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The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It is generally seen as being politically between center and [[leftist | left]] of center, while the rival [[Republican Party]] is positioned to the [[rightist | right]] of center (see [[Political spectrum theory]]).  

The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It is generally seen as being politically between center and [[leftist | left]] of center, while the rival [[Republican Party]] is positioned to the [[rightist | right]] of center (see [[Political spectrum theory]]).  

The Democrats currently control the United States [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]], together with the majority of State governorships and legislatures. <ref>[http://www.multistate.com/Site.nsf/Elections2006PostMaps?OpenPage Multistate.com] Post-Election 2006 Maps</ref> According to a Pew Research Center poll, 50 percent of Americans identify themselves with the Democratic Party as opposed to 35 percent for the Republican Party.<ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312 Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007] Pew Research Center, 22 March 2007</ref> On the other hand, seven of the last ten presidential terms have been served by Republicans, and President George W. Bush won a second term as [[President of the United States|President]] on the [[Republican Party|Republican]] ticket in 2004. The Democrats in the US Congress have a 56.8% Disapproval rating with only a 36% Approve rating according to the PealClearPolitics Average of several dozens of Congressional Job Approval polls, ratings which barely amount to an improvement over those of the formerly Republican controlled congress. <ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/archive/index.php?poll_id=18&page=2 RealClearPolitics Congressional Job Approval Poll], 03/29 - 04/09.</ref>

The Democrats currently control the United States [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]], together with the majority of State governorships and legislatures. <ref>[http://www.multistate.com/Site.nsf/Elections2006PostMaps?OpenPage Multistate.com] Post-Election 2006 Maps</ref> According to a Pew Research Center poll, 50 percent of Americans identify themselves with the Democratic Party as opposed to 35 percent for the Republican Party.<ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312 Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007] Pew Research Center, 22 March 2007</ref> On the other hand, seven of the last ten presidential terms have been served by Republicans, and President George W. Bush won a second term as [[President of the United States|President]] on the [[Republican Party|Republican]] ticket in 2004. The Democrats in the US Congress have a 56.8% Disapproval rating with only a 36% Approve rating according to the PealClearPolitics Average of several dozens of Congressional Job Approval polls. <ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/archive/index.php?poll_id=18&page=2 RealClearPolitics Congressional Job Approval Poll], 03/29 - 04/09.</ref>

Like the Republicans, the Democrats are currently selecting their candidate for the 2008  presidential election; the front-runners in the contest are Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of [[New York]] and Senator [[Barack Obama]] of [[Illinois]]. The most recent president who was a Democrat was [[Bill Clinton]], who served from 1993 to 2001. His record and conduct in office continues to be highly controversial among Americans, in part because he was impeached in his second term by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for lying under oath in a civil court case. (The Senate did not convict him on the impeachment charges.)

Like the Republicans, the Democrats are currently selecting their candidate for the 2008  presidential election; the front-runners in the contest are Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of [[New York]] and Senator [[Barack Obama]] of [[Illinois]]. The most recent president who was a Democrat was [[Bill Clinton]], who served from 1993 to 2001. His record and conduct in office continues to be highly controversial among Americans, in part because he was impeached in his second term by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for lying under oath in a civil court case. (The Senate did not convict him on the impeachment charges.)