Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the younger Republican Party.

Tracing its origins back to the Democratic-Republican Party, the modern Democratic Party was founded around 1828. There have been 15 Democratic presidents, the first being Andrew Jackson, who served from 1829 to 1837; the most recent is the current president, Barack Obama, who has served since 2009.

Since the 1930s, the party has promoted a social-liberal and center-left platform, supporting a mixed economy and social justice. The party's philosophy of modern American liberalism advocates civil and political rights and liberties along with the welfare state. It pursues a mixed economy by providing government intervention and regulation in the economy. These interventions, such as universal health care, labor protection, social programs, equal opportunity, consumer protection, and environmental protection, form the party's economic policy basis.

Until the late 20th century the party had a conservative pro-business wing based in major cities and a populist wing based in the rural South. After 1932 the business wing withered and after 1980 the Southern populists moved into the Republican Party. Today, the Congressional Democratic caucus is composed mostly of progressives and centrists.

In the 114th Congress, following the 2014 elections, the Democratic Party holds a minority of seats in the House of Representatives as well as in the United States Senate. The party also holds a minority of governorships and control of a minority of state legislatures.

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