The Democratic Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world, and it has been in power for the longest time in the United States. It is also one of the two major political parties in contemporary America.
It has the largest number of registered voters of any political party in the world. Polls in the past decade show that 34-36% of American voters identify themselves as Democrats.
Since the 2006 general election, the Democratic Party has been the majority party in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. The Democratic Party also holds most of the positions of governors and controls most state legislatures, as well as the Oval Office of the White House. The current President of the United States, barack obama, is the15th Democrat to take the White House.
The Republican Party was founded by anti-slavery expansionist activists in 1854. It is usually called the Grand Old Party or the Republican Party, although it is the younger of the two major political parties. The party's platform is usually regarded as the center-right in the American political spectrum.
By 2004, the Republican Party had the second largest number of registered voters, with 55 million people, accounting for about one third of the voters. Polls in the past two years have found that 20% to 34% of Americans consider themselves Republicans.
There are eighteen Republican presidents, compared with fifteen Democratic presidents. Republicans currently hold a minority of seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, hold a minority of governor positions, and control a minority of state legislatures.
2、
The two-party system in the United States
The two-party system in the United States
People living in America now can't remember when the competition between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party began. It has lasted for more than a century and has become one of the oldest political competitions in the world.
No one living in the United States can remember when the competition between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party began. This kind of competition has lasted for more than a century and is one of the earliest political competitions in the world.
The American political system is a typical example of the two-party system. When we say that the United States has a two-party system, we don't mean that we only have two political parties. Usually about a dozen political parties nominate presidential candidates. We call it the two-party system because we have two big parties and some small parties, and the big party is so big that we often forget the other parties. Usually, small parties get less than 5% of the votes in national elections.
The American political system is a typical example of the two-party system. When we say that the United States has a two-party system, we don't mean that there are only two political parties in the United States. Usually about a dozen political parties nominate presidential candidates. We call it the two-party system because there are two big parties and many small parties. Usually, small parties can only get less than 5% of the votes in national elections.
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the largest and most competitive organizations in American society. They organize voters by maintaining the two-party system. Americans almost inevitably become Democrats or Republicans because they usually have nowhere else to go. In addition, because these political parties have been competing for a long time, most Americans know their position in the system. Due to the advantages of major political parties, most elected officials are either Republicans or Democrats. In the past 100 years, there have been attempts to break this old system in every presidential election, but this system has withstood all attacks.
In American society, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the largest and most competitive organizations. They easily organized voters by maintaining the two-party system. Because there is usually no other choice, Americans almost inevitably become Democratic party member or Republican party member. In addition, because these political parties have a long history of competition, most Americans know which political party they belong to. Due to the advantages of the two major parties, most elected officials are either members of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. In the past 100 years, some people tried to break the old system in the annual presidential election, but this system survived all the attacks and continued to exist.
How did the two-party system become so deeply rooted in American politics? The explanation may be found in the way of election. In the United States, unlike the parliamentary government, we not only elect the president, but also elect a large number of other officials, about 800 thousand people. We also elect members of parliament from single-member constituencies. For example, we elected 435 deputies from 435 regions (with a few exceptions), one from each region. According to statistics, this kind of election is beneficial to the main political parties. The electoral system makes it easy for major political parties to maintain their dominant position, because they are likely to win more positions than their share.
How did the two-party system take root so firmly in American politics? The answer may lie in the way elections work. The United States is different from a country with a parliamentary government. We not only elected the president, but also elected many officials, about 800 thousand people. Members of Parliament are also elected by one vote in each district. For example, we elect 435 senators from 435 constituencies, and each constituency elects one senator. Statistically speaking, this kind of election is beneficial to the big party. The electoral system makes it easy for big parties to maintain their dominant position because they may win more seats than they deserve.
A major consequence of this system is that it will automatically produce a majority. As there are only two competitors running for office, it is almost inevitable that one of them will win a majority. In addition, this system tends to slightly exaggerate the victory of the winner. This is not always true, but the strong tendency of the majority is inherent in this system.
The biggest result of this system is the automatic generation of the majority party. As there are only two competitors in the election, it is almost certain that one of them will win the majority. Moreover, this system seems to exaggerate the victory of the winner. Although not always. However, in this system, there has been a general trend to produce a majority party.
In the constitutional history of more than 200 years, Americans have learned how to manage this system and make power transfer from one political party to another peacefully. In the presidential election, the ruling party was overthrown by the opposition party 19 times, almost once every ten years. In the 1860 election, the political system collapsed, resulting in the greatest disaster in American history-the civil war. Our history proves our confidence in the system, but it also shows that it is not foolproof.
In the constitutional history of more than 200 years, Americans have learned a lot about the operation of the two-party system, which enables political power to be transferred from one political party to another peacefully. In the presidential election, the ruling party has been defeated by the opposition party 19 times, almost once every ten years. In the election of 1860, this political system was interrupted, which led to the civil war, the biggest disaster in American history. History has proved that we have reason to maintain confidence in this system, but history also shows that this system is not foolproof.
The reason why the second largest party can survive in defeat is that the statistical trend of exaggerating the victory of the winning party is more favorable to the second largest party than to the third, fourth and fifth largest parties. Therefore, the defeated major political parties can maintain their monopoly on the opposition. The advantage of the second party over the third party is so great that it is the only party that is likely to overthrow the ruling party. Therefore, it can attract the support of all those who are seriously opposed to the ruling party. As long as the second party can monopolize the movement to overthrow the ruling party, it is important because it will come to power sooner or later.
The reason why the second largest party can survive in defeat is that it statistically exaggerates the victory of the winning party and can more strongly support the confrontation between the second largest party and the third, fourth and fifth parties. Therefore, the failed big party can maintain its monopoly position in the opposition. Compared with the third party, the second party has great advantages. It is the only political party that can defeat the ruling party, thus attracting the support of every political party that strongly opposes the ruling party. As long as the second largest party can monopolize the movement to defeat the ruling party, it is important, because sooner or later it will definitely come to power.
Another consequence of the two-party system is that although small parties may agree with special interests or special plans and therefore take extreme positions, large parties are so large that they tend to be moderate. The moderate evidence of the big party is that many business activities are carried out across party lines. What happens when Democrats control one house of Congress and Republicans control the other? When a political party controls the two houses, the number of legislation passed is roughly the same, although some important legislation may be temporarily blocked. Even if the control of political parties is decentralized, the government may continue to work, because the differences between political parties are not fundamental.
Another result of the two-party system is that small parties may identify with special interests and special programs, so they may take extreme positions, while large parties are stronger and tend to be moderate. The evidence of the moderate tendency of the big party is that many affairs transcend party boundaries. What happens when Democrats control one house of Congress and Republicans control the other? Just as a political party controls both houses of Congress, although some important laws and regulations may be shelved, about the same number of laws and regulations will be approved. Because the differences between parties are not fundamental, even if the two parties control different departments, government work can still be carried out.
3. Crazy English bilingual text: the two-party system in the United States (this article can't be posted, there are too many words, so you can search on Baidu yourself)