USA Kids | Political Parties

The Republican Party and the Democratic Party are the two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America.

The Republican Party is often referred to as the Grand Old Party or the GOP. It is the younger of the two major U.S. political parties, and the second oldest active political party in the United States. The current U.S. President, George W. Bush, is the 18th Republican to hold that office. Republicans currently fill a minority of seats in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Republicans are often referred to as "Conservatives".

The Democratic Party is the oldest political party in the United States and probably the oldest party in the world. It is the majority party for the 110th Congress and holds a majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic caucus makes up a majority in the United States Senate. In the year 1792, the Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other influential opponents of the Federalists. In the election of 1912 there was a division of the Republican Party. Democrats are often referred to as "Liberals".