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6. Political Parties

infoWhy this? Studying US political parties helps students understand how ideas, policies and voters are organised into broad coalitions, and how parties shape elections, government action and political debate across the USA.

scheduleWhy now? This unit follows electoral processes because students first need to understand how elections work before examining how parties compete within them, select candidates and try to build support across different groups of voters.

neurologyYou need to know

  • Political parties are essential to US democracy, but they are organised and operate differently from parties in the UK. The USA has a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. These two parties shape elections, government and political debate at federal, state and local level.
  • An ideology is a set of political beliefs and values. The Democratic Party is generally associated with more liberal or progressive ideas, including support for a more active federal government in areas such as welfare, healthcare, civil rights and environmental protection. The Republican Party is generally associated with more conservative ideas, including limited government, lower taxation, free market economics, traditional social values and a strong emphasis on individual responsibility.
  • Both parties have changed over time. In recent decades, the Democratic and Republican parties have become more ideologically distinct and more polarised. This means the differences between them have become sharper, with less overlap than in the past. As a result, compromise has often become harder and party conflict more intense.
  • US parties are also factionalised, meaning they contain internal groups with different priorities and beliefs. Within the Democratic Party, for example, there may be tensions between moderates and progressives. Within the Republican Party, there may be divisions between establishment conservatives, libertarians and more populist or nationalist factions. These internal divisions can affect policy, leadership and electoral strategy.
  • US parties have relatively weak party organisation compared with many parliamentary democracies. They are highly decentralised, with national, state and local branches. Party leaders cannot control members in the same way as in the UK, and candidates often build personal campaigns rather than relying fully on the party machine. This contributes to the idea that US parties are organisationally weak.
  • There is debate about party decline and party renewal. The idea of party decline suggests that parties have been weakened by candidate-centred campaigns, the influence of money, the media, primaries and the rise of pressure groups. However, the idea of party renewal argues that parties remain highly significant because they still dominate elections, structure political choices, mobilise voters and organise government.
  • Despite criticisms of weakness, the two major parties continue to dominate US politics. This two-party dominance is reinforced by the electoral system, especially single-member districts and winner-takes-all elections, which make it hard for smaller parties to succeed.
  • Third parties are parties other than the Democrats and Republicans. They rarely win major office, but they can still influence politics by raising issues, shaping debate or attracting protest votes. Independent candidates stand without representing a major party and may sometimes gain attention, but they also face major barriers in the US electoral system.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Students should be able to define and use accurately the key terms: ideology, factionalism, party decline, party renewal, party organisation, third parties and independent candidates.
  • Students should be able to describe the main features of the Democratic and Republican parties, including their values, traditions, policy positions and broad ideological outlook.
  • Students should be able to compare the ideologies of the two main parties, showing how they differ on the role of government, the economy, social issues and public policy.
  • Students should be able to explain how the two parties have become more distinct and polarised, and assess the political consequences of this change.
  • Students should be able to analyse factionalism within both parties, identifying internal divisions and explaining how these can create tensions over leadership, policy and elections.
  • Students should be able to describe the organisation of US political parties, including their decentralised nature and the relatively weak control of national leaders over candidates and office holders.
  • Students should be able to evaluate debates about party decline and party renewal, considering whether US parties have been weakened or remain central to political life.
  • Students should be able to explain why US parties are often described as weak, especially in comparison with parties in parliamentary systems.
  • Students should be able to assess the reasons for two-party dominance in US politics, including electoral rules, political culture and institutional barriers.
  • Students should be able to evaluate the significance of third parties and independent candidates, including why they rarely win, but how they may still influence issues, campaigns and election outcomes.
  • Students should be able to support analysis with relevant examples, such as ideological shifts in both parties, internal party conflicts, and the impact of notable third-party or independent campaigns.


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