)".
  18. ^ Libertarian Party on Free Trade
  19. ^ Republican Platform: Free and Fair Trade
  20. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Tariffs and Trade)".
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h The 2008 Democratic Party Platform: Renewing America's Promise
  22. ^ "Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue". Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  23. ^ a b c d e Libertarian Party Platform
  24. ^ "2004 Republican Party Platform: on Abortion". United States Republican Party. 2004. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  25. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Sanctity of Life)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  26. ^ "Libertarian Party 2008 Platform".
  27. ^ a b Republican Platform: Values
  28. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Family)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  29. ^ http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/HealthCare.htm Republican Platform: Health Care]
  30. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Health Care and Government)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  31. ^ a b Republican 2008 Platform: Government Reform
  32. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Taxes)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  33. ^ "Green Party Platform (National Debt)". Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  34. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Immigration)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  35. ^ "Green Talking Points: Greens speak out on Obama's plans for carbon emissions trading, US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan", www.gp.org, accessed 2009-3-25
  36. ^ gp.org - Global Greens Action Proposal - April, 2003
  37. ^ "Current Issues". Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  38. ^ Republican 2008 Platform: National Security
  39. ^ "Bush to Lawmakers on Iraq: Do You Have a Better Idea? Constitution Party: Yes!". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  40. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Crime)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  41. ^ Ii. Social Justice
  42. ^ faqs.org - Libertarian FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
  43. ^ Constitution Platform: Drug Abuse
  44. ^ Green Party Platform: Criminal Justice
  45. ^ Spitzer, Robert J.: "The Politics of Gun Control", Page 16. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995.
  46. ^ "Constitution Party Platform (Gun Control)". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
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