5. US democracy and participation Flashcards
1
Q
What are the similarities between the UK and USA parties?
A
- There is often a casual assumption that the Republicans are like the Conservative Party (UK) and the democrats p, the Labour Party (UK)
- US politics is much further to the right than UK politics as a rule
- The majority of British Tories would reject Republican positions on abortion, healthcare, the death penalty and gun rights, but would probably agree with the, on most economic issues
- Similarly, US Democrats would probably have more in common with the Tories than Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour
- Even somebody like Bernie Sanders, considered one of the most left wing Democrats would, if he were in the UK be considered as a moderate leftist
2
Q
What are the social and moral issues/economic issues within Democratic and Republican parties?
A
- Democrats tend to be more supportive of civil rights, LGBT rights and abortion rights
- Republicans are more supportive of traditional more values
- In relation to race, they have clashed specifically over the 1965 Voting Rights Act, partial-birth abortion ban in 2003 and the chosen gender bathroom controversy in North Carolina
- Both parties see capitalism and the free market as positive - Trumpism economics don’t support the free market and trace bush rather protection tariffs, restrictive trade practices, putting taxes on foreign imports
- Democrats favour a more interventionist approach in order to protect those on lower incomes
- Republicans favour a more laissez-faire approach - Minimally getting involved in the economy
- Dems favour increasing the minimum wage, Reps claim this would destroy business
- Reps favour tax cuts, Dems (such as Clinton in 2016) favour raising the top rate of tax on the wealthy
3
Q
What are the ideas that the Democratic and Republican parties have on social welfare?
A
- Democrats - Favour government provision of welfare, higher levels of benefit and funding for social programmes
Roosevelt - New deal (1930s) established the democrat party for the poor and welfare - Republicans - Would prefer to restrict the above and promote more personal responsibility because they think food stamps allow people to spend the rest of the money they receive on drugs, etc.
- E.g. Reps have pushed for cuts in food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Paul Ryan proposed in his poverty review a $27B cut in food stamps over 10 years
4
Q
What can be argued as a problem with party fanctions/ US parties?
A
US parties are decentralised, lack of strong leadership and have a wide range of different views.
5
Q
What are the party factions within the Democratic party?
A
- Moderates - Centrists, favour compromise, may support welfare reform and tax cuts, possibly some restrictions on abortion and anti-terror laws. Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden
- Liberals - Progressives, more radical, sand less U.S. military intervention abroad, increased taxes on the wealthy, rejected the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade agreement, negotiated by Obama (moderate). Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren
- Conservatives - ‘Blue Dogs’. Some are conservative on moral issues and side with their own party on tax and trade, others are the other way round. 2015, 47 House Dems voted with Reps in favour of additional screening of Iraqi and Syrian refugees, declining in strength, 23 in the new House and Joe Manchin (WV), Krysten Sinema (AZ) in the Senate.
6
Q
What are the party factions within the Republican party?
A
- Social conservatives - Mainly associated with Protestant/ Evangelical religious right, against illegal immigration, oppose LGBT rights and abortion rights, tend to support the general laissez-faire party on economic policy, voted overwhelmingly for the 2003 Partial-birth Abortion Act. Represent the majority of Reps. Marsha Blackburn in the Senate
- Fiscal conservatives - Drive the Rep economic agenda, Freedom Caucus has replaced the Tea party and has a ‘no compromise’ attitude, sent Trump a list of 228 regulations to be removed including environmental protections, nutrition rules for school meals and corporate regulations, Rand Paul in the Senate
- Moderates - Can be liberal on social/moral issues, but usually support the party’s economic agenda, Susan Collins (ME) voted for Obama’s stimulus package however. Republican in Name Only (RINOs), losing influence in the age of Trump
Donald trump have taken the republicans in a completely different way to their history losing their free market agenda, moderates have been pushed out and a new views has been taken into account, no one criticises Trump unless you’re a diehard Trump supporter your opinion won’t be heard
7
Q
How does race influence the voting patterns/ the way people vote?
A
- In the 1960s Democrat President Johnson created the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. Since then, the democratic party has championed racial-minoruty causes, supporting measures to end discrimination and give greater opportunites.
- Many black people see the republican party as a toxic brand that has slowed the fight for equality
- ‘Obama effect’ - record black turnouts in 2008 and 12. in 2012 increased black voter turnout in marginal states made a major contribution to Obama’s re-election
- When looking at the African American vote it is normally in the range of 80-90% for democrats since the 1930s.
- In 2004, Republican George W. Bush secured 44% of the Hispanic vote, however most vote democratic
- Hispanics vote democrat because of its stronger stance for equality and against discrimination
- E.g. Hispanics - About 2/3s vote democrat but there’re a huge group within their society particularly in border areas like Arizona, New Mexico, and more who are very strongly Trump
- White voters are more evenly split, although most alaways select the republican party. Even when the democratic candidate takes the white house, they dont get a majority of the white vote
8
Q
How does Religion influence the voting patterns/ the way people vote?
A
- Protestants make up around 48% of the population and normally vote for republican candidates. Within that group, 25% born again evangelical Christians. Identify with the strong streak of social conservatism running through the party
- Sarah Palin, a former, republican govenor, said of the 2016 election: ‘No doubt, divine providence played a huge role in this election… I saw it first-hand’
- Roman Catholics tend to split about 50/50. However, If you’re more likely to practice your faith you’re more likely to be Republican
- Jewish people are very strongly democratic. American Jews are usually strongly liberal, sympathising with the less fortunate and with minorities, and support greater government assistance for those with low socio-economic status
9
Q
How does gender influence the voting patterns/ the way people vote?
A
- Persistent gender gap where women vote democrat and men voting republican 15 to 20% gender gap that fluctuates back and forth
- This because of broad ideological reasons: men have a more conservative outlook than women. Women may have a marginal preference for the Democrats because the democratic party has done more to fight for womens rights
- e.g. Obama introduced the Lilly ledbetter fair pay act, attempting to secure equal pay for women, which was opposed by almost all republicans in congress. The democratic party also has significantly more congressional female politicans than the republican party
10
Q
How does Education influence the voting patterns/ the way people vote?
A
- Complete turn around. Based on history the more educated you’re the more likely you’re to vote democrat. However, it is now changed and, the less educated you are the more likely you’re to vote republican
- In 2016, Donal Trump won a majority of his group. Trump’s populist anti-elitist agenda attracts those who may view those with higher education as part of a liberal elite protecting their own agenda
- Some people have argued that education tends to produce more socially liberal values e.g. greater acceptance of differnet racial groups and religions, and support for civil liberties - so more educated voters are more likely to reject the socially conservative elements of the Republican party
- In contrast, some argue that there is a tendency for liberals or democrats to value education more, so they stay in education for longer - so being liberal leads to higher education not the other way around
11
Q
Why are American interest groups so powerful?
A
- Size and diversity of the USA
- More access points, Federal Gov’t, State Gov’t, City Councils etc.
- Absence of defined party policies allow many pressure groups to specialise in certain key areas and convince politicians to sponsor bills
- Massive funding - Arms industry, Lockheed Martin etc.
- Political influence
- Partisan nature of US politics on certain ‘hot button’ issues
- Unlimited access to the media
12
Q
What are the 3 different types of interest groups in America?
A
- Policy groups – attempt to influence government or public policy. E.g. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
- Professional groups – represent the economic interests of their members. E.g. American Medical Association.
- Single-interest groups – advocate policy around a single issue. E.g. National Rifle Association (A range of issues all competing for the main policy advocacy in government)
13
Q
Why are interest group’s so significant?
A
- Groups’ rights are protected - Freedom of speech which allows all groups to say what they want with no repercussions , NRA and other Pro-gun groups (rights to bear arms)
- There are many access points - Because of layer cake federalism and separation of powers. That’s why there’re so many different access points , The state government is more sympathetic to your goals than the … government
- Politicians are open to persuasion - They don’t have manifestos and it’s easier to convince a politician to do something as they aren’t bound by policies by their parties, Funding
- Elections are numerous and frequent - Presidential elections 4 years. Mayoral elections, and more
14
Q
What are factors affecting interest groups?
A
- An active membership - Particularly important in swing constituencies where lobbying members and contacting voters can have a real impact.
- Money - Especially money donated to political campaigns.
- Contacts - Professional lobbyists, developing policy network.
- Expertise - Legal experts that can advise politicians and also members on how to litigate in support of their cause
15
Q
What are 5 types of interest group tactics?
A
- Publicity
- Grassroots activity
- Legal methods
- Lobbying
- Electioneering
16
Q
How does ‘publicity’ work as an interest group tactic?
A
- E.g. contacting potential voters who are likely to support the aims of the group.
- The NRA used television adverts to stop Obama and Congress from passing new gun regulations after the fatal shooting of school children and staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
17
Q
How does ‘grassroots activities’ work as an interest group tactic?
A
- E.g. Interest group members taking part in email writing campaigns, demonstrations and direct action.
- Most interest group websites have a ‘take action’ section, with model letters and a ‘zip code engine’ to find the Andes of someone’s Congressperson or Senator
18
Q
How does ‘legal methods’ work as an interest group tactic?
A
- The NRA have had their cause protected in 2nd-amendment (the right to bear arms) Supreme Court cases such as DC v Heller (2008), which ruled that the 2nd amendment gives an individual a right to a gun.
- (Amicus curiae - friendly to the port, where witnesses e.g. interests groups can speak on behalf of a particular cause in the Supreme Court)
19
Q
How does ‘lobbying’ work as an interest group tactic?
A
- AIPAC wanted to overturn the Iran deal that Obama had successfully negotiated, in which Iran agreed to halt its nuclear program.
- They attempted to pass a Senate resolution to block the deal, lobbying key Democrats like Chuck Schumer (New York).
- They despatched 60 activists to his office to hold a meeting which Schumer, and he later opposed the Iran deal
20
Q
How does ‘electioneering’ work as an interest group tactic?
A
- One main strategy is to maximise turnout among certain voters.
- This has led to the creation of some interest groups specialising in affecting electoral outcomes, as can be seen in the case of the League of Conservation Voters
21
Q
What are the arguments that interest groups enhance democracy (do a lot of good)?
A
- Participation - They provide citizens with alternative outlets to engage politically. AFL-CIO claimed to have used 2000 volunteers to contact 6 million voters in swing states with an anti-Trump message in 2016.
- Checks on the government - The ACLU has played an important role in protecting civil liberties, promoting liberal democracy. NAACP have led the way on civil rights. The NRA have protected gun rights and campaigned against Obama’s gun laws.
- Representation - They can protect the interests of smaller, more marginalised groups or groups that find it hard to have their voices heard in a two-party majoritarian political system
22
Q
What are the arguments that interest groups restrict democracy (do a lot of bad)?
A
- Violent and illegal activity - May restrict the rights of others or disrupt the representative process, such as when NAACP occupied the offices of a senior Republican politician in North Carolina.
- Restriction of elected government - They have no electoral mandate and can prevent politicians carrying through promises made at election time. AARP (a retired people’s interest group) and the health insurance companies lined up to try and stop Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act, this could arguably have undermined democracy.
- E.g. (1993) Bill Clinton trying to get through his bill on health the private healthcare companies stopped it with their grass route campaigns
- Inequality of representation -
Wealthier interest groups that promote the interests of a minority of people may have an elite agenda that undermines the interests of the majority, whereas groups that promote pluralism in which all sections of society have some policy interests promote compromises, which is more democratic.
23
Q
What is the ‘Electoral College’?
A
The group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every 4 years for the sole purpose of appointing the president and vice president.
24
Q
What are the advantages of the ‘Electoral College’?
A
- Respects the tradition of federalism - Emphasises the importance of smaller states that get more weighting than their population deserves.
- Produces a clear winner - One candidate always wins an absolute majority thereby enhancing legitimacy.
- Protects low-turnout areas - States where turnout is low will have the same impact as states where it is higher.
