5.2 Republicans

Question 1

6

Outline Republican views on social and moral issues

Answer 1

• Support death penalty as deterrent
• Not necessarily opposed to LGBT relationships, but often reject idea they deserve same legal status as heterosexual marriages
• Pro-life
• Support all marketable forms of energy without subsidies inc oil, gas, etc
• Support gun rights
• Strong immigration controls

Question 2

4

Outline Republican views on economic issues

Answer 2

• More restricted govt intervention in national economy while protecting American trade and jobs
• Support pro-growth tax codes
• Minimum wage a state issue
• Support greater banking liberalisation, though retain some regulation

Question 3

3

Outline Republican views on welfare issues

Answer 3

• Accept social welfare, but preference for personal responsibility
• Repeal Obamacare and mandate for insurance
• Private sector participation in student financing should be restored - oppose debt relief plans

Question 4

3

List the factions of the Republican party

Answer 4

• moderates
• social conservatives
• fiscal conservatives

Question 5

4

Describe the Republican faction: moderates

Answer 5

• Conservative fiscal policy - low taxes and pro-business policies
• More liberal social views
• Increasingly fewer moderates
• Notable members: Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine)

Question 6

1

Give an example of the influence of the Republican moderate faction

Answer 6

• 2022, Murkowski and Collins introduced bill to codify right to abortion guaranteed in Roe

Question 7

5

Describe the Republican faction: social conservatives

Answer 7

• ‘Religious right’
• Hardened conservative social/moral views
• Oppose abortion, social welfare; support death penalty, gun rights
• 2022, joined with Manchin to block codification of abortion rights following SC leaks
• Notable members: Ted Cruz

Question 8

4

Describe the Republican faction: fiscal conservatives

Answer 8

• Focussed on reducing federal spending and shrinking size of state
• Not overly concerned with social and moral issues
• support degregulation, tax cuts, renegotiation of trade deals seen as disadvantangeous
• Notable members: Senator Sasse (Nebraska)

Question 9

4

Describe Republicans and gender

Answer 9

• Hold greater share of male vote
• Signs of greater ethnic male vote share in recent years
• 2016 - only 41% women voted for Trump due to past comments
• 2020 - 50% men voted for Trump vs 48% for Biden

Question 10

3

Describe Republicans and race

Answer 10

• 2020 - 55% white vote for Trump vs 43% for Biden
• 2020 - 8% AA vote for Trump
• Growing support among hispanic vote due to hardline immigration views e.g. Florida - 2020

Question 11

1

Describe Republicans and education

Answer 11

• Greater support among those without college-degree

Question 12

3

Describe the arguments that the Republicans are united/disunited

Answer 12

• Social/moral
• Economic
• Welfare

Question 13

4

Describe the argument that Republicans are united - social and moral

Answer 13

• RMC shut down in 2018
• Collins and Murkowski both voted to confirm pro-life Gorsuch and Kavanaugh
• MAGA Representative Elise Stefanik voted for Respect for Marriage Act with moderates and some fiscal conservatives
• Largely agreed on Israeli funding

RMC - Republican for Majority Choice - pro-choice

Question 14

3

Describe the argument that Republicans are disunited - social and moral

Answer 14

• 39 Republican Congressmen voted for Respect for Marriage Act 2022
• Division after Ukraine $61bn bill
• Collins supported repeal of Don’t Ask,Don’t Tell

Question 15

4

Describe the argument that Republicans are united - economic

Answer 15

• Only 1 Republican voted against Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017
• Establishment GOP figures like Kevin McCarthy promote hardline economic agenda and absolve themselves from social issues
• Moderates agree with tax-cutting, pro-business policies
• Republican Study Committee - 2024 State of Union

Question 16

2

Describe the Republican Study Committee response to the 2024 state of union

Answer 16

• Represent 80% House GOP members and 100% leadership
• released alternative budget: slash medicare, ACA, social security

Question 17

2

Describe the argument that Republicans are disunited - economic

Answer 17

• Tea Party members like Tim Scott advocate very small state
• Kevin McCarthy ousted as House Speaker after making deadline agreement on debt ceiling with Biden to avoid govt shutdown

Question 18

3

Describe the argument that Republicans are united - welfare

Answer 18

• Worked together to pass Healthcare Reconcilliation Act 2016 to repeal ACA - though Obama vetoed
• Only 5 Freedom Caucus Republicans voted against Parents Bill of Rights Act - parent the primary-decision maker relating to child’s education
• Freedom Caucus influence therefore overstated

Question 19

3

Describe the argument that Republicans are disunited - welfare

Answer 19

• John McCain voted against repealing ACA
• Moderates like David Joyce, Young Kim, Nancy Mace often side with Democrats on maintaining larger state
• 2022, 49 Republican representatives a member of the freedom caucus

Question 20

3

Describe the Military Funding bill 2024

Answer 20

• $95bn total - Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan
• $61bn for Ukraine
• split Reps