5.2 Key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican Parties Flashcards
How do Democrats and Republicans differ on social and moral issues
- Democrats = progressive - support greater protection of individual liberty and prevention of discrimination - stronger rights for racial minorities and LGBT community
- Republicans = conservative - have often resisted such changes - promote more traditional values - arguing for religious choice or states’ rights to be prioritised
How did the 2 parties clash over the civil rights movement?
- Especially during the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 - continued conflict over racial issues, such as state voting regulations and the Voting Rights Act
What is an example of Republicans taking a more traditional stance on social issues and Democrats taking a more progressive one, in terms of voting?
- The congressional vote to ban partial-birth abortion in 2003 was supported almost unanimously by Republicans, with a clear majority of Democrats opposing the bill
How have the 2 parties clashed over LGBT rights?
- Democrats have been very supportive of them, including the right to be allowed to use the bathroom (toilet) of their chosen gender; Republicans have typically opposed this - Obama cut federal funding to North Carolina (a Republican-dominated state) for its rejection of this right
What amendment to legislation was proposed by Democrat Congressman Sean Maloney in 2016?
- If a company didn’t comply with President Obama’s executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers, it would not receive federal funds - 43 Republicans voted for the Maloney legislation, while the vast majority of them voted against it.
What is the Democratic Party’s attitude to economic policy?
- Democrats tend to call for greater governmental intervention in the national economy - to provide social justice and bring social and economic benefits for those on lower incomes - generally see capitalism and free-market economics as positive, but emphasise the need for protection for those who need it.
- Typically support an increase in the federal minimum wage
What is the Republican Party’s attitude to economic policy?
- Have a much more restricted view of governmental intervention - emphasise the idea of personal responsibility and personal freedom from government control
- On tax, they have tended to favour tax cuts - focus on tax cuts on wealthier groups
How do the Democrats approach the provision of social welfare?
- Have long favoured it - argue that the economic system provides a structure that doesn’t promote the interests of everyone
- Involves higher levels of benefits and funding for social programmes
How do the Republicans approach the provision of social welfare?
- Likely to restrict its use as they see it as an infringement on individual freedom
- The ACA was particularly aimed at the 46 million Americans, typically on lower incomes, who didn’t have health insurance - eventually passed through a Democrat Congress in 2010
- Accept the need for some food stamps for those in financial difficulty - generally pushed for cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
What are the factions in the Democratic Party?
- Moderates
- Liberals
- Conservatives
What are the factions in the Republican Party?
- Social conservatives
- Fiscal conservatives
- Moderates
What do moderate democrats identify with?
- Centrism and compromise - it is typically the areas of the economy and welfare in which they take a middle-ground approach
- More willing than others to end or reduce government-sponsored initiatives, as indicated by their support for welfare reform and tax cuts
Where do moderate democrats stand on moral issues?
There are areas where they might accept limitations to civil liberties to an extent that Liberal Democrats would not - this might include greater restrictions on abortion or the acceptance of anti-terror laws.
What are the origins of the moderate Democrats?
- The faction was organised around the Democratic Leadership Council, created in 1985 as a reaction to a second defeat in presidential elections to Ronald Reagan
- Argued a more moderate approach needed to gain electoral success
- More important in 90s
What happened to the moderate democrats in 2011?
- The group dissolved
Why are moderate democrats important in the party?
- Represent the dominant force in the Democratic Party - many members of Congress hold their views
- Recent democratic presidential candidates - reflect moderate wing
Was Obama a moderate democrat?
- Didn’t fit easily into either wing of the party - a lot of evidence of his moderate approach - willingness to compromise on health care reform and the federal budget
What do liberal Democrats identify with?
- Liberals (or progressives, represent the more radical, left-wing elements of the party
- More determined in using federal govt to achieve social justice
How do Liberal Democrats seek to achieve social justice?
Use of federal govt to:
- provide welfare, health and education for disadvantaged - by increasing taxes on the wealthy
- Support more govt intervention in economy + less military intervention
How did Liberal Democrats feel about Obama?
- Generally supported him - at times felt frustrated by him
- Pushed Obama to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership and reject certain Republican budget agreements - to protect welfare expenditure
How did Elizabeth Warren criticise Obama?
Issues including:
- Trans-Pacific Partnership - attacked for strengthening a system rigged to favour corporations over workers
