AQA USA Politics A-level - Political Parties Flashcards
What are the two main ideologies in American politics?
Liberalism and Conservatism.
What is Liberalism in the United States?
Stresses the importance of individual rights and freedoms. Government must intervene to ensure free and just society. Associated with left wing in America.
What economic issues do Liberals typically align with?
Support Big government, higher taxes, greater regulation and welfare programs.
What Social issues do Liberals typically align with?
Support civil rights, abortion rights, gay marriage and gun control.
What economic issues do conservatives typically align with?
Support small government, low taxes, limited regulation and limited welfare state.
What social issues do conservatives typically align with?
Support ‘traditional issues’, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-immigration.
What is a Big tent/catch-all party?
Type of political parties that seeks to attract voters from different points of views and ideologies.
How does geography historically effect political ideology?
Northern states and urban areas more liberal.
Southern states and rural areas more conservative.
What is a 100 party system?
Rather than the US being a two-party system, each state has different party organisations.
What crises have shaped Democrats ideologies?
Democrats supported New Deal during Great Depression.
Supported medicare, medicaid, and desegregation in the 1960s.
Conservative members of the Democrats realigned to the Republicans.
What has shaped Republican ideologies?
Much more conservative since Reagan. Reaganomics, power to state governments, tax cuts, less spending, prayer in school and oppose abortions.
Which party is liberal and which is conservative?
Democrats - Liberal.
Republicans - Conservative.
What did George W. Bush do to prove he was fiscally conservative?
Tax cuts (2001 lowered income tax brackets.
How was George W. Bush not fiscally conservative?
Increased spending on medicare (Medicare Modernisation Act (2003)) and education (No Child Left Behind (2001)).
Pre-Bush there was a small budget surplus but tax cuts and increase in spending led to deficit.
How was George W. Bush a social conservative?
Born again Christian.
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (2003) and vetoed Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (2006).
How was George W. Bush not a social conservative?
Vocally supported Civil Unions, which was in conflict with his party.
How did George W. Bush anger Libertarians?
They want less government intervention and protection of freedom of speech and action.
Bush passed USA PATRIOT Act (2001) and Legalised ‘Indefinite detention warrants’ for ‘roving wiretaps.’
What do Neoconservatives believe?
Interventionist foreign policy, should spread democracy and should act as world’s police.
How did Bush become more neoconservative?
9/11 attacks changed his view. Iraq War (2003) and regime change.
What is a Congressional Caucus?
Congressional member organisations. Join to pursue common legislative goals.
What are the three main Republican Caucuses?
Moderate Republicans- Main street partnership
Conservative Republicans - Republican Study Committee
Libertarian - Liberty Caucus
What do Libertarians believe?
High degree of both personal and economic liberty.
What is the Main Street Partnership?
Formed in 1994. Wants a more centrist agenda. Fiscally conservative but socially moderate. Often elected in more liberal states. Often labelled as RINOs. Previous members included Mark Kirk and Olympia Snowe.
76 members in current congress.