Democrate VS Republican

            Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the .
             American political system has been primarily a two party system. The.
             Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for .
             the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties .
             since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against .
             each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would .
             our country be run as effectively if the presence of political parties .
             was no longer a factor? It is the opinion of the authors that the U.S. .
             Government would exist without political parties and may, in fact be .
             stronger. The concept of political parties seems to go against what it .
             means to be a politician: to represent his or her constituents. More .
             time, money and effort, it seems is put into getting elected to an .
             office than actually doing work for the people in that office. One .
             fairly recent example is seen in the case of the proposed federal .
             Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Hatfield, Republican Oregon Senator,.
             went against his parties wishes and voted against the amendment. His .
             party nearly abandoned him for choosing the people over his party. .
             Many senators are faced with the same decision every day, but instead .
             stick with party beliefs and not what they feel would be the best for .
             the people. In order for true democracy to be achieved in our .
             government, we feel drastic changes need to occur.
             .
             .
             Review Of The Literature.
             .
             Since the mid 1850's, the Democrats and Republicans have had .
             control of the nation government. The only place where opposition was .
             felt was at the state and local levels. However, in the early days of .
             our country, third and fourth party candidates played important roles .
             in politics. A few of these parties from our history are the: .
             Democrat-Republicans, Jefferson Republicans, Whigs and Federalists. .
             Many other lesser known or hardly known at all parties were the: .
             Socialists, Unionists, Farmer-Laborists, Progressives, Communists, .