What is a 'conservative', and which party does it best describe?

What is a 'conservative', and which party does it best describe?

Matthew Jones (Political Science Instructor) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'liberal', and which party does it best describe?; What is a 'conservative', and which party does it best describe?; What is a 'progressive', and which party does it best describe? and more...

Modern American conservatism, which again is different than European conservatism or classical conservatism, classifies the right side of the ideological spectrum, and really that applies best to the Republican party. The Constitution party, and to some extent the reform party when Patrick Buchanan was the nominee, really was more conservative in certain ways than the Republican party, but the Republican party tries to be the party that catches all the right side of the political spectrum. And conservatism applies to traditional values, free markets, law and order - the rule of law, following the law, and an aggressive stance in foreign policy.