CHARLOTTE, the Unites States, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The 2012 Democratic National Convention kicked off on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina where U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will accept nominations for the party's presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate later this week.
Founded in 1828, the Democratic Party is one of the two major parties in the country along with the Republican Party.
Generally speaking, the party supports a social liberal and progressive platform and opposes tax cuts and favors a more progressive tax structure to provide more public services. As flagship policies, the party calls for a more affordable and qualified health care and low-cost education.
Having an ideologically diverse base, the party is home to members of social liberals, civil liberals, conservatives, centrists, professionals, economists, Academia, labor and the working class.
In terms of racial composition, the party comprises many ethnic minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and native Americans.
The Democratic Party currently holds a minority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a majority of seats in the Senate.
Democrats have released a party platform waiting to be adopted by delegates during the convention. The platform echoes Obama's call for higher taxes on wealthier Americans while backing same- sex marriage and abortion rights.
The most common mascot symbol for the party is donkey.
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