The general interpretation of a political party is an outfit organized by a group of people with shared aims and opinion with the view to influence the pubic to vote for their members into public office. They contest elections together and if elected they hold power in government for the period stipulated by law. The United States is a multi-party state, allowing multiple political parties in the political spectrum, to contest in an election. The current system however shows a two party political system where the two major parties Republicans and the Democrats control the political geography of the state. The two have dominated, and at least controlled the US presidential elections since 1852. There are about 39 national political parties and over 200 state level parties (Harbridge, 2015).
Republican Party
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 and has been in existence to date (insidegov.com, 2015). The party’s last tenure in White House ended in 2008, at the end of George Bush term in office. It is founded on the principles of conservatism, both fiscal and social (Harbridge, 2015). The party believes in a limited government and promotion of individual rights and justice. Currently the party controls the Senate, but the threat is there with two dissenting camps split across the line of ideological beliefs of the party of purity and pragmatism on conservancy
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party was founded in 1828, and up to date it flexes muscles on the political front (insidegov.com, 2015). It is the current holder of White House through the diminutive first black American president Barack Obama. The party is founded on the ideals of liberalism and progressivism. The party believes in a robust government and promotion of community and social responsibility. The party was muscled by their foes, the Republicans in the Senate in the 2014 elections.
Libertarian Party
The party was founded in 1971, and it is one of the longest serving third parties in the nation (insidegov.com, 2015). It is primarily founded on libertarianism, both classical and Minarchism. The ideal is a severely limited government. This should be coupled with the promotion of individual liberty in economic and personal affairs. The party believes in avoidance of the affairs of other countries and promoting free trade and migration (Harbridge, 2015). The party is yet to stage any command in the federal political scene.
Green Party
The Green Party was founded in 1984 and is currently in command control of the third parties in the country (insidegov.com, 2015). It was formed on a leftist notion of green politics, social democracy and civil libertarianism (Harbridge, 2015). Respect for diversity and grassroots politics rank highly in its ideals and quest for command in the political spectrum. The party’s highlight is its presidential candidacy in 2000 when it fielded Ralph Nader to square it out with Bush and Al Gore.
Conclusion
The federal politics as well as the state level politics are an almost absolute reserve for the Democrats and the Republicans. These two political giants have reduced other political outfits into mere spectators when it comes to the game of the big boys. The level at which the two parties control the US politics is a testimony of their strength and the show of a de facto two party democracy. It will take a lot of effort to get other political outfits to be at par with Republicans and Democrats.
Works Cited
Harbridge, Laurel. ‘Political Ideologies And Political Parties In America’. Political Science Quarterly 130.1 (2015): 163-164.
insidegov.com,. ‘U.S. Political Parties – Comparison And Facts’. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
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