Political Parties
A political party is a political
organization that typically seeks to influence government
policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and
trying to seat them in political office. Parties
participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach
or protest actions. Parties often espouse an expressed
ideology or vision bolstered by a written platform with
specific goals, forming a coalition among disparate
interests.
PresidentialElection.com
is a non-partisan
directory and
information center to
educate voters.
PresidentialElection.com
does not endorse any of
the parties below and is
only intended for
informational purposes.
The two main parties are
listed first, (in
alphabetical order) and
other parties are listed
below in in alphabetical
order order as well.
The
Democratic Party
For more than
200 years, the
Democratic Party
has represented
the interests of
working
families,
fighting for
equal
opportunities
and justice for
all Americans |
|
The
Republican Party
GOP History
The GOP
community is
broad and
diverse, and
united in
building a
stronger America
for generations
to come. Several
groups are
working with us
for the Party
agenda. Find out
more and get
involved. |
Other Political Parties
(in alphabetical order)
Coming Soon
America First
Party
|
|
Natural Law
Party |
American Reform
Party
|
|
New Party |
|
|
Reform Party |
Constitution
Party
|
|
Socialist Labor
Party of America |
Freedom
Socialist Party
|
|
Socialist Party
USA |
Green Party
|
|
Timesizing Party
of Massachusetts |
Labor Party
|
|
United States
Independent
American Party
|
|
Leftist Parties
of the World |
|
U.S. Pacifist
Party |
|
|
|
|
|
Libertarian
Party |
|
Workers World
Party
|
| |
|
Young Democratic
Socialists |
|
|
|
|
Regulation of political parties
The freedom to form, declare membership in, or campaign
for candidates from a political party is considered a
measurement of a state's adherence to liberal democracy as
a political value. Regulation of parties may run from a
crackdown on or repression of all opposition parties, a
norm for authoritarian governments, to the repression of
certain parties which hold or promote views which run
counter to the general ideology of the state's incumbents
(or possess membership by-laws which are legally
unenforceable).
Furthermore, in the case of far-right, far-left and
regionalist parties in the national parliaments of much of
the European Union, mainstream political parties may form
an informal cordon sanitaire which applies a policy of
non-cooperation towards those "Outsider Parties" present
in the legislature which are viewed as 'anti-system' or
otherwise unacceptable for government. Cordon Sanitaires,
however, have been increasingly abandoned over the past
two decades in multi-party democracies as the pressure to
construct broad coalitions in order to win elections -
along with the increased willingness of outsider parties
themselves to participate in government - has led to many
such parties entering electoral and government coalitions.
Starting in the second half of the 20th century modern
democracies have introduced rules for the flow of funds
thru party coffers, e.g. the Canada Election Act 1974, the
PPRA in the U.K. or the FECA in the U.S.. Such political
finance regimes stipulate a variety of regulations for the
transparency of fundraising and expenditure, limit or ban
specific kinds of activity and provide public subsidies
for party activity, including campaigning.
Voting systems
The type of electoral system is a major factor in
determining the type of party political system. In
countries with first past the post voting systems there is
an increased likelihood for the establishment of a two
party system. Countries that have a proportional
representation voting system, as exists throughout Europe,
or to a greater extent preferential voting systems, such
as in Australia or Ireland, three or more parties are
often elected to public office.
Partisan style
Partisan style varies from government to government,
depending on how many parties there are, and how much
influence each individual party has.
Nonpartisan
In a nonpartisan system, no official political parties
exist, sometimes reflecting legal restrictions on
political parties. In nonpartisan elections, each
candidate is eligible for office on his or her own merits.
In nonpartisan legislatures, there are no typically formal
party alignments within the legislature. The
administration of George Washington and the first few
sessions of the United States Congress were nonpartisan.
Washington also warned against political parties during
his Farewell Address. In the United States, the unicameral
legislature of Nebraska is nonpartisan. In Canada, the
territorial legislatures of the Northwest Territories and
Nunavut are nonpartisan. In New Zealand, Tokelau has a
nonpartisan parliament. Many city and county governments
are nonpartisan. Nonpartisan elections and modes of
governance are common outside of state institutions.
Unless there are legal prohibitions against political
parties, factions within nonpartisan systems often evolve
into political parties.
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