<P> Political ideologies in the United States refers to the various ideologies and ideological demographics in the United States . Citizens in the U.S. generally classify themselves as adherent to positions along the political spectrum as either liberal, progressive, moderate, or conservative . Modern American liberalism aims at the preservation and extension of human, social and civil rights as well as the government guaranteed provision of positive rights . It combines social progressivism and to some extent, ordoliberalism and is highly similar to European social liberalism . American conservatism commonly refers to a combination of economic liberalism and libertarianism, and to an extent, social conservatism . It aims at protecting the concepts of small government and individual liberty, while promoting traditional values on some social issues . </P> <P> The ideological position a person or party takes may be explained in terms of social and economic policy . The ideological positions a person assumes on social and economic policy issues may differ in their position on the political spectrum . Milton Friedman, for example, was left - of - center on social issues but right - of - center on fiscal matters and thus is often identified as libertarian . Several ideological demographics may be identified in addition to or as subgroups of liberals and conservatives with nearly every possible ideology being found in the general population . </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> <P> The size of ideological groups varies slightly depending on the poll . Gallup / USA Today polling in June 2010 revealed that 42% of those surveyed identify as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 20% as liberal . In another polling in June 2010, 40% of American voters identify themselves as conservatives, 36% as moderates and 22% as liberals, with a strong majority of both liberals and conservatives describing themselves as closer to the center than to the extremes . As of 2013, self - identified conservatives stand at 38%, moderates at 34%, and liberals at 23% . </P>

Which u.s. political party is considered to lean to the left