Political Parties: A Guide
For almost 200 years a two-party system has sustained itself as the basis of our democratic government. Since the mid-1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have dominated the American political scene.
As pervasive as it has become, however, the two-party system is not an inherent part of the federal government. The Constitution doesn't mention political parties and they were not part of the founding fathers' initial plan for the new democratic nation. They evolved, however, in the early 1800s as a tool for voters to mobilize.
Not since the Republican Party made the leap from third party to major party contender in the 1856 election has a third party broken the entrenched two-party monopoly. Despite this relative lack of success, however, new third parties with their own ideologies continually develop, anxious to offer an alternative and make a lasting imprint on the American political system.
There are hundreds of minor parties across the country, all vying for power. While many voters across the country are familiar with the names of some of the minor parties, few people know much about them.
So, here's a directory of political parties, major and minor, framing their platforms, history, goals and major candidates.
The Democratic Party, the oldest political party in history, has sustained itself as a major party for almost two centuries. Long known for its concern for "the common man," the Democrats have kept a strong grip on their mostly progressive agenda and call for economic and social reform. They have a history of supporting the less privileged, racial minorities and labor unions. For 40 years, the Democrats maintained control of Congress, but that ended in 1994 when the Republicans took over the majority. With a Democratic president and a Republican-led Congress, the Democrats and Republicans share political power inside the beltway.
Established in 1984 as the Green Committees of Correspondence network, the Green Party has evolved into a far larger entity than the founders ever envisioned. The Greens, as they are commonly called, work at the grassroots level in 46 of 50 states, educating communities on the dangers of pollution and social injustice, promoting the decentralization of government from the national to the local level and supporting labor unions. In 1996 Ralph Nader, a well-known consumer advocate, ran as the Green Partys nominee for president, garnering over 100,000 votes nationwide.
The Libertarian Party touts itself as the third-largest and fastest growing political party in the country. It was created in 1971 by a group of political activists who felt that the government had strayed away from the original libertarian foundation that the founding fathers had intended. They advocate a substantial reduction in the size of the federal government by abolishing the federal income tax and eliminating all intrusions into the lives of the people by government. The Libertarian Party has run a candidate in every presidential election since 1972. In 1996 the nominee was Harry Browne, who received more than 485,000 votes and appeared on the ballot in all 50 states.
The Natural Law Party's ideals rest in the theory that natural law and prevention-oriented policies are the most efficient and cost-effective ways to solve Americans problems. The party was created in 1992 with the goal of bringing the light of science into politics." Natural Law supporters believe in lowering taxes, reducing government waste, revitalizing the nations urban centers and a prevention-oriented heath care program that concentrates on preventing sickness and disease. The Natural Law Party nominated John Hagelin, a physicist, as their presidential nominee in 1992 and 1996. Hagelin was on the ballot in 45 states and the Natural Law Party placed candidates on the ballot in 48 states.
The brainchild of Ross Perot, the Reform Party was created in 1995 with the immediate goal of placing a presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states. They succeeded and in August 1996 nominated Texas billionaire Perot as their candidate over other rival Dick Lamm. One of the most successful attempts at establishing a third party since Theodore Roosevelt and the Bull Moose Party made a bid for the presidency in 1912, the Reform Party has a following of more than 1.3 million people nationwide. Its platform stresses the need for a balanced budget, high ethical standards for all members of government, term limits and campaign finance reform.
The Republicans became a major party in the middle of the 18th century with the demise of the Whig Party. Since then the two-party system has not changed with the Democrats and Republicans remaining dominating forces. The Republican Party began as a voice for the anti-slavery forces and the Free-soil Party, but has long evolved into much more than that. Republicans advocate a reduction in the size of government and a transfer of power back to the states. Historically, the party has had more success capturing the presidency than Congress, but the GOP was able to change that in 1994 when the "Republican Revolution" took Congress out of the hands of the Democrats. Their next step, no doubt, is to take back the presidency.
Founded on Labor Day weekend in 1992, the U.S. Taxpayers Party has concentrated its efforts on national elections, primarily the presidency. Their stated goals focus on restoring American legal practices to biblical premises and limiting the size and scope of the federal government. Supporters advocate a balanced budget, fiscal responsibility, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Education, and protecting the life of the unborn. In both the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections the U.S. Taxpayers Party nominated Howard Phillips, chairman of the Conservative Caucus.
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