How to Choose a Political Party

Guide Note

Political parties are how you identify yourself during the democratic process. Because you're participating in shaping the future of the nation, there is much to consider when learning How to Choose a Political Party.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Democracy: a different kind of party. (Creative Commons photo by Jordan Fischer and CC photo from David Shapinsky sourced from National Archives via PINGNews)
Democracy: a different kind of party. (Creative Commons photo by Jordan Fischer and CC photo from David Shapinsky sourced from National Archives via PINGNews)
  • There are no DJs or kegs in sight, and everyone is wearing a suit. What kind of party is this, anyway? While political parties may be a bit more serious than they sound, they are an important facet of how America is run. When you register to vote, you'll be asked to affiliate yourself with a party—but which one, if any, should you choose? Where do you belong in the world of politics?
  • While picking a party may not be the most important decision you'll ever make in your life (you can always change your mind later), it will guarantee you can vote in the primary elections for the party you belong to. Therefore, it is a good idea to decide on one that will produce a number of candidates that you can get behind. The best way to accomplish this is by finding the one that best matches up with your own personal beliefs and principles.

Why Choose a Party?

  • First off, there are a few things you should know about political parties:
  1. You don't have to join a party at all. There's no law that says you have to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote.
  2. In some places, registering as an independent allows you to choose the primary you'd like to participate in. That means if you want to vote in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary as an independent, you can. But being an independent doesn't mean you can vote in both primaries; you have to choose one.
  3. You're not committed to partisan politics when joining a certain party. While you'll only be voting for your party's candidates in the primaries, you can vote for anyone you like, no matter what party he or she belongs to, in the general election.
  • So what is the point of affiliating yourself with a political party?
  1. It will guarantee your ability vote in the primary elections for that party. Primaries are how parties choose their presidential candidate, for example.
  2. You will surround yourself with like-minded individuals. This community setting can allow great progress to be made when everyone is operating on a similar philosophy.
  3. You are electing politicians who will legislate and make laws that affect you. So don't forget, you're trying to turn the gears that run the country!
  • But before you decide which party you'd like to join (if any), you should establish where you stand on some of the major, polarizing issues. There are many ways to solve any given issue, so you'll want to find a party that stands for the same basic political principles and philosophies that you agree with. After all, as we mentioned before, these are the people who will be making laws that affect your life.

Social and Economic Issues

What issues fire you up? (Creative Commons photo by Aislinn Ritchie)
What issues fire you up? (Creative Commons photo by Aislinn Ritchie)
  • The main way political parties' views are categorized have to do with where they stand on social and economic issues. These pertain to the concerns that inevitably arise from living in a free society with a capitalist economy. As you consider each issue, ask yourself what level of involvement, if any at all, you believe the government should play in each situation. Here are some of the major topics that are constantly up for debate:
  1. Abortion Rights
  2. Alternative energy
  3. Business
  4. Censorship
  5. Crime/the death penalty
  6. Drug laws
  7. The environment/global warming
  8. Gun laws
  9. Healthcare
  10. Immigration
  11. Inflation
  12. Same-sex marriage
  13. Social class issues
  14. Taxes
  15. Trade
  16. Unemployment
  17. Welfare and Charity

Foreign Policy and Homeland Security

  • In addition to social and economic topics, foreign policy has become one of the most heated political debates. After September 11th and the advent of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, dealing with concerns such as war, terrorism, foreign aid, and keeping the country safe have become hot-button issues. Where do you stand? What sort of foreign policy, if any, do you believe the government should adopt?

Take a Test

  • If you're still a bit unsure of where you stand in the political spectrum, try taking an online test. These can be an objective way to analyze your political ideology. And don't worry... There's no time limit, and nobody will be grading you when you've finished!

Your Political Party Options

  • Now that you have an idea of where you stand on the hard-hitting issues, you should have an easier time deciding which party is right for you. But while most people will tell you that the United States is a two-party system, the reality of the matter is that there is a daunting list of parties that you have the option of joining. Let's take a look at some of the major choices.

Republican vs. Democrat

  • The Republican Party and Democratic Party are far and away the most popular in America today. Generally speaking, Democrats are more liberal (also called the "left") and Republicans are more conservative (the "right"), but there are many nuances to each side. Explore their official sites below to find out more.
(Creative Commons photo by Tara Hunt)
(Creative Commons photo by Tara Hunt)
  1. Democrats often support a larger government role in providing aid to disadvantaged groups.
  2. Republicans are considered the more socially conservative party, preferring a smaller government role in both social and economic arenas.

Alternative Parties

  • If you don't feel as though you belong with either the Republicans or Democrats, there are countless alternative "third parties" to choose from. One argument against them is that many people feel as though they are "throwing their vote away" if they don't vote for one of the big two. However, a few third parties have been gaining more popularity recently, and only time will tell if one will emerge as a major contender.
  1. Libertarians believe in individual liberty with minimal governmental involvement in everyday life.
    • Official Site: LP.org
    • Their platform seeks "a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others."
  2. The Constitution Party is based on a strict, Bible-based interpretation of the Constitution.
    • Official Site: ConstitutionParty.com
    • Their mission statement says they hope to "limit the federal government to its delegated, enumerated, Constitutional functions and to restore American jurisprudence to its original Biblical common-law foundations."
  3. The Green Party is focused on environmental and social justice issues, and involves the democratic participation of all members.
    • Official Site: GP.org
    • Their platform "presents an eco-social analysis and vision for our country" and involves a democratic process in which members arrive at a "final draft to present to our national convention for approval."

Other Possibilities

  • So you've carefully considered the long list of party options, but you're still stumped. Fear not, there are still more possibilities for you:
  1. Register as an independent. By doing this, you can avoid any sort of party affiliation. Remember, in some states, independents can even choose which party to participate in the primaries for, although in some places independents cannot vote in primaries at all. Take a look at this site which breaks down your options state-by-state for Republican and Democratic primaries.
  2. Start your own party. Although it's unlikely that any single party will match your views exactly, you do have the option of starting your own if it's that important to you. The momentous task of legitimizing your party to the masses, however, is more than a bit intimidating!

Make a Choice

  • At this point, you have established where you stand on the issues and compared your political ideology to those of the major (and possibly even minor) parties. The only thing left to do is pick the one you feel most comfortable being a part of. Luckily, while it is not a decision to take lightly, you can always change your decision down the road. But for now it's time to register to vote and declare your affiliation.

Resources for How to Choose a Political Party

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