U.S. Government
Political Parties
Electronic voting in Maryland
There are two major political parties in the United States:
- The Democratic Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1782.
- The Republican Party was established in the 1850s by Abraham Lincoln and others who opposed the expansion of slavery.
Minor
political parties, referred to as third parties, occasionally form in
the United States, but their candidates are rarely elected to office.
Third
parties often call attention to an issue that is of interest to the
voters but that has been neglected by government. At the national
level, elections are held every two years, in even-numbered years, on
the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
Abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.
Links
-
Institutions:
• Federal Election Commission
• Republican Party
• Democratic Party
• Center for Voting and Democracy
• League of Women Voters
Other resources:
• Voter Demographics