An Overview of the Democratic Party

The Democratic party was formed in 1792 when Thomas Jefferson adopted the party to emphasize anti monarchical views. It was previously known as the Republican party and then later the Democratic-Republican party, but was officially called the Democratic party in in 1844. From 1828 to 1856, the Democratic Party had a hold on the presidential office, winning all but two elections. In 1896, they lost the office because of split views on the free silver and populist programs of William Jennings Bryan. From 1896 to 1932, the Democratic Party only held office during Wilson’s terms. In 1932, the democrats took office with FDR and became the most dominant political party in America. In 1960 with the election of JFK, the democrats lost their traditional southern supporters with their support of civil rights. From 1972 to 1988, the democrats lost all but one election. In 1992, Bill Clinton reclaimed office for the democrats. In 2008, democrats were in office once again with the election of Barack Obama. 

The Democratic Party favors a greater government involvement in the economy and oppose government intervention in the non economic affairs of citizens. In the beginning of the Democratic Party, they supported slavery and opposed civil rights. With the election of JFK in 1960, their ideals switched to the other side, costing them their traditional followers. The Democratic Party supports federally financed social services and benefits for the poor, unemployed, aged, and other groups. Democrats advocate for the protection of civil rights and endorse a strong separation of church and state. In foreign policy, Democrats prefer internationalism and multilateralism, executing foreign policy through the United Nations, over isolationism and unilateralism. Most Democrats favor affirmative action and gun control, but moderate and conservative Democrats oppose these policies or give them only qualified support.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Democratic Party | Political Party, United States." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Democratic-Party>.

An Overview of the Republican Party

The Republican Party was coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1792 to describe those who favored decentralized government with limited powers. The Republican Party started to form in the 1850s when antislavery leaders were opposed to the extension of slavery into Kansas and Nebraska. During its first 4 years of existence, the Republican Party replaced the Whigs as the Democratic adversary.  In 1860, the Democrats split over the issue of slavery and Abraham Lincoln claimed presidency. In 1896, the Republicans won the office again with William McKinley. In 1920 and 1924, Republicans won office again, but the stock market crash hurt them because they refused to interfere directly. In 1932, the Republican candidate Herbert Hoover lost to FDR overwhelmingly. With FDR’s 4 terms and Truman’s success, the Republicans were out of office for two decades. In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower reclaimed office for the Republicans. At the Republican Convention in 1964, there was severe turmoil due to the battle between moderates and conservatives for control of the party. In 1980, Ronald Reagan claimed the office for Republicans. In 1994, Republicans had control of both the Senate and House of Representatives for the first time since 1954. In 2000, the Republicans reclaimed the presidency with George W. Bush, but lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives in 2006. 

Republican ideals frequently conflict with the ideas of the Democratic Party. Republicans believes in states’ rights against the power of the federal government. Republicans usually oppose government intervention in the economy, government funded social programs, and policies aimed at the rights of workers. Republicans prefer increased regulation of private non economic aspects of citizens’ lives such as abortion and strongly oppose gun control. Republicans generally are more likely to support prayer in schools than democrats and oppose legal recognition of the LGBTQ community. Republicans traditionally has supported a strong national defense and the aggressive pursuit of U.S. national security interests.

Works Cited

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Republican Party-present."Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Republican-Party>.

An Overview of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party was founded December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 1976, they started to gain support from people left and right as noted by Newsweek. In 1978, Ed Clark receives 5 percent of the vote in his race for Governor of California and the Libertarian party gains permanent ballot status in California. In 1978, Dick Randolph becomes first Libertarian elected state legislator as the Governor of Alaska. In 1980, Ed Clark makes it on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C. and Dick Randolph is reelected. In 1984, Libertarians are on 39 states’ ballots and Jim Lewis comes in 3rd place in the presidential election, while 11 Libertarians are elected worldwide. In 1986, 200 candidates nationwide get nearly 3 million votes and Ray Cullen gets 570,000 votes for California State Treasurer, the most for a 3rd party. In 1987, Ron Paul resigns from the GOP and joins the Libertarian Party and becomes the candidate for President. The following year, Ron Paul is on the ballots of 46 states and D.C. and comes in 3rd for presidency. In 1992, during the New Hampshire primary, Andre Marrou beats George Bush and is on the ballots of all 50 states and D.C.. In November 2001, 300 Libertarians run and a record of 76 are elected and the number of Libertarians holding offices nears 500. In 2000, 1,642 Libertarians run for House of Representatives and receive over 1 million votes, a feat only achieved by Democrats and Republicans. In 2012, Gary Johnson gets 1,275,951 votes and six other Libertarian candidates break the 1 million threshold. By the end of 2013, there are 149 Libertarians holding offices.

Libertarians believe in personal liberty. The believe the government should be kept out the private affairs of citizens life. They support the LGBTQ community and believe the government should not be involved in the matter of abortion. They also want to repeal the laws creating crimes without victims since actions that infringe on the rights of others should be labeled crimes. Libertarians believe in economic liberty. They support a healthy, clean environment and want the government to have no control over energy pricing, allocation, and production. They believe that the income tax should be eradicated and that education be in the hands of parents. The want to provide free healthcare to citizens and eradicate social security and place retirement in the people’s hands. In the case of foreign policy, Libertarians want nothing to do with foreign nations and want the United States to be isolationist. Libertarians embrace the concept that people are born with inherent rights and condemn bigotry. They also believe that if the government infringe any rights of the people that it should be abolished.

Works Cited

"Our History." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/introduction/our-history>.

"Platform." Libertarian Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.lp.org/platform>.

An Overview of the Green Party

In May of 1984, David Haenke convened a Green Movement Committee at which concerned the formation of a Green Party in America. He felt it was important to have a political party that put life in the center of decision making. Another larger meeting was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in August which became the founding of the U.S. Green Party. From August 10 to August 12, the meeting gathered activists from peace, ecology, and justice groups, veterans, farmers, community leaders, church activists, and teachers. The attendees agreed that the national information would be in St. Paul and considered various events, that would be manly education, for local, regional, and national gatherings. Originally called the Committee of Correspondence, The Green party adopted the name Green Party USA in 1991.

The Green Party operates on a set of rules called the Ten Key Values. The first value is grassroots democracy. This means getting the citizens more directly involved in decision making process creating a more direct democracy. Next is social justice and equal opportunity which means all people have the right to benefit from the government. Ecological wisdom is one of the most important to the Green party and it states that people are one with nature and we must preserve the ecological balance for future generations to enjoy. They also believe in the idea of non-violence; demilitarizing and eliminating weapons of mass destruction without being ignorant of other nations’ intentions. They also want to use a non-violent way of opposing practices and policies the US disagrees with. The Green Party believes in decentralization which keeps the rich from benefiting from a bureaucratic system and brings decision making down to a local level while protecting citizens’ civil rights. They believe in community based economics where income is restructured to  include things done outside of working like parenting, gardening and community service. They also believe in Feminism, Gender equality, and a respect for diversity making all people equal to one another. Lastly, they believe in Personal and Global responsibility and Future focus and Sustainability which shifts the focus of life from economic growth to the quality of life in order to preserve the planet for future generations.

Works Cited

"A Short History of the Green Party in the United States." Green Pages. N.p., 22 July 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=3515>.

"Four Pillars - 10 Key Values." Www.gp.org. Karen Young, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.gp.org/four_pillars_10_kv>.

An Overview of The Constitution Party

The Constitution party was created in order to remind those in powers the constitutional limits on their power. The government has strayed away from the constitution’s original ideas of limited government. The Constitution party recognizes that there is an increasing disappointment in the Republican and Democratic parties and that a third party candidate could be elected president in the next 10 to 12 years. In 1992, the Constitution Party was created under the name U.S. Taxpayers Party and secured ballot positions in 21 states. The U.S. Taxpayers Party was recognized by the Federal Election Commission in 1996 and was on 39 ballots. In 2000, the U.S. Taxpayers Party changed their name to the Constitution Party to better reflect their goal of returning to the original ideas of the Constitution. In 2004, the Constitution Party achieved 41 ballots. In 2008 the party did not match the 2004 ballot turnout but increased vote tally by 40 percent which was better than any of the other third parties. 

The Constitution Party runs on a set of rules called the Seven Principles. One of the principles is the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. They believe that every human being, starting from fertilization, has a god given right to life. They also believe in Religious Freedom and Personal Liberty. They want the churches to remain tax free and keep the government out of the personal lives of citizens. They strongly believe in the idea of family as one wife, one husband, and their children as divinely instituted. They deem an effort of the government to take away personal private property as a direct violation of the Constitution. They also believe in interpreting the Constitution according to the original intent of the Founding Fathers. They believe strongly in states’ rights and citizens’ rights as stated in the Constitution. Lastly, the Constitution party believes that the United States should remove itself from all foreign affairs, stay isolated, and concentrate on the defense of our own borders.

Works Cited

"History of the Constitution Party." The Constitution Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.constitutionparty.com/the-party/history/>.

A Brief Biography of Hillary Clinton (Democratic Party candidate)

Hillary Diane Rodham was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Wellesley College where she was active in student politics and was elected senior class president before she graduated in 1969. Afterwards, she attended Yale law school and graduated with honors in 1979. During the summer of 1971, she had various summer jobs such as working on  U.S. Senator Walter Mondale’s subcommittee on migrant workers. In the spring of 1974, she became a member of the presidential impeachment inquiry staff advising the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives during the Watergate Scandal. After President Nixon resigned in August, she became a faculty member of the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville. On October 11, 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton. In 1976, Hillary worked on Jimmy Carter's campaign for president and in 1977, she was appointed to part-time chairman of the Legal Services Corporation by President Carter. In 1999 and 1991, she was named one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America by The National Law Journal. After her husband’s two terms in office, she decided to run for U.S. Senator of New York. Clinton managed to defeat Rick Lazio with a surprising 55 percent of the vote and was easily reelected in 2006. In early 2007, Clinton decided to run for president, but later conceded to nomination to Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries. In spring of 2015, Hillary Clinton decided to run for president again and is considered a frontrunner. If successful, she would be the first woman to win the nomination for a major party’s presidential bid.

Hillary Clinton is a democratic candidate and has various topics she has taken a stance on. In the case of voting rights, she wants the people’s voice to be amplified. She wants to require that outside groups disclose where their money comes from. Clinton also wants to address the hard truth of race and justice in America when it comes to incarceration. She wants to reform minimum sentences for low-level nonviolent offences and require cops to wear body cams. Clinton also wants to crack down on gun violence by getting rid of the gun show loophole and more comprehensive background checks. In the case of social security, she wants to preserve it and have the wealthiest contribute as well. She also wants to drive down drug cost for seniors and other Americans. Clinton believes the Voting Rights Act needs to be revised and the standard for early voting be revised. She wants voting registration to happen as soon as a person turns 18 and having it move with citizens in order to increase voters and decrease errors.

Works Cited

Biography.com Editors. "Hillary Clinton Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/hillary-clinton-9251306#related-video-gallery>.

"Hillary Clinton on the Issues." Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/>.

A Brief Biography of Chris Christie (Republican Party candidate)

Christopher James Christie was born on September 6, 1962 in Newark, New Jersey. Christie lived in New Jersey his whole life, except when he went to study political science at the University of Delaware. When he graduated, Christie returned to New Jersey to study law at Seton Hall University where he received his J.D.. In 1986, Christie married his wife, Mary Pat Foster, whom he met at the University of Delaware. The following year, Christie was admitted to the New Jersey bar.

Christie started his political career as a relatively brash freeholder and moderate Republican. He almost immediately began laying plans for a run for State Assembly which would mean going against well-established party regulars. However, he had not garnered enough support and suffered a crushing defeat in the 1995 Assembly race. Chris Christie would not run for elective political office until 2009 and became a lobbyist for energy companies.

His lobbyist career set him up to become a top fundraiser in George W. Bush’s presidential campaign in 2000. In 2001, he was nominated to serve as United States Attorney for New Jersey which  sparked controversy over his little experience. Many Democrats and skeptical Republicans thought he was given the job since he funded Bush’s presidential campaign. However, in office Christie changed minds by spearheading aggressive investigations against corrupt public officials. After gaining the reputation of being a capable and fair-minded prosecutor, Christie began to consider electoral politics again.

Chris Christie managed to beat out his more conservative Republican rivals and won the primary election. As a Republican at the head of a liberal state, Christie was praised for his ability to move legislation and win over constituents. As the presidential election of 2012 approached, Christie’s name was thrown around for the Republican candidate. When Mitt Romney was selected as the Republican candidate, Christie was considered for his running mate. However, Paul Ryan was chosen and the Republicans ended up losing that election.

As tragedy befell New Jersey in the form of Hurricane Sandy and the Seaside Park boardwalk fire, Christie pledged his support to helping the community. In November, Christie had the backing of most of the state and easily won re-election for governor. After this impressive victory, Christie was considered for a presidential candidate in 2016. At the start of 2014, Governor Christie found himself caught in a scandal involving a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge entering New York City. Christie issued a public statement saying that he had nothing to do with the incident. Some still believed he was involved and thought it would damper his bid for presidency in 2016 if he ran. In June 2015, Christie announced his bid for presidency. He faces a lot of opposition in his quest for nomination from Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio.

Chris Christie believes that assault weapons should not be banned and there should be some gun control. He also believes that there should be a focus on mental health in connection with gun violence. Christie opposes citizenship for illegal immigrants but advocates for giving undocumented students in-state tuition. He wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it but accepted the Medicaid expansion for his state. Christie disagrees with the legalization of gay marriage but respects it as the law of the land. He believes abortions should be banned after 20 weeks with exceptions of rape, incest, and risk to mother. On the issue of Social Security he believes that the costs should be increased for wealthier Americans and the retirement age be raised to 69 by the year 2064.

Works Cited

Biography.com Editors. "Chris Christie Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/chris-christie-20648789>.
Summers, Elizabeth, and Lisa Desjardins. "What Does Chris Christie Believe?" PBS Newshour. PBS, 30 June 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/chris-christie-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/>.