Abstract: The subject of this research is the dynamics of changes in evolution of the political parties as a central element in political system of the United States. The dynamics of changes is attributed to the fact that the parties have walked the path from the state of the rapidly implementable political need of the end of XVIII until the stage of the paramount, legislatively regulated institution of the XXI century. Therewith, the dominant role in electoral political process belongs to the Republicans and Democrats, who alternate in the struggle for supremacy. The goal of research lies in determination of the factor of diminishment of the role and impact of the leading political parties of the United States that are the dominant component of the American political system, as well as estimation of the consequences of this process. The following research methods were used: historical-retrospective analysis of formation of the political parties; comparative method on characterizing the parties of the United States; system approach to analysis of the factors that led to establishment of the two-party system in the United States; forecast analysis of the causes of decline in influence of the dominant parties on the political processes in the country. The scientific novelty consists in examination and clarification of the conditions of formation of the political parties, as well as provision of characteristics to the leading and third parties within the US political system. The authors conclude that in the United States had gradually established the two-party system, characterized by the dominant position of the two parties – Republican and Democratic; the two recent decades have marked the evident increase in the number of independent candidates; currently, about 40% of the Americans do not affiliate themselves to one or another party.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the events and factors that have direct impact on the establishment, development, and activity of the private military companies (PMC) of the United States in terms of modern warfare in other countries. The goal of this work lies in analysis of the United States experience in use of the private military companies for achieving the military objectives alongside its effectiveness; determine the areas for future research of the activity of PMC; reveal the potential of international community aimed at regulation of the private military business. Attention to the legal facet of the issue substantiates the need for legislation and oversight for the action of PMC, which requires attention to the issues of ethical nature. Conclusions can be made that as long as the activity of the PMC is not meticulously studied and introduced into the legal field, the moral-ethical issues and problems of criminal punishment for the acts committed will remain unsolved. The services of PMC will continue to be in demand in the future by not only the U.S. government, but also private organizations and transnational corporations for achieving their personal goals.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the consequences and factors of aging in social policy in the United States, China, and Russia. The authors discuss in detail such aspects of the topic, as the consequences of aging in the countries and their impact upon their social policy. The authors emphasize that aging is accompanied by the active social policy in the United States, selective approach in China, and the lack of funding in Russia, in which over the recent time, can be seen a positive dynamics in resolving the problems of the elderly. Scientific novelty consists in the fact that basing on acquired data the comparative analysis, the authors identified a variety of structures and forms of implementation of social policy with regards to the elderly in the United States, China, and Russia.  Among the main conclusions are the following statements:
 
1. The level of socio-economic and political development, national-cultural alongside the demographic, and urban factors affect the peculiarities of social policy of the countries;
 
2. There are priorities in social policy of demographic aging, which take into account the heterogeneity of the older age groups, development of the traditional and new forms of protection and services, as well as national and ekistical specificity.