Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and is generally associated with centre-left and progressive policies.

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and is generally associated with centre-left and progressive policies. Its modern form emerged in the 1830s around Andrew Jackson, while its historical roots are usually traced to Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. It is commonly described as the oldest active political party in the United States, and among the oldest in the world.

History

The party’s roots are commonly traced to the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party of the 1790s. The modern Democratic Party took shape in the Jacksonian era and became formally organized in the early 19th century.

Ideology and platform

The party has historically changed positions on major issues, but in its modern form it is associated with a stronger federal role, social welfare programmes, and civil rights protections. Its current public identity is generally centre-left or progressive.

Organization

The Democratic Party operates through a national committee and affiliated state and territorial parties. It fields candidates at local, state, and federal levels across the United States.

Electoral role

The Democratic Party is one of the two main parties in the U.S. two-party system alongside the Republican Party. It has won many presidential, congressional, and state-level elections since the 19th century.