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Politics paper 3 > 5.2 Principles of Democratic and Republican parties > Flashcards

5.2 Principles of Democratic and Republican parties Flashcards

1
Q

What are the Democrats key principles?

A
  • Progressive
  • Equality
  • Reform
  • Protect minority rights
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2
Q

What are the Democrats view of the government?

A

“Big government” - provide a safety net to help those most vulnerable

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3
Q

What are the Democrats approach to foreign policy?

A

Dove-like approach including multilateralism Eg NATO, UN

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4
Q

What are the Democrats key policies?

A
  • Pro-choice
  • Protect and expand Obamacare
  • Comprehensive immigration reform
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5
Q

What are the Republicans key principles?

A
  • Traditional
  • Individualism
  • Freedom
  • Self-help
  • Individual rather than group rights
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6
Q

What is the Republicans view of the government?

A

“Small government” – minimal regulation

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7
Q

What are the Republicans approach to foreign policy?

A

“Hawk-like” – America first

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8
Q

What are the Republicans key policies?

A
  • Pro-life
  • Repeal Obamacare
  • Immigration control
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9
Q

What economic issues were outlined in the Democratic party platform?

A
  • Increase federal minimum waged to $15
  • Guaranteed equal pay for women
  • Raise the rate of corporation tax
  • Infrastructure investment
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10
Q

What economic issues were outlined in the Republican party platform? (Continuation from Trump’s last 4 years – ‘Party of Trump’)?

A
  • Oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage
  • Lower the corporate tax rate
  • Oppose strong banking regulations
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11
Q

What social/moral issues were outline in the Democratic party platform?

A
  • Support continued subsidising of Planned Parenthood
  • Support SC ruling that legalised same-sex marriage
  • Oppose construction of Keystone XL Pipeline + invest in renewables
  • Expand and strengthen background checks
  • Create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
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12
Q

What social/moral issues were outline in the Republican party platform?

A
  • Oppose public funding of Planned Parenthood
  • Want to reverse SC decision that legalised same-sex marriage
  • Support construction of Keystone XL Pipeline and increase domestic oil production
  • Support right to bear arms
  • Oppose any amnesty for illegal immigrants
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13
Q

What welfare issues were outlined in the Democratic party platform?

A
  • Support for universal healthcare/Obamacare
  • Support for affirmative action in universities
  • Make university tuition fees free for students whose family earn less than $125,000 per year
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14
Q

What welfare issues were outlined in the Republican party platform?

A
  • Overturn Obamacare

- Restrict Medicare for seniors by encouraging enrolment in private insurance

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15
Q

What are the two strands of the Republican party?

A
  • Social conservatives

- Fiscal conservatives

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16
Q

Describe the social conservatives:

A

Aim is to create a clear moral code and ethical framework for the country
Associated with the ‘Christian-right’ – pro-life, oppose gay marriage, traditional family values

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17
Q

Example of a social conservative:

A

Ted Cruz of Texas

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18
Q

Describe the fiscal conservatives:

A

Suspicious of government intervention, except for law and order and defence
Support economists Hayek and Friedman
“Freedom Caucus” is an example of a fiscally conservative group in the House

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19
Q

Example of a fiscal conservative:

A 
Ted Cruz (social and fiscal are not mutually exclusive)
Mike Lee of Utah
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20
Q

What other factions of Republicans are there + describe:

A
  • Neo-conservatives – hawkish approach to foreign policy Eg Nikki Haley
  • Moderates (RINOs) – less of a conservative agenda Eg Susan Collins
  • Libertarians – want minimal social control and isolationist foreign policy Eg Rand Paul
  • Populist movement – anti-Washington and neo-nationalist Eg Trump
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21
Q

How united are GOP on the economy?

A

Greatest area of agreement is the economy
Many are fiscally conservative – believe in keeping taxes low, limited govt spending, no increase to minimum wage
BUT
Moderates are not opposed to raising taxes + borrowing
Libertarians would cut tax and take further

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22
Q

How united are GOP on social/moral issues?

A

Big areas of disagreement
Many are socially conservative – pro-life, gun rights, traditional family values, prefer tough immigration laws
Anti-environmental regulations
BUT
Moderates are pro LGBT rights, pro-choice, pro environmental regulation
Libertarians want minimal social control so pro-choice, pro-legalisation

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23
Q

How united are GOP on welfare and social justice?

A

Most embrace self-help and small government – oppose Obamacare, restrict Medicare, oppose subsidising tuition fees, hostile to welfare programmes
BUT
Moderates wouldn’t fully abolish Obamacare
Libertarians would take small government further

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24
Q

What are the three main factions within the Democrat party?

A
  • Conservatives
  • Centrists
  • Progressives
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25
Describe the conservative Democrats:
‘Blue Dog Coalition’ More fiscally and socially conservative than typical Democrats 18 members of the Blue Dog Congressional Caucus in 2021 Faction argues US has become more conservative so Democratic party must respond with policies that respect the vulnerable but keep traditional values and taxes low
26
Example of a Blue Dog Democrat:
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia
27
Describe centrists:
Aim to bridge the gap between the right and the left with a pragmatic approach to politics 90 members of New Democratic Coalition in 117th Congress
28
Describe progressives:
Economically centrist and socially liberal position | Congressional Progressive Caucus contains 94 members
29
Example of a progressive Senator and House Rep:
Senator = Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts | House Rep = AOC of New York
30
How united are Democrats on the economy?
``` Considerable unity Most believe: Increase tax for the richest Americans Increased government spending Increase business regulation Increases minimum wage BUT Conservatives favour keeping taxes low, decrease in govt spending ```
31
How united are Democrats on social/moral issues?
``` Most believe: Support for LGBT rights Pro-choice Combat global warming Tighter gun control laws Immigration reform BUT Progressives would take CC further eg Green New Deal Conservatives oppose same-sex, pro-life, pro-limited gun control ```
32
How united are Democrats on welfare and social justice?
Most believe: Support for Obamacare Safety net for vulnerable Support for maternity and paternity rights Reduce tuition fees BUT Manchin disagrees with most of the above Progressives eg Warren believe in free university
33
Describe the typical Democrat supporter + explain each:
``` Young = more progressive + liberal – Dems policy on lowering tuition fees Female = pro-choice, equal pay from Obama, maternity rights Urban = more cosmopolitan and diverse Minority = Dems immigration policies, history on civil rights ```
34
What % of African Americans supported the Dems in 2020?
87%
35
What % of women supported the Dems in 2020?
57%
36
Describe the typical Republican supporter:
Old = less tolerant to minority rights, tuition fees etc less relevant Male = macho, gun policies White = south traditionally white Small town = hostile to Washington, more guns Church goer = socially conservative values non-University educated = Trump targeted the unemployed in rust belt states
37
What % of white, evangelical Christians supported Reps in 2020?
76%
38
What % of white with no degree supported reps in 2020?
67%
39
What is the ‘culture war’?
Emphasises the conflict between the 2 main parties on hot button issues such as abortion, gun rights, gun control and religion
40
What is the ‘new culture war’?
Stated by Arthur Brooks | Disagreement between liberals and conservatives on the role of the government, tax and spending
41
What two important opposing academic works are there on the issues of partisanship
- The 2nd civil war: how extreme partisanship has polarised America – Brownstein (2007) - Culture war? The myth of a polarised America – Morris Fiorina
42
What does Brownstein say in ‘The 2nd civil war’?
Refers to ‘hyper partisanship’ - Clear ideological differences between Reps and Dems - Less ‘reaching across the aisle’ - Media increasingly polarised - Red v Blue states
43
What does Fiorina say in ‘Culture War’?
Argues extent of polarisation and partisanship is exaggerated - Moderate factions in 2 main parties exist - Culture war is only fought by activists - Media ‘hypes up’ party divisions - Compromise does occur
44
What are the 4 main factors explaining the trend for more polarised political parties?
1. Regional factors 2. Electoral factors 3. Polarising policies and figures 4. The media
45
How have regional factors cause more polarised party politics?
Realignment in 1960s where the white south became strongly Republican Liberal, cosmopolitan north-east and west coast became Democrat
46
How have electoral factors cause more polarised party politics?
- Redistricting is controlled by state legislatures which has led to gerrymandering Increase in safe seats = candidates adopt highly partisan positions that appeal to their most dedicated supporters - Voters in primaries are more partisan than average voter so candidates selected are more liberal Dems and more conservative Reps
47
How have polarising policies + figures cause more polarised party politics?
1. Polarising policies = culture war on hot button issues and increase in Christian Right 2. Polarising figures = Trump regarded as most partisan and polarising president in history
48
What is the evidence for considerable polarisation and partisanship?
- Ideological gap between 2 parties has grown hugely in recent years - Atmosphere in Congress – less reaching across the aisle, more party unity, shrinking of moderate wings Eg not a single Republican congressman voted for Affordable Healthcare Act - Language used – ‘culture war’, ‘red and blue states’, ‘50:50 nation’, ‘hyper partisan’
49
What is the evidence that polarization and partisanship has been exaggerated?
- Factions for moderates in both parties survive Eg moderate wing of Reps and conservative/centrist wings of Dems - Bipartisanship possible Eg January 2021 10 House Republicans voted with Democrats to impeach Trump - Ordinary party supporters are nowhere near as polarised eg fewer than 25% of Americans favour a total ban on abortion, not a 50/50 split
50
What are the negative consequences of partisanship?
- Hindering the political system “inflamed our differences and impeded progress in tackling our most pressing issues” Eg Obama’s inability to pass any gun control measures following Sandy Hook - Atmosphere of gridlock in Congress Eg Ornstein and Mann – “it’s even worse than it looks” - Americans don’t like polarisation - 3rd parties have become marginalised
51
What are the positives of partisanship?
- Ideologically distinct parties are good for democracy as they encourage participation - Polarised parties enhance checks and balances
52
What is a 2-party system?
Refers to the number of parties that have a realistic chance of forming a government within a political system
53
What evidence is there for the US being a 2 party system?
- All modern presidents have been Dems or reps + rare for 3rd party candidates to win seats in Congress - In the last 6 presidential elections, the combined proportion of popular votes for Dems and reps has been over 90%
54
Since 1945, how many candidates not associated with Dems or Reps have been elected to Congress?
Only 7
55
Why do US 3rd parties struggle?
1. Ideological barriers – 3rd parties have a narrow appeal + Dems/reps are ‘catch-all’ parties so no room for other views 2. Practical barriers – FPTP discriminates against minor parties + electorate don’t want to ‘waste’ their vote 3. Communication barriers – require large sums of money + starved of attention 4. Legal barriers – stat ballot laws make it difficult for 3rd party candidates to get their name on ballot papers
56
Name two 3rd-parties in the US:
- Libertarian party: candidate in 2020 was Jo Jorgensen receiving 1.2% of the popular vote + on ballot in all 50 states - Green Party; candidate in 2020 was Howie Hawkins receiving 0.2% of the popular vote + on ballot in 29 states
57
How can 3rd parties be influential?
1. Can influence the outcome of elections Eg in 1992 Ross Perot won 19% of the vote for the Independents who fiscally conservative so took away many conservative votes, aiding Clinton and taking away from Bush Snr 2. 3rd parties can influence policy ideas eg Perot cause GOP and Dems to consider policy ideas eg ‘balancing the budget’ 3. Important role in a pluralist democracy
58
Quote about 3rd parties in America:
“Sting like a bee, then die” – Hofstadter
59
Describe the theory of party decline:
David Broder 1972 book “The Party’s Over” | Political parties have declined in importance in elections and Congress
60
What evidence is there for party decline?
1. Primary voters, rather than political parties, choose candidates 2. US elections are more candidate-centred 3. More people registering as independents 4. Candidates not reliant on political parties for funding
61
What’s the alternative theory to party decline?
Party renewal

Politics paper 3 (7 decks)

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