What Is a Libertarian?

The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party. Libertarians believe that you have the right to live your life as you wish, without the government interfering -- as long as you don't violate the rights of others.

Libertarians can't comfortably be labeled as either "liberal" or "conservative." Rather, Libertarians are the opposite of "Statists," who believe that a strong central government should dictate morality, economics, and social issues.

We believe that all human beings have certain basic rights: the right to life, the right to freedom and self-determination, and the right to own and enjoy property. We believe that the only justifiable use of force or coercion, by the individual or by government, is to protect those rights. As long as you aren't threatening the rights of anyone else, you -- not the government -- are the best judge of the best way to live and to behave.

Interested in learning more about where you fit in the political spectrum? Try taking the World's Smallest Political Quiz on the website of Advocates for Self-Government.