types of political parties
The major political parties are Democrat (DNC) and Republican (GOP). Democrats tend towards the left end of the spectrum. Their platform foundations include promotion of social welfare programs and strong labor and teachers unions.
Other parties, often called 3rd parties include Independent (neither right nor left), Conservative (middle-right), Green (middle-left), Working Families (far-left), and Communist (far-left). The TEA party is not an officially-recognized political party per se but more like a political-action group.