<P> In the United States , the major parties overlap heavily in terms of ideology , with the Democrats more to the left and the Republicans more to the right . Social scientists Theodore Caplow et al. argue , `` the Democratic party , nationally , moved from left - center toward the center in the 1940s and 1950s , then moved further toward the right - center in the 1970s and 1980s . '' Small parties such as the Libertarian Party play a minor role in American politics . </P>
<P> In the United States , the major parties overlap heavily in terms of ideology , with the Democrats more to the left and the Republicans more to the right . Social scientists Theodore Caplow et al. argue , `` the Democratic party , nationally , moved from left - center toward the center in the 1940s and 1950s , then moved further toward the right - center in the 1970s and 1980s . '' Small parties such as the Libertarian Party play a minor role in American politics . </P>
which u.s. political party is considered to lean to the left
which u.s. political party is considered to lean to the left
Democrats
Democrats