The Libertarian Party is America's largest and most successful third party.

The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 by a handful of people meeting in David Nolan's living room in Colorado. Today, the party is organized in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We also have student groups on many college campuses.

Currently, more than 590 Libertarians hold public office, more than all other third parties combined. In the 2003 elections, we elected 46 Libertarians, nearly half in higher-level races such as city and county council. During the year 2000, we ran more than 1430 candidates, more than twice as many as all other third parties combined.

We fielded candidates for 255 of the 435 seats in the U.S House as well as 25 of the 33 Senate seats up for election -- the first time in eighty years that any third party has contested a majority of the seats in Congress. Our slate of U.S. House candidates received 1.7 million votes, the first time any third party has received over a million votes for U.S. House.

The Bylaws and Platform of the Libertarian Party are determined by the delegates to our bi-annual national convention, who are elected by the membership of their state party. The convention also elects an 18-member National Committee, which governs the Party between conventions.

The party's ongoing political work is coordinated by a full-time staff of about a dozen, who work at the Party's national headquarters in Washington DC. However, the most important work is done at the state and local level, by tens of thousands of Americans just like you.

The Libertarian Party is a grassroots political organization -- our success and direction is determined by our members, contributors, volunteers, candidates, and office-holders. We hope you'll decide to get involved, and join our campaign to restore the American dream of liberty and justice for all.

The Libertarian Party is a U.S. political party and is not formally affiliated with parties in other countries. For information about libertarian-oriented parties and organizations in other parts of the world, contact the International Society for Individual Liberty.