1. Political parties

2. Democrats & Republicans
Far and away the most important parties in American politics
98% of US Senators; 100% of US Representatives
98% of State Governors & enormous majority of State legislators are also members of one party or the other
2014 Pew poll showed 32% of Americans as registered Democrats, 23 % registered Republicans, 39% independent

4. Democrats
Tend to do better (in recent elections) among racial and ethic minority voters, women voters, younger voters, secular voters
-Often considered “liberal” or “left”
-meaning of terms changes over time

5. Republicans
Tend to do better (in recent elections) among white voters, male voters, older voters, Christian voters
-Often considered “conservative” or “right”
-meaning of terms changes over time

6. Minor Political Parties
Some of the larger ones include…
GREEN PARTY (environmentalism, social justice focus)
LIBERTARIAN PARTY (individual liberty, small government focus)
COMMUNIST PARTY (focus on dramatic restructuring of politics/economics)
CONSTITUTION PARTY (focus on originalist, strict adherence to Constitution)