The US political system today is dominated by just two parties, so every president in modern times has belonged to one of them.
The Democrats are the liberal political party, with an agenda defined largely by its push for civil rights, a broad social safety net and measures to address climate change.
It is the party of incumbent President Joe Biden, who is trying to secure a second term in power.
The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US. Also known as the GOP, or the Grand Old Party, it has stood for lower taxes, shrinking the size of the government, gun rights and tighter restrictions on immigration and abortion.
Former President Donald Trump is the last Republican left in the race and has secured enough support to be nominated the Republican candidate.
The nominations are made official at party conventions. The Republican National Convention is being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 15-18 July and the Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago, Illinois, from 19-22 August.
The 2024 presidential campaign is well under way. It started with 15 candidates – nine Republicans, four Democrats and two independents – although nearly all have already dropped out of the race.
The two main parties nominate a presidential candidate by holding a series of state primaries and caucuses.
There are differences between the parties and the process varies from one state to another.
One of the biggest polling days is known as Super Tuesday – named because more than a dozen states all held their primary contests on Tuesday 5 March.
President Biden announced his re-election bid earlier this year and has won enough support to secure the Democratic Party nomination despite some long-shot challenges.
In the Republican Party, former President Donald Trump saw off his last remaining challenger, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, and has won enough primary contests to propel him over the finish line to be nominated the Republican candidate.
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