List of political parties in the United States
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This list of political parties in the United States contains past and present political parties in the United States. Political parties are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution; which defines a nonpartisan system in which votes are cast for individuals, not parties. Political parties nontheless exist due to political freedom and freedom of association. Political parties are private organizations that manage themselves, organize primary elections for local, state, and federal offices, define common policy initiatives, and run campaign contribution drives for the benefit of their party candidates. No laws limit the number of political parties that may operate, so theoretically, it can operate as a simple multi-party system. However, since the Civil War (1864), the country has had a de facto two-party system, with occasional inlets made by so-called "third parties". This is largely a consequence of the winner-takes-all election system and restrictive ballot access laws imposed on the other political parties, as well as the leadership rules in Congress. There are and have been many political parties other than the two dominant ones (the Republican Party and the Democratic Party), but most are generally considered to be of only limited and temporary political significance.
[edit] Categorizing U.S. political parties
The political parties are in four categories below, "Current largest parties", "Other current national parties that have endorsed candidates", "Current regional parties that have endorsed candidates" and "Political parties in U.S. history".
An alternate means for categorizing U.S. political parties, historically and currently, is to apply the Federal Election Commission's definition of "national committees" retroactively in time to the beginning of the U.S. To see such a list, see Richard Winger's article in the Election Law Journal, April 2006 (Vol. 5 no. 2), which can be read on-line. Within that article, the list of parties is in Appendix A.
Year is when founded. Order of current parties is alphabetical.
[edit] Latest parties in presidential contention
Each of five parties share a degree of national attention by attaining the mathematical possibility of its nominee becoming President of the U.S. -- i.e., having ballot status for its presidential candidate in states whose collective total is at least half of the Electoral-College votes -- in either the most recent presidential election, in 2004, or the next one, in 2008:
| Party Name | 2004 Electoral Votes | 2004 Popular Votes (Millions) | Recent Presidential Wins | Date Founded | Founder(s) | Current Party Chair | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 286 | 62 | 2004, 2000, 1988 | 1854 | Alvan E. Bovay/ Abraham Lincoln | Mike Duncan | |
| Democratic Party | 251 | 59 | 1996, 1992 | 1792 / 1820s | Thomas Jefferson / Andrew Jackson | Howard Dean | |
| Libertarian Party | 0 | 0.47 | -- | 1971 | David Nolan | Bill Redpath | |
| Constitution Party | 0 | 0.14 | -- | 1992 | Howard Phillips | Jim Clymer | |
| Green Party | 0 | 0.12 | -- | 1984 | Howie Hawkins & John Rensenbrink | 7 co-chairs |
[edit] Other parties that have nominated candidates in recent elections
These parties have offered candidates in recent elections, but did not in 2004 (and do not for 2008) have ballot status in enough states to win the presidency normally. Some do not have presidential candidates, but for other offices only.
- Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.
- America First Party (2002)
- Centrist Party (United States) (2006)
- Independence Party of America (2007)
- Jefferson Republican Party
- Marijuana Party (2002)
- Peace and Freedom Party (1967) - active primarily in California
- Prohibition Party (1867)
- Reform Party of the United States of America (1995) - currently divided into two factions both using the name of the "Reform Party"
- Socialist Equality Party (1953)
- Socialist Party USA (1973)
- Socialist Workers Party (1938)
- Unity08 (2006)
- Workers World Party (1959)
- Working Families Party (1998)
For more parties, including parties which have yet to endorse candidates, see at bottom (below): "See also", "Other lists", and "External links", such as "Directory of U.S. Political Parties".
[edit] Other current parties that have not nominated candidates in recent elections
These parties want to organize nationally, but did not in 2004 (and do not for 2008) have ballot status in enough states to win the presidency normally. Some do not have presidential candidates, but for other offices only.
- Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.
- American Party (1969)
- American Centrist Party (2004)
- American Fascist Party
- American Heritage Party (2000)
- American Nazi Party
- American Patriot Party (2003)
- American Reform Party (1997)
- American Whig Party (2007)
- Christian Freedom Party (2004)
- Christian Falangist Party of America (1985)
- Citizens For Reform Party (2005)
- Commonwealth Party
- Communist Party USA (1919)
- Democratic Socialists of America
- Expansionist Party
- Freedom Road Socialist Organization (1985)
- Independent American Party (1998)
- Labor Party (1995)
- Liberal Democratic Party (United States)
- National Federalist Party (2007)
- National Nihilist Party (1988)
- National Socialist Movement (1974)
- New American Independent Party (2004)
- New Union Party (1974)
- Pacifist Party of America (2007)
- Party of Commons (2006)
- Personal Choice Party (1997)
- Populist Party of America (2002)
- Progressive Labor Party
- Revolutionary Communist Party, USA
- Socialist Action (1983)
- Socialist Alternative (1986)
- Socialist Labor Party (1876)
- United Fascist Union (1996)
- Workers Party, USA
- World Socialist Party of the United States (1916)
For more parties, including parties that have yet to endorse candidates, see at bottom (below): "See also", "Other lists", and "External links", such as "Directory of U.S. Political Parties".
[edit] Current regional parties (that have endorsed candidates)
Few, if any, of these parties have nominated presidential candidates. The years are when they were founded.
- Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.
- Alaskan Independence Party (1984)
- Aloha Aina Party
- American Independent Party (1968) - the California affiliate of the Constitution Party
- Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio (1924)
- Connecticut for Lieberman Party (2006)
- Conservative Party of New York (1962)
- Covenant Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
- Independence Party of Minnesota (1992)
- Independence Party of New York (1991)
- Independent Citizens Movement (US Virgin Islands)
- Liberal Party of Minnesota
- Liberal Party of New York (1944)
- Liberty Union Party (Vermont) (1970)
- Marijuana Reform Party (New York) (1997)
- New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (1967)
- New York State Right to Life Party (1970)
- Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (1938)
- Populist Party of Maryland (Nader 2004 - affiliated, unrelated to earlier so-named parties)
- Progressive Party of Washington (1912-1960 and 2003-present)
- Puerto Rican Independence Party (1946)
- Republican Moderate Party of Alaska (1986)
- Southern Party (1999)
- Southern Independence Party
- The Centre Party (Florida) (2007)
- United Party (Idaho) (2005)
- United Citizens Party (1969) - South Carolina
- Vermont Progressive Party (1999)
[edit] Political parties in U.S. history
- Most of the following parties are no longer functioning. Some of them had considerable influence. In order of founding.
- Federalist Party (c.1789–c.1820)
- Democratic-Republican Party (1792–c.1824)
- Anti-Masonic Party (1826–1838)
- National Republican Party (1829–1833)
- Nullifier Party (1830–1839)
- Whig Party (1833–1856)
- Liberty Party (1840–1848)
- Law and Order Party of Rhode Island (1840s)
- Free Soil Party (1848–1855)
- Anti-Nebraska Party (1854)
- American Republican Party (1843-1854)
- American Party (“Know-Nothings”) (c.1854–1858)
- Opposition Party (1854–1858)
- Constitutional Union Party (1860)
- National Union Party, (1864–1868)
- Readjuster Party (1870-1885)
- Liberal Republican Party (1872)
- Greenback Party (1874–1884)
- Anti-Monopoly Party (1884)
- Populist Party (1892–1908)
- Silver Party (1892-1902)
- National Democratic Party/Gold Democrats (1896–1900)
- Silver Republican Party (1896-1900)
- Social Democratic Party (1900–1901)
- Home Rule Party of Hawaii (created to serve the native Hawaiian agenda in the state legislature and U.S. Congress) (1900–1912)
- Socialist Party of America (1901–1973)
- Progressive Party 1912 (“Bull Moose Party”) (1912–1914)
- National Woman's Party (1913-1930)
- Non-Partisan League (Not a party in the technical sense) (1915–1956)
- Farmer-Labor Party (1918–1944)
- Progressive Party 1924 (1924)
- Communist League of America (1928–1934)
- American Workers Party (1933–1934)
- Workers Party of the United States (1934–1938)
- Union Party (1936)
- American Labor Party (1936–1956)
- America First Party (1944) (1944–1996)
- States' Rights Democratic Party (“Dixiecrats”) (1948)
- Progressive Party 1948 (1948–1955)
- Vegetarian Party (1948–1964)
- Constitution Party (United States 50s) (1952–1968?)
- American Nazi Party (1959-1967)
- Puerto Rican Socialist Party (1959–1993)
- Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (1964)
- Communist Workers Party (1969–1985)
- People's Party (1971–1976)
- U.S. Labor Party (1975–1979)
- Concerned Citizens Party (1975-1992) Become the Connecticut affiliate of the Constitution Party (then known as U.S. Taxpayers Party) with party founding
- Citizens Party (1979–1984)
- New Alliance Party (1979–1992)
- Populist Party of 1980s-1990s (1984–1994)
- Looking Back Party (1984–1996)
- Grassroots Party (1986–2004)
- Independent Party of Utah (1988–1996)
- Greens/Green Party USA (1991–2005)
- New Party (1992 – 1998)
- Natural Law Party (1992–2004)
- Mountain Party (2000-2007) Become the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party July 16, 2007 [1]
[edit] See also
- Current political party strength in U.S. states
- Party system
- Two-party system
- Political party strength in the United States
[edit] Other lists
- List of state Constitution Parties in the U.S.
- List of state Green Parties in the U.S.
- List of state Libertarian Parties in the U.S.
- List of political parties to browse parties by country
- List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
- Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
- List of political parties in Puerto Rico
- List of frivolous political parties
[edit] External links
[edit] Further reading
- Nash, Howard P., Jr.; M. B. Schnapper (1959). Third Parties in American Politics.
- Ness, Immanuel; James Ciment (c2000). The Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America. Armonk, N.Y.: Sharpe Reference. ISBN 0-7656-8020-3.
National political parties in the United States Image:Flag of the United States.svg | |
|---|---|
| Major parties | Democratic · Republican |
| Third parties | Constitution · Green · Libertarian |
| Smaller parties | America First · Centrist · Communist · Independence · Labor · Marijuana · Populist · Prohibition · Reform · Socialist · Socialist Equality · Socialist Workers · Veterans · Workers World |
| Historical parties | American Independent · Anti-Masonic · Citizens · Democratic-Republican · Dixiecrat · Farmer-Labor · Federalist · Free Soil · National Republican · National Union · Natural Law · New Alliance · Populist (People's) · Progressive (1912~1924~1948) · U.S. Labor · Whig |
| Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of the United States | |
State and local political parties in the United States Image:Flag of the United States.svg | |
|---|---|
| New York parties | Conservative · Independence · Liberal · Marijuana Reform · Right to Life · Working Families |
| Other parties | Alaskan Independence · American Heritage · Constitution Party of MT · Constitution Party of OR · Independence Party of MN · Independent Green Party of VA · Liberty Union · Peace and Freedom · Personal Choice · Populist Party of MD · Republican Moderate Party of AK · Southern Party · United Citizens · VT Progressive |
List of political parties in North America | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign states | Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama* · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Trinidad and Tobago* · United States | Image:North-America.png |
| Dependencies and other territories | Anguilla · Aruba* · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Greenland · Guadeloupe · Martinique · Montserrat · Navassa Island · Netherlands Antilles* · Puerto Rico · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Turks and Caicos Islands · U. S. Virgin Islands | |
| * Territories also in or commonly reckoned elsewhere in the Americas (South America). | ||
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