Download Political Parties of the United States

Political
Parties of the
United States
How many political
parties are there in
United States?
Today there are two
major parties and 4
third major parties
in American system.
Parties are
Democratic Party,
Republican Party,
Constitution Party,
Green Party and
Libertarian Party.
Also there are minor
political parties and
regional parties in
system.
Democratic Party
Democratic Party is the oldest
political party in the history
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Main strategy of Democratic Party was
labor work supporter in economy and
very aggressive. Franklin D. Roosevelt
changed the main strategy of party and shaped it
through the American liberalism. In 2004, 72
million voters chose Democratic Party and it was
the largest political party of USA. Barack Obama
is a democrat and it’s 15th Democrat to hold the
office.
Main voters of party are social liberals.
Today Democratic Party say no to titles
like abortion restrictions, immigration
restrictions and non-interventionist
foreign policy. They are not supporting drug
liberalization. They say yes to controversial
topics like legalization of same sex marriages,
universal health care and civilian gun control.
Democratic Symbol
Republican Party
The Republican Party is another major
party in American political system. It’s
commonly called as “Grand Old Party”
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Party is founded by anti-slavery activists.
The party was on office in the American Civil
War period but this period has a bad reputation
because of various scandals. Last president
from Republicans was George W. Bush.
Nominee of party for 2012 presidential election
is Mitt Romney.
Party’s main political is on American
conservatism. But party doesn’t reject
liberalism and accepts some rules of
classical liberalism. Party history is including
important names of American History like
Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and
Ronald Reagan. Republican Party says yes to
abortion restrictions, immigration restrictions and
capital punishment. They say no to controversial
topics like legalization of same sex marriages,
universal health care and civilian gun control.
Republican Symbol
3rd Party System (Minor Party)
 Constitution Party is one of the most popular third major parties in
USA. They are founded in 1992. Party had over 430,000 registered
voters in 2008. Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution of the United States and the Bible shapes their party
politics. Their politic position is very close to Republican Party with some
differences. They say no to important topics like legalization of same sex marriages,
universal health care and civilian gun control. They say yes to Non-interventionist
foreign policy and it’s the main difference of Constitution Party from
Republicans. Also they say yes to restrictions like abortion restrictions and
immigration restrictions. Some writers classify party in Christian nationalism.
Green Party of the United States is founded in 1980s and today it’s a follower of
Greens/Green Party USA. They gained countrywide popularity in Ralph Nader’s
presidential run. Today they are powerful in local level. Environmentalism is the
main politics of party. Also they believe in non-hierarchical participatory democracy
and peace. They say no to abortion restrictions, immigration restrictions and capital
punishment. They work for drug liberalization, legalization of same sex
marriages and non-interventionist foreign policy.
Libertarian Party is also an important party which is founded in 1971. It
has 200,000 registered voters. They work on topics like legalization of
same sex marriages and drug liberalization.
Other Party Systems of the World
 One-Party System
 Multiparty System
 Two-Party System
 Third Party (Minor Party)
 Types of Third Parties
Single-issue party
 Ideological party
 Splinter party

One-Party Systems
 The party is the government
 The decisions of party leaders set government policy
 In elections in such nations, only the party’s
candidates appear on the ballot
 Usually found in authoritarian governments – by
force
 Example: North Korea, Iran (theocracy)
Two-Party System
 About a dozen nations have systems where 2 parties
compete for power
 Minor parties do exist

Example – United States – Republicans and Democrats with
minor parties including: Green, Libertarian, Independent, and
Socialist Parties
Third Party (Minor Party)
 Any party other than one of the 2 major parties
 In any election there may be more than one party
running against the major parties – still labeled third
party
 They rarely win major elections
Types of Third Parties
 Single-issue party
 Focuses on one major social, economic or moral issue
 EX. 1840’s – Liberty Party and Free Soil Party took stronger
stands against slavery
 Generally short-lived
Types of Third Parties
 Ideological Party
 Focuses on overall change in society rather than on an issue
 EX. Communist Party USA advocate government ownership of
factories, transportation, resources, farmland and other means
of production and distribution
Types of Third Parties
 Splinter party
 Splits away from one of the major parties because of some
disagreement
 Usually result from the failure of the a popular figure to gain
the major party’s presidential nomination
 EX. 1912 – Teddy Roosevelt led a group out of the Republican
Party to form the Progressive or Bull Moose Party
 Usually fade away with the defeat of their candidate