Politics is a term that refers to government activities and the attempt by people to attain political office. There are two main political parties in the United States: the Democrats and the Republicans. The United States is a democracy. This means that people over the age of 18 choose their leaders in regular elections. For the most part, anyone in the US can get involved in politics. Political engagement is not limited to voting. Political rallies, protests, and activism are also forms of political activity. Politics plays a major role in people's day-to-day activities. In democratic societies, politics inevitably leads to conflicts because there are so many different opinions in society. Politicians carry out a number of activities to keep themselves in office. This includes meeting with constituents and explaining what their taxes pay for. One of the reasons they do this is to resolve political power struggles over limited national resources. International politics is often aimed at resolving conflicts.