Democratic Party: An Overview and Links to Key Web Sites

The national Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. It was founded back in 1828, making it the oldest political party in the U.S.

Politics is defined as the art or science of government. In other words, it encompasses a wide range of activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of governments and its use of its resources.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is responsible for overseeing and promoting Democratic campaign activities. This includes managing the process of writing the Democratic Party National Platform. The DNC also organizes and supervises the activities of the Democratic National Convention.

• Democratic National Committee (DNC)
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
• Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
• Young Democrats of America (YDA)
• Democratic Governors Association
• National Conference of Democratic Mayors
• National Federation of Democratic Women

The South Carolina (SC) Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the national Democratic Party. It is headquartered in Columbia, S.C.

The SC Democratic Party dominated state politics from 1880 through 1948. It was the 1948 Presidential Election that marked the beginning of the winds of political change in the state when Senator Strom Thurmond broke away from the national Democratic Party and ran for office as a State's Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrat) candidate. The shift in political climate continued with President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This led to the current domination of the state's political landscape by the conservative Republican Party.

• SC Democratic Party - Web Site
• SC Democratic Party - Facebook Page

• SC Senate Democratic Caucus - Web Site

• SC House Democrats - Facebook Page
• SC House Democratic Caucus - Web Site
• SC Democratic Party Web Sites by County

The Clarendon County Democratic Party is the local county affiliate of the SC Democratic Party. Within the county, there are 26 precincts.

• Clarendon County Democratic Party - Facebook Page
• Senator Kevin Johnson - Web Site
• Senator Kevin Johnson - Facebook Page
• Representative Robert Ridgeway III - Web Site

2016 Democratic National Convention - The gathering at which delegates of the U.S. Democratic Party will choose the party's nominees for President and Vice President of the United States of America. The convention will be held July 25–28, 2016, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

No matter what your political party affiliation, it's time to start getting ready for the next nation-wide elections. Pay attention to the candidates and their stance on the major issues facing the US. Also, check out the political platforms of both major parties.

* Visit America's Future: 2020-2050 web site to learn more about the political parties in the US.