Political party
From Metapedia
A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. Parties often espouse a certain ideology and vision, but may also represent a coalition among disparate interests. In countries that have a parliament, political parties that have seats in parliament form a parliamentary party that consists of all their members of parliament. In parliamentary systems of government most political parties will also have an elected leader who, if the party is elected by absolute majority, or with a relative majority within the coalition where tradition is thus, becomes head of government. In presidential systems, the president may be elected as a representative of the party; however, in many nations the president is forced to relinquish connections with the party upon the assumption of office as head of state. In certain electoral situations a coalition government may be formed from members of more than one party.
[edit] United States
The United States historically has had a two-party system. Currently the two major parties in the US are the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. Third parties have appeared and contested presidential elections with less success. Third parties are those parties who appeared on most state ballots with the theoretical possibility of winning enough electors in the Electoral College to elect a president and vice president. Minor parties are those parties which appears on only a few state ballots or call themselves parties but rarely contest elections.
