Who is running for President in 2016? A beginner's guide to the US elections

          
The race to succeed Barack Obama as president of the United States is about to get interesting.
Primary season - where each party picks their candidate for the general election - is almost upon us.
This election is full of bold characters, bitter rivalries and the results are far from sewn up.

So before the Iowa becomes first state to decide on a candidate on February 1st, here's a reminder of how the US elections work, who's running for the top job, and which candidates you should keep an eye on as the campaigns progress.

Who are the parties?

The Republican Party

Also known as the GOP - or Grand Old Party, the Republicans are America's right-wing party. As a party, they tend to be anti-gun control, anti-immigration, anti-abortion and anti-universal healthcare. They're in favour of individual liberty and small government.
Republican candidates usually win more votes in southern and rural states.
Famous republicans

Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and, of course both presidents Bush were members of the Republican party - as is former California governor and unstoppable cyborg assassin Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, but the party was a bit more progressive in those days.
If they were British, they'd be...
Imagine a less posh Tory party, but with more oil barons.

The Democratic Party

                                                                   to be continued.